Mains pressure boost

[Matt Morton]

Hi - first post. We're in the middle of a new build. The existing mains water supply only seems to have 2 bar of pressure.  Looks to be a 25mm supply. Its a 5 bed new build with 4 bathrooms and we're having ASHP with UFH on ground and first floor.  We are told we need a minimum 3 bars by the ASHP installer, and so are looking at either a pumped solution or potentially upgrading the supply to 32mm.   I also want to make sure the showers on the 1st floor have sufficient pressure.  We haven't got a plumber attached yet as doing much of this myself bringing in specialists when absolutely necessary to keep the budget in check.

 

On the latter I'm not sure if this would improve pressure or just flow rate, or a bit of both? Obviously a sizeable expense though.

 

Wondered if anyone would recommend a particular system, and would this sit inline from the incoming mains and then everything comes after the pump/reservoir?

many thanks

Matt

 

 

[Mr Punter]

A cold water accumulator with a pump may work for you.

[ProDave]

You do NOT need 3 bar for and ASHP.  3 bar may be nice for an unvented hot water tank.

 

Upgrading pipe size will not increase static pressure, it might improve flow rates.

 

What is the highest static pressure you get?  It might be worth fitting a large accumulator that will charge up to the highest static pressure slowly then deliver a higher pressure at time of use.

 

I am pretty sure you are not allowed to pump directly from the mains (i.e. suck water out of the mains pipe) so any pumped solution would have to be from a break tank.

[Alan Ambrose]

If you do go down the pumped route, check out the discussion on Stuart Turner here: