Is my plumber telling the truth?

[thinkfast]

We are currently having 2 new bathrooms put in. Plumber has practically finished the main family bathroom which has gone from having a bath with a bath shower mixer tap to a bath with a separate shower fitting with a shower over the bath

The problem is the water pressure in the new shower isn't very strong - much less strong than it used to be with the mixer taps. I have spoken to the plumber about it and he changed the shower head which has made a tiny improvement.

He says the only alternative is to install a pump which would have to go in the hall outside the bathroom. He says it will be too noisy and he advises we shouldn't risk it because the increases pressure could cause damage to the old pipework in the house (although the new pipes he installed will be fine)

What do you think? It seems a shame to have gone to all this trouble and to have such a weedy little shower. Plus I liked the old bath better too....

If the new shower Is supplied from a combi boiler you should have no problems re pressure as they have their own pump.

If it is gravity fed from a cylinder, you may well need the additional pump. In theory it could possibly damage old pipework due to increased pressure, so yes your plumber is telling the truth!

Damn it's a cylinder. Can't understand why it's so much weaker than the old mixer taps were though....

We managed to fit the pump under the bath and put it on foam to deaden the noise.
Done several years ago with no I'll effects so far, we are in an old house.

He's already tiled the new bath in place so it can't go there now....

If he's tiled the bath he should have left a tile that can be removed so you can access should you need to (sorry I dont know the technical term)

Yes but he says there's not space to fit a pump there. I'm more worried about the possibility of damaging other pipes in the house than the noise.

(they aren't that loud are they?)

They are pretty loud yes, my dd2 will not go in the new shower as it scares her!!

What type of shower have you installed? Could the pump go in the loft above the bathroom as I think this is what we used to have.

We have an aqualisa shower that was off a cylinder with a pump in the loft, it was noisy but not unbearable and we had a fab shower as a result.

Dp is plumber and I quote!

The old taps on the old bath would have been low pressure taps, all modern day taps are high pressure taps, therefore that explains the difference in pressure.
You should not pump the whole house water, it should only be for the shower apply, thus meaning that the pipe work in the rest of the house should be fine. Personally speaking, it may cost a little more, but a mains pressure cylinder wold give the full house better water pressure, as long as the pressure coming into the home from the street can deliver adequate flow

HTH

Can he fit the pump in he airing cupboard - this is where ours was in our previous house?

He says under the floor boards in hall is the only place. Guess I'll just trust his judgement and leave it as it is