How to Install a Power Shower

An easy enough subject to look up online in any search engine, but to someone like me with no experience in the plumbing field and only a vague idea of what a spanner is I’d be an idiot to try this myself. However, as I’ve been asked very nicely and I am in fact an idiot I’ll give the subject a crack. I’ve found a nice informative little website with instructions, which I’ll refer to as Dr. Shower for legal reasons as I go along.

For the most part, the directions Dr. Shower gives are both informative and straight forward. There are simple words and illustrations that even I can understand, and links to other helpful sites if required. If I were a web critic I would probably give Dr. Shower an 8!

So on with the task at hand. Water pressure and flow is the key to a good shower apparently. That is what Dr. Shower says anyway. Who am I to argue with the professionals? One thing I do know for sure is that a Power Shower is actually technically known as a Pump Assisted Shower. The pump involved delivers the water at a constant flow rate and pressure, eliminating the minimum 900mm (3ft) water storage requirement for a gravity-fed shower; so it says anyway. You are going to need 75-225mm (3-9in) to start the pump when it is switched on, and a pump can be used to increase the pressure of stored hot and cold water as long as it is not mains-fed. The best way to do this is to connect the cold water supply directly to the cold-water storage tank and not from the bathroom supply. Also the hot water supply should be connected directly to the cylinder via a Surrey or Essex flange – whatever that is!- which prevents the pump from sucking air in from the vent pipe. Make sense so far? If the hot water is heated by an immersion heater (see diagram mercilessly ripped off from website), then you must make sure that the cylinder is supplied by a direct cold feed, and the gate valve is fully open. This should prevent the cylinder from running dry, and burning out your heating element.

1. Cold water mains supply


2. Cold water supply


3. Gate shower valves


4. Drain shower valve


5. Cold-water storage tank


6. Hot water supply


7. Mixer shower valve


8. Shower Pump


9. Isolating switch

Alternatively, if the cylinder is heated via the boiler, make sure that a thermostat is fitted to keep the water from getting too hot and ruining the shower completely. Power showers often have an integral electric pump in the mixer cabinet, which is fitted within the cubicle. There are pumps made for isolated installation also, with hot and cold pipes going first to the pump, then onto the shower mixer and they can also be added to an existing shower to improve performance.

The best place to fit these pumps wherever possible is next to the hot-water cylinder, normally in your airing cupboard. These are not silent and you may want to insulate the cupboard if you have any common sense and appreciate a quieter life. When installing the pump remember to install below the cylinder to ensure it always remains full of water. If this isn't practical there are pumps specifically designed to operate above your cylinder at higher levels, even in your loft. It is always recommended that you check with your supplier to confirm what you require.
And there you have it. Informative and also to the point. Although I’m still not sure I would want to give it a crack personally. I must say though Dr. Shower was very helpful. Oh who am I kidding? The website is called Shower Doctor! But since I mentioned it by name and am not using it or indeed planning to for financial gain or any other purpose other than to demonstrate what any self respecting plumber should tell you in the first place – well there isn’t much you can do about it is there?

For more precise and detailed information go visit the Shower Doctor himself at http://www.showerdoctor.com/

Power Shower Booster PumpsNeed to give your shower a boost, one of the most cost effective ways to ensure a forceful and consistent water flow into your shower is the use of a shower pump.

Thanks for readin’. Y’all come back now ya hear!