Plumbing

Low pressure/flow issues - 3rd floor flat

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.49 PM

Morning all, I own a flat on the third floor of a late 1980s 4 storey development. I have had intermittent low pressure and flow issues since I've owned it, resulting in sporadic cold showers in peak periods as the electric shower I have is not getting enough pressure/flow to function so the safety override is tripping on. The block does not have a communal pump and the management company will not extend to buying one. They blame the significant amount of extra development in the area since the my block was built. I've had Welsh Water investigate and it appears the street level pressure and flow is just about adequate- therefore they won't do anymore. Last year I replaced the shower with a brand new like for like unit (Triton Martinique for Bewitch) as the old unit had developed a small leak, having had some advice on here that a new unit may help. Unfortunately though in the last few weeks the tenants are reporting a non-functioning shower every morning. The plumber who does work for the management company has previously suggested it is the fault of the water meter which in his opinion reduces flow - something that Welsh Water dispute and I'm unable to remove the meter anyway (they did remove it years ago when I lived there to test this theory, but it didn't seem to make much difference). He has said that the only solution is to put a pump in with a mixer tap shower from the immersion tank (which isn't that big so might risk running out of water with two showers in a morning, and also would then involve removal of the existing electric shower unit from the wall - not an ideal solution given there is an electric shower there already, retiling would be needed etc. I wanted to get a second opinion on if there are any other solutions which might allow boosting the pressure/flow to the existing electric shower rather than the suggested approach above (which as I said also gives me a bit of a concern about water running out, although this concern may be misplaced) Many thanks, Matt