We have mains pressure cold water to all taps/outlets (inc toilet), and low pressure hot water. We live in a 1930's semi, so cold tank (only used for hot water header) is situated in loft and we therefore have very little hot water pressure. We have a single upstairs bathroom and single kitchen. No other hot water outlets. Mains pressure is pretty good (I've no complaints).
We need to replace our electric shower sometime, and due to a number of reasons, are considering adding a pump to the existing hot water feed. This would improve bath filling time, and (hopefully) could be used with a mixer shower using cold mains + pumped hot water. Is a mixer shower with mains cold + pumped hot likely to be successful? We currently have a 8.5kW electric shower which does an adequate, but not particularly enjoyable job. So, not looking for amazing shower performance, but a better experience than present.
It seems that the normal place to plumb a whole house/shower pump appears to be on the output of the hot tank, and at the same level as the hot water tank (e.g. 1st floor airing cupboard floor). I've seen some manufacturers which say it can be fitted in the loft, but still must be fitted to the output of the hot tank - and may require special tapping off the tank in this situation (believe to ensure no air drawn into pump), and a particular pipework layout between tank and pump. Our airing cupboard doesn't really have any space for a pump and associated plumbing.
I'm interested in whether it's possible to do it differently and add a pump on the output from the cold tank before it feeds onto the hot tank. Therefore the existing hot tank plumbing to rest of house could be used, a far easier location for the pump (no space in airing cupboard) and wouldn't require special tapping on the hot tank as water could be coming from bottom of cold tank (rather than top of hot tank).
Does this sound possible? Would a special pump be required? Do any manufacturers support use like this?
Thanks
David