Water flow problem bypass

[Neil]

I have got a problem with water flow into the downstars toilet and shower.

The stopcock is fully open and I get about 10 litres/min in from the other taps.

The toilet and shower get a lower water flow down to about 2.8 litres/min - naturally this plays havoc with the electric shower

The kitchen (next door) acheives 10 litres/min. Is it acceptable to plumb in a pipe from the kitchen over to the downstairs toilet/shower feed? and keep the connection to the exisiting feed.

This should then allow the downstair toilet/sink/shower to get water at an acceptable rate from the kitchen & the orig feed pipe - i.e this will have two routes to the incomming supply pipe? - naturally the easiest route will be taken by the water automatically.

Is this OK?

[Christian McArdle]

10 lpm is very low. It sounds like you may have low pressure. It is possible that the toilet valve has a flow restrictor. The shower will certainly restrict flow compared to a kitchen tap. You may find the problem is low pressure, rather than dodgy pipework. You may need to install tanks, or upgrade your mains to improve things.

Christian.

[Neil]

litres/min -

I know - but it is better than the 2.8lts/min I am getting in the downstair sink (in the toilet which feeds the shower)

Pressure seems OK - according to the Combi boiler gauge connected to the kitchen tap which can go up to over 3bar (before releasing the excess pressure)

certainly restrict flow compared to a kitchen tap.

I havent even checked the toilet - The sink tap only gives out 2.8ltrs (the hot running of the combi is giving out about 8 lpm in the same sink!)

i suspect that there is also a problem with the supply - and replacing the stop tap will improve the flow (rather than pressure) slightly but this is awkward.

As I have got flow (to a reasonable degree) on the other taps there appears to be a specific reason why this one tap (one 15mm pipe supplying cistern, tap, and shower) can acheive more the 2.8lpm where the stopcock/mains can supply at least 10lpm - hence the intention to bypass this feed - and then deal with the stopcock is nessesary?

[IMM]

The real solution is to get the mains sorted out from the road. Then have the internal pipes uprated too.

[Neil]

Agreed. Problem is that it is a rented out and there is no chance that the landlord will replace the stopcock or supply pipe (i.e there is water)

Am willing to do a bit of plumbing (add a bypass and new stopcock) - but not dig up the drive myself!

[David W.E. Roberts]

litres/min -

Sounds O.K. in principle - if it is all mains water then no problem. Best to check that you are not getting a tank feed at this point, although connecting an electric shower to a tank feed would be dumb by the original installer. I note you are in rented property and using a combi boiler so there shouldn't be a tank - is this a seperate property or is there a possibility that another tenant could be sharing some of your pipework?

I would suggest that you connect in the new feed, but with a full bore isolating valve. Open the valve, and listen to ensure that water is not flowing (as it would if you had connected into a tank feed - water going back up to the tank then overflowing). If it is all mains but with a dodgy feed to the bathroom, this is likely to improve things.

HTH Dave R