Venturi shower installation questions

[DrSee]

I want to fit a powerful shower instead of a bath. The existing pipewor

to the bath is in 15mm tube (CW is mains supply) and the DHW head i only about 1m (to planned shower head). Fitting a pumped power showe would be quite a big job as new 22mm tube would have to be run abou

15m through three rooms and a new electric supply (to pump) would b needed.

I've heard that venturi showers can give a powerful jet and are cheape and easier to install. My problem is, even if I go through the loft, th HW pipe run will still be about 9m and the manufacturers recommend maximum run of 10m.

So what sort of performance could I expect from a venturi shower a this distance/HW head? Mains supply pressure is pretty good but I'v not measured it.

Also, in the loft, can I take a 22m supply to the shower from the H tank vent pipe (as low as possible). I understand that for a pumpe power shower that some form of flange is required but could I get awa without one for a venturi shower?

Anyone got a venturi shower or installed one that can comment?

Or would a proper pumped shower be a lot better considering the extr expense and installation difficulty? Thanks for any advice. DrSe

-- DrSee

[Ben Edgington]

I'm very pleased indeed with the new venturi shower I've just installed - it's at least as good as my dad's pumped power shower, and much less noisy. Our mains cold pressure is generally very good.

My top tip is: don't bother with a cheap one! In the last year I got through three of the nasty plastic cdx venturi showers that they used to sell in B&Q and still sell in Wickes before giving them up as a bad job. I eventually forked out for the tried and tested Trevi Boost, which is a quality lump of brassware.

I haven't stuck strictly to the letter of the installation instructions, but it is still superb. The run from the hot tank is about 3m, initially 22mm pipe, but the last metre is in 15mm with a non-full-bore isolating valve (both of which they frown upon). The hot water is not set as hot as they recommend either, and it is fine. But I expect I will have to up the temperature in winter as the input cold temperature reduces. The head on the hot water is less than a metre.

I can't comment on the length of the hot feed, or where you take it from.

Ben

[Mark Trueman]

ive got one of the cheapo ones from b+q and its pretty good. My only qualms are.

1. it takes ages to get up to temperature, at least 2 minutes. Dont know if this is due to a longish run from the hot water cylinder, but it's not a MAJOR problem.

2.Every so often (6 months to a year) i have to open the unit and add some grease to the "piston" that closes off the hot water flow. For some reason it dries out and then fails to close. The shower starts off by dripping hot water for a few seconds after you turn it off, but slowly gets worse, until it takes minutes and more to actually stop the flow of hot water while the "piston" seats itself into a closed position.

Other than that, i cant fault the thing, great flow and a dead easy install.