While there has been a steady shift in the way people use properties and external spaces, driven by factors such as post-lockdown home working, a boom in staycations and the creation of home businesses and pop-up shops, the need for adequate or enhanced water pressure may have been overlooked. Mark Ayckbourn, Product Manager at Stuart Turner, discusses what installers need to consider for their clients.
The post-pandemic world pushed many people to reconsider their lifestyles and careers, looking instead at ways to pursue a long-held business dream or simply regain a healthier work life balance. There has also been the rise in staycations, and the potential for homeowners to convert an outbuilding into a holiday let and provide an additional income without a heavy investment.
When it comes to designing and constructing an additional space, while they are full of promise and potential, they often expose an underlying issue: existing domestic water systems are simply not designed to cope with the increased and varied demand.
Garden offices need reliable water for a kettle or small sink, accommodation/glamping pods require consistent pressure for guest showers and amenities, home hairdressers, beauty salons, or small cafes operating from converted outbuildings need commercial-level flow. These are just a few examples of where installers will be crucial in advising how to get the best water performance for the job.
Understanding the challenges
When we analyse the UK’s water infrastructure, despite regulations for 1 bar pressure, the industry is aware that this often falls short especially as demand is only increasing. This comes down to outdated pipes that are fraught with leaks and are unable to support the growing need from homes.
Secondly, there are specific challenges for each property that an installer will need to assess to understand what solutions will be most suitable for the required output.
Achieving satisfactory water pressure and flow is a common challenge for homeowners, as different systems present unique limitations. Traditional gravity-fed systems, relying on a loft tank, offer only minimal “gravity force” for showers and baths, requiring a boost to deliver adequate power.
While combi boilers, prevalent in 80% of UK homes, suffice for 1-2.5 bathrooms, they often struggle to maintain consistent pressure for multiple showers or high-demand fixtures like rainfall showerheads (which require 15-18 litres per minute) due to a typical legal mains limit of 12 litres per minute.
This means that to truly enjoy powerful showers or simultaneously use multiple outlets, homeowners often need to go beyond a standard combi boiler, requiring a solution that can either draw directly from the mains and boost, or utilise a break tank to overcome flow restrictions.
Common side effects that installers may encounter include weak showers, slow-filling appliances, and multiple outlets struggling simultaneously. When it comes to operating a business or wanting to create guest experiences, these are elements that can dramatically impact operation and comfort. However, water pressure is still quite often the last consideration for people despite being an integral part of water usage and experience.
Making improvements
Boosting solutions offer an effective way to overcome common water pressure limitations in both residential and commercial settings. For example, the Stuart Turner Monsoon Professional range offers advanced variable speed technology, intelligently adjusting pump speed to meet demand, guaranteeing constant pressure even when multiple taps, showers, and appliances are in simultaneous use. This makes it ideal for properties needing a robust boost to their vented or combi boiler systems, ensuring powerful and consistent performance for everything from rainfall showerheads in a holiday let to multiple basins in a home beauty salon.
For larger demands, especially where mains water flow is restricted, the Stuart Turner iBoost systems provide a comprehensive solution. These integrated units combine a high-performance pump with a generous cold water storage tank, ensuring ample supply, all while meeting stringent compliance standards such as CAT5 for commercial applications.
Supporting customers
By harnessing technology, such as pumps or high-pressure storage systems, installers can support their customers in home projects, particularly those considering business ventures or rentals. As this trend continues to grow, there is also an increasing challenge around water pressure that will require solutions such as water pumps and boosters. Aligning with a reputable brand and products that provide peace of mind is therefore crucial for installers to consider.
IMAGE: Stuart Turner
