What type of water system do you have? High Pressure, Low pressure, Minimum Pressure 1.0 bar, 2.0 bar, 0.3 bar. What does it all mean ? If you have been trawling the shops or hunting online trying to find new taps and showers for your bathroom or kitchen then, no doubt you have been asked these questions on more than one occasion.
If you have not then be extremely concerned about the shops or sites you have been too, without knowing this you could end up spending ?100?s or even ?1000?s on taps and showers that will not live up to your expectations and potentially may not work.
Many of the modern ranges of bathroom taps, kitchen taps and showers that are so popular today are quite often high pressure, requiring a minimum of 1.0 bar pressure to operate. If you use a high pressure tap or shower on a low pressure water system they will not deliver the water you require for acceptable use. The likelihood is you will get a dribble of water from your tap.
Ignoring aesthetics, design and style of product for a moment lets look at the basics ? What type of water system do you have? - Below we have put together a simple guide to help you identify your plumbing / water system.
High Pressure SystemsCombination Boiler
Boiler can be found anywhere (normally in kitchen) and heats water as you use it. Fed by the mains, hot and cold water are balanced to feed fittings. This system does not require a hot water cylinder or cold water tank and also heats water for the central heating.
Again, provides good high pressure, usually around 1.0 bar or above. But be careful the flow rate (volume of water you receive from your outlet) can be quite low from some Combi? boilers, this usually affects the performance of showers.
Unvented (Pressurised System).gif)
Cold water is fed direct from the mains whilst also pressurising hot water cylinder, again usually found in an airing cupboard.
This type of system is generally very good, offering reliable, consistent delivery of high pressure water for your bathroom taps, shower or kitchen tap.
Low Pressure, Gravity Fed SystemsHot & Cold Gravity
Cold water tank is normally located in the loft feeding a hot water cylinder usually in an airing cupboard.
Measure the distance from your outlet (example: Shower head) to the underside of your cold water tank in the loft and this will give you a broad indication of your water pressure ? every meter is the equivalent of 0.1 bar. So, let?s assume the distance from your shower head to the underside of your cold tank is 3.0 meters, you have 0.3 bar pressure.
Hot Gravity, Cold Mains
Cold water tank is normally located in the loft feeding a hot water cylinder usually in an airing cupboard. However it differs from the hot and cold gravity system as cold water comes direct from the mains causing an imbalance in pressures. Pressure imbalances of greater than a ratio of 5:1 will require a pressure reducing valve to be installed on the dominant supply when using a mixer.
Hot & Cold Gravity, Pump Assisted
Cold water tank is normally located in the loft feeding a hot water cylinder usually in an airing cupboard. Both supplies are then pumped to provide a higher volume of water.
You need to have a look and see what pump you have as this will determine your pressure.
Don`t forget ? If you are confused or unsure in anyway why not post a question on our forum, after all that`s what we are here for. And there are plenty of plumbers and installers ready to give their words of wisdom and advice.
And, now for the legal bits - All information and details given within these pages are for information purposes only, Tap-advice.co.uk cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any preparation work that is undertaken based on such specifications or information shown on our site. We always recommend that you obtain advice from a suitably qualified plumber before making a purchase or arranging any installation. Remember it is always best to employ a professional to complete works. 
