Hello everyone,
a brief overview of the house:
New build in 2016, moved in September. The municipal water pressure is 3.5 bar (51 psi) according to the pressure reducer. Water softener with 3/4" connection, shower fittings are Grohe Euphoria.
My problem is that the water pressure in the showers is relatively low, and overall the flow rate is rather poor. The washing machine doesn’t report any issues, and I measured about 8 liters per minute (2.1 gallons per minute) at the showers and other fittings.
In the bathtub, however, it is around 11 liters per minute (2.9 gallons per minute).
From an environmental perspective, it’s great that less water flows automatically, but it’s frustrating when instead of a strong stream, only a weak dribble comes out of the shower head. There’s simply no proper spray.
Now I’m not sure what the cause could be. Could the flexible hoses on the water softener be a factor? I tried bypassing the softener at the mixing valve as a test, but didn’t notice any difference.
Something is definitely wrong, or maybe the 3.5 bar (51 psi) supplied by the water utility company just isn’t enough? Could it be that the wrong hose sizes were used in general? I don’t know exactly what was installed, but normally the connections at the fittings are 3/8", which is already quite small. I assume all pipes before that are larger, right? Shouldn’t the flow speed automatically increase when the pipe diameter decreases?
For your information, I have the same flow rate in the showers in both the basement and the upper floor. These are located close to the municipal water line (therefore only one-way flow without a circulation system). I estimate the maximum pipe run to be about 10 meters (33 feet).
The kitchen water supply is much further away (probably around 20 meters / 66 feet), but the flow rate there is also the same.
I hope you can shed some light on this issue and provide a solution to increase the water pressure in the showers.
Best regards
a brief overview of the house:
New build in 2016, moved in September. The municipal water pressure is 3.5 bar (51 psi) according to the pressure reducer. Water softener with 3/4" connection, shower fittings are Grohe Euphoria.
My problem is that the water pressure in the showers is relatively low, and overall the flow rate is rather poor. The washing machine doesn’t report any issues, and I measured about 8 liters per minute (2.1 gallons per minute) at the showers and other fittings.
In the bathtub, however, it is around 11 liters per minute (2.9 gallons per minute).
From an environmental perspective, it’s great that less water flows automatically, but it’s frustrating when instead of a strong stream, only a weak dribble comes out of the shower head. There’s simply no proper spray.
Now I’m not sure what the cause could be. Could the flexible hoses on the water softener be a factor? I tried bypassing the softener at the mixing valve as a test, but didn’t notice any difference.
Something is definitely wrong, or maybe the 3.5 bar (51 psi) supplied by the water utility company just isn’t enough? Could it be that the wrong hose sizes were used in general? I don’t know exactly what was installed, but normally the connections at the fittings are 3/8", which is already quite small. I assume all pipes before that are larger, right? Shouldn’t the flow speed automatically increase when the pipe diameter decreases?
For your information, I have the same flow rate in the showers in both the basement and the upper floor. These are located close to the municipal water line (therefore only one-way flow without a circulation system). I estimate the maximum pipe run to be about 10 meters (33 feet).
The kitchen water supply is much further away (probably around 20 meters / 66 feet), but the flow rate there is also the same.
I hope you can shed some light on this issue and provide a solution to increase the water pressure in the showers.
Best regards
E
ElBoCaDiLlO14 Feb 2017 13:49I set the hardness to 4-5°dH to make sure my wife still has something to clean. No, you shouldn’t reduce it all the way down to zero.
I should also mention that so far I’ve only tested the water flow with the handheld showerhead; I plan to test the main showerhead this evening. The handheld showerhead can produce a spray stream of about 10 centimeters (4 inches) at most when you tilt the showerhead upwards.
I’m really hoping for a shower again where you can skip the massage setting because the water hits your back so powerfully, as if Axel Schulz himself is kneading you.
In general, the handheld showerhead has only 3 settings, and even the so-called massage spray delivers more like 3 gentle streams.
I should also mention that so far I’ve only tested the water flow with the handheld showerhead; I plan to test the main showerhead this evening. The handheld showerhead can produce a spray stream of about 10 centimeters (4 inches) at most when you tilt the showerhead upwards.
I’m really hoping for a shower again where you can skip the massage setting because the water hits your back so powerfully, as if Axel Schulz himself is kneading you.
In general, the handheld showerhead has only 3 settings, and even the so-called massage spray delivers more like 3 gentle streams.
D
Donnerknall14 Feb 2017 18:19If the pressure at the taps is almost the same, it’s less about the fittings and more about what the pressure reducer is doing or what value it is set to. You read 3.5 bar on the pressure gauge, which is the pressure inside your house. However, this is usually not the pressure coming from the main supply. You can easily increase the pressure at the pressure reducer. Depending on the manufacturer, you have to turn a different control. For example, with Grünbeck, it’s a small knob that sticks out horizontally with a scale, while with Syr, it’s an orange ring located just above the filter cup, but without a scale—only a plus and minus sign. Just check the user manual; it will tell you where to adjust.
What is certain is that the pressure reducer cannot provide higher pressure than what is coming from the main supply.
My information only applies to a filter with a pressure reducer. If you have a standard water filter without a pressure reducer, there’s nothing you can do.
Best regards
What is certain is that the pressure reducer cannot provide higher pressure than what is coming from the main supply.
My information only applies to a filter with a pressure reducer. If you have a standard water filter without a pressure reducer, there’s nothing you can do.
Best regards
What I couldn’t quite figure out is whether this problem has existed from the beginning. That would suggest the pipe was incorrectly sized... or has it only started recently?
We have installed a water filter on the main line... according to the instructions, I’m supposed to clean it every six months to prevent any pressure drop... have you ever tried that? Or is there no such filter used with a water softening system, or is one built in there...?
We have installed a water filter on the main line... according to the instructions, I’m supposed to clean it every six months to prevent any pressure drop... have you ever tried that? Or is there no such filter used with a water softening system, or is one built in there...?