Since 2012 we have been supplying ShowerPowerBoosters for boostings showers and taps. For most people you will only need a single or double boost solution. This blog explains the science behind why our pumps score 5 stars on Trustpilot as the best pump on sale in the UK.
The Shower Power Booster is a micro pump which increases pressure to any pipe it is fitted on. You can single boost, double boost, and in exceptional circumstances triple boost.
A unique feature of the shower power booster is that it will boost at an optimal level and achieve a good shower if you have a pressure and flow problem but if you already have a good flow – the pump deactivates itself. If you do not have a pressure problem and buy this pump will see little difference. Others who have a pressure and flow problem will be utterly amazed.
For those that might be interested in the science please read on.
The Perfect Shower From A Gravity System
Flow Rate: A typical 6 litre a minute hot shower at 42 deg C is normally created by mixing 2/3 hot (4 litres a minute), with 1/3rd Cold (2 litres a minute). 6 litres a minute is the optimal shower for washing suds out of long hair because a lower flow rate would require you to spend a longer time in the shower whilst any more flow is an overkill, increasing the cost of energy to heat the water, and water usage in general.
Spray Pattern & Force: To get a perfect 6 litre a minute shower you need a nice spray pattern so you will need around 3 metres head. A typical gravity system gives you 1 metre head without boosting.
SPB Pump Output: The pressure output of the pump falls when more water is pumped. The chart in this blog shows the relationship between pressure and flow and has been used for our calculations.
With No Boost
1 metre head
SINGLE BOOST ON HOT ONLY
4 litres boosted to 4 metres plus 2 litres un-boosted at 1 metre head = ((4*4)+(2*1))/6 = 3 metres head
Pump-Output
SINGLE BOOST HOT AND COLD
You will get a better shower if you boost both hot and cold but for some people they think to cost of a second pump is not worth it. For others a bit more money spent now means each and every shower you take is better.
4 litres boosted to 4 metres plus 2 litres boosted to 4 metre head = ((4*4)+(2*4))/6 = 4 metres head
DOUBLE BOOST HOT AND SINGLE BOOST COLD
You will get an even better shower
4 litres boosted to 7 metres plus 2 litres boosted to 4 metre head = ((7*4)+(2*4))/6 = 6 metres head
For most showers all you will need is a single boost because the shower head limit the water and trying get more water through simply kills ever increasing pressures with very little increase in flow.
This is the flow to pressure output for a typical shower head. Wrightchoice shower heads are designed for maximising the performance at low pressures an is optimal at 3 metres head. You might get a better shower by simply changing your shower head.
Pressure Flow Test
Detailed drawings and instructions are in the booklet sent with the pumps but you can download the online version of this guide using the orange link on this page.
