Forum Topic

Water pressure - again!

Is anyone else finding that the water pressure has decreased gradually over this week? Trying to have shower is like showering under a dribble, and the pressure from the taps is low too. Must be a leak or some TW works going on somwhere locally?

Vanessa Smith ● 5613d12 Comments

The man to contact at Thames Water is Richard Aylard - richard.aylard@thameswater.co.uk

Jennifer Long ● 5604d

I had the same problem again today(Friday)not being able to get a warm shower. I tested my main pressure at ground floor level to find this to be a fraction only over 1 bar.I wonder what this pressure was at the peak demand time earlier this morning. I guess less than the the required 1 bar.When are Thames water going to do something about this problem?Ron Curant.

Ron Curant ● 5604d

Mine is a triton funnily enough.  I am sure water pressure has killed it.

Conal Stewart ● 5606d

Jennifer and Conal,I am pretty sure that your problem is entirely the pressure. I changed my original 15year old Triton shower thinking that this was the the problem, only to find the new Triton Shower behaved in exactly the same way as the old one. I believe I am right in saying low pressure will not burn out your shower if the pressure is too low you simply will not get hot water. I have had extensive discussions with Triton and the problem simply indicates low pressure.  What is the minimum of 1 bar that they are obliged to supply as soon as it reaches the first floor it is considerably less. I can fool the thermostat on my shower by turning the dial to hot ( which means it needs less pressure)and slowly turning the the thermostat back to a point where there low pressure light stays off( it takes a bit of practice) then sometimes it it is too hot. It only remains hot just about long enough to have a shower. After about 10 am in the mornings when the demand has dropped my shower behaves perfectly every day.Neither of you mention the area you live in. I live in one of the highest areas of Isleworth North up near the Gt.West Road.Ron.

Ron Curant ● 5606d

Jennifer and Conal,I am pretty sure that your problem is entirely the pressure. I changed my original 15year old Triton shower thinking that this was the the problem, only to find the new Triton Shower behaved in exactly the same way as the old one. I believe I am right in saying low pressure will not burn out your shower if the pressure is too low you simply will not get hot water. I have had extensive discussions with Triton and the problem simply indicates low pressure.  What is the minimum of 1 bar that they are obliged to supply as soon as it reaches the first floor it is considerably less. I can fool the thermostat on my shower by turning the dial to hot ( which means it needs less pressure)and slowly turning the the thermostat back to a point where there low pressure light stays off( it takes a bit of practice) then sometimes it it is too hot. It only remains hot just about long enough to have a shower. After about 10 am in the mornings when the demand has dropped my shower behaves perfectly every day.Neither of you mention the area you live in. I live in one of the highest areas of Isleworth North up near the Gt.West Road.Ron.

Ron Curant ● 5606d

I am sure that TW are not being totally honest. There was quite a big piece in one of the papers a few weeks ago, saying how all the water companies were prone to lowering the pressure so that they wouldn't have to attend to leaks too quickly. This is only one trick among what they do to save a few bob, and many people had said that they had had showers ruined because of low pressure. Ours is better but nowhere near what we have had.

Vanessa Smith ● 5606d

We had problems a few months ago, called Thames Water who said they were carrying out works in the area that would effect the pressure.  I spoke to them regularly for about a month and in the end they said there was no problem with their supply it must be a fault with my shower.So despite initially admitting it was they supply they eventually turned round and said it was my problem!

Jennifer Long ● 5606d

Ours is really bad but has been for a few months.  Jayne stands and cries when the shower won't work. It seems to have burned out power shower as they atempt to compenate.

Conal Stewart ● 5606d

Normal service resumed late yesterday!

Vanessa Smith ● 5609d

Wow - best offer I've had all week. Our shower is on the ground floor, but the pressure is still awful.

Vanessa Smith ● 5610d

My shower seems to be OK Vanessa, you can come round and have one here , with me if you like !

Ian Speed ● 5611d

I have to admit I have not seen the earlier reports. I do know if you have an electric shower that relies on the mains water pressure it is pointless trying to shower Monday to Friday between 6.30am and 9am. This problem has been getting steadily worse over the last 5 years or so.In my opinion the infrastructure cannot cope with the increased demand as a direct result of all the development that has happenned in the Isleworth area in the last 10 years. In years gone by the pressure hovered around 2.5 bars, now is not often above 1 bar which I gather is the minimum T W have to provide. So if your shower is installed above the ground floor you are going to have problems, the only cure it seems is to have an expensive pump installed off the storage tank in the loft. Not forgetting they do lower the pressure to help the numerous leaking old pipes.Ron Curant.

Ron Curant ● 5612d