Fitting and design
Water pressure and flow: planning before you choose a shower
At a glance
- A gravity system loses pressure with height, which is why a top-floor shower can underperform while the ground floor is fine.
- Mains-fed systems depend on the incoming supply; a large rainfall head needs a flow rate the supply can actually deliver.
The detail that matters
A gravity system loses pressure with height, which is why a top-floor shower can underperform while the ground floor is fine.
Mains-fed systems depend on the incoming supply; a large rainfall head needs a flow rate the supply can actually deliver.
Common mistakes to avoid
A gravity system loses pressure with height, which is why a top-floor shower can underperform while the ground floor is fine.
Your questions answered
How do I test flow?
Time how long a container of known volume takes to fill from the relevant outlet with other outlets closed.
Will a pump fix everything?
Pumps help gravity systems; they are not appropriate on all system types and must be specified correctly.
Working out what is realistic in your space?
Room dimensions, the position of the window and where the waste leaves the building decide most of it. Send those and we can be specific.