Are you tired and frustrated with your low water pressure problem?
😫 Does water pressure fall when two bathrooms are in use?
😫 Hot water not consistent?
😫 Your shower temperature drops when people turn on the kitchen tap?
WE FEEL YOU
It won’t be the first time I hear...
😡 “Horrible! I can’t enjoy my expensive rain shower!?!”
😡 “I am wasting so much time!”
😡 “Absolute Nightmare for people with long hair!”
I'm sure you tried your VERY BEST to get a solution.
It is frustrating. Low water pressure is a tricky situation that can go on for weeks. So we're here to help!!
Let's get right into four eye-opening facts about water pressure in Singapore!!!
#1 Where You Live Matters
High rise apartments
Homes 25m below sea level get direct water supply from PUB. Homes above this mark get indirect water supply from the water tank.
Water pressure varies in these two separate sections. Common feedback:
• water pressure is high on low floors
• water pressure is low on high floors
Private housing
Houses with levels 25m below sea level get direct water supply from PUB. Levels above the mark get water from a tank at the roof.
Water pressure is around 12 to 18 lit/min, direct supply from PUB.
#2 The Heater Affects Water Pressure
Modern luxuries demand higher water pressure
In the past, we Singaporeans were content with low pressure heaters. Today, luxuries like rain showers are all the rage. These run on high water pressure. Try to take away someone’s rain shower option and you’ll see how upset they get!
If you check into a 5-star hotel today and they’re using low pressure heaters.. Your bath tub would take an hour to fill. It’s likely you’ll check out right away and maybe write a complaint.
What worked 20 years ago won’t work today as the standards have gone up. That’s why knowing what pressure each heater delivers is so important.
Instant Heaters: Low pressure
Instant or tankless water heaters have an in-built flow restrictor. This helps to slow down water flow rate and gives it time to heat up.
The hot water flow rate of instant heaters are 4 lit/min. Examples:
• electric instant heaters
• gas heaters
• multipoint heaters
Storage Heaters: High Pressure
Heaters with a tank maintain the max pressure.
If cold water goes into the tank at 15 lit/min, the hot water output is 15 lit/min. The limiting factor is the flow rate of the shower head.
Examples:
• electric storage heaters
• solar heaters
• heat pump heaters
The BathBox: The Hybrid Heater
There are some bathrooms which are too small to house any storage tank. For that, there is a cool in-between solution. Perfect for tiny bathrooms!
It is the BathBox. At a flow rate of 7 lit/min, it provides much higher water pressure than an instant heater. What's the catch? No rain showers, it is better to use a hand shower with this one. Check it out here.
It does not matter if you are a client or not. Feel free to call us about any water pressure related issue.
We believe in educating and empowering you to make informed choices. If we can help you in some way, that would make our day!
We have provided solutions for countless people at their wits end about their water pressure problems! Drop us a line or WhatsApp if you are still stuck. We are ready to help.
High water pressure is not always good
There is a sweet spot. You want to aim for 2 to 3 bars of water pressure at your incoming water source. You can get a plumber to measure this for you at the home riser.
If your water pressure is too high (5 to 10 bars), your mixers and taps will be under lots of stress and will break down faster. Your water heater is not designed to operate at such high pressures either. You will encounter issues like high-pitched sounds and excessive leaking from the safety valve.
What to do if water pressure is too high?
If your water pressure feels too strong, don’t try to fix it yourself. High pressure can damage your taps, water heater, and other fittings, so get it checked fast.
Call your Town Council (for HDB) or MCST (for condo). They can measure the pressure and decide if a pressure reducer is needed.
Homeowners like us don’t have access to the main water line. Only the authorities can safely adjust it, so leave it to them to turn the pressure up or down properly.
Can I use ONE heater for TWO bathrooms?
Storage heaters can be shared, but not instant or tankless heaters. The hot water pressure will be too low. A instant heater produces 4 lit/min, which is good for one bathroom.
Storage heaters can supply 2 to 3 bathrooms. The water pressure drop is about 20%, because they use mixers. In a mixer, hot water is mixed with cold water. The two inputs of water create higher water pressure.
#3 The Shower Head Will Affect Pressure
Different shower heads will give you varying results. It is good to understand what type of water pressure you have at home before selecting a shower. Below is a brief guide on the flow rates for each type of showerhead.
From here, you can gauge which showers you can use. The most common shower head in HDB and condos is the 10 lit/min rain shower. Landed homes have higher water pressure. They may use fancier shower jets or waterfall shower spouts.
Instant water heater: What type of shower head to use?
Every instant heater comes with a shower head set in the box. Use this. These special shower heads have smaller hole sizes. This makes the water pressure coming from your shower head feel stronger.
A shower head tip
Still feel like you’re not getting the right pressure from your shower? A simple fix: change your shower head to one with a lower max flow rate.
Many European brands have high-flow shower heads. These cater to the high end market. Paired with low-water pressure, these can make the water pressure feel weaker.
How to tell flow rate of a tap or shower?
In Singapore, all taps have a WELS label. The flow rate is on the label.
The more ticks there are, the lower the flow rate. The lower the flow rate, the more water you save.
Sometimes, you can get the best of both worlds. An efficient shower head can create higher pressure while saving money.
#4 Pressure Pumps are illegal
Every one wants higher water pressure but this isn’t always good. Do you know that pressure that is too high, say 5 bar and move can damage your pipes? It also puts stress on your taps. Their lifespan will drop. The idea pressure is within 2 to 3 bars.
Pressure Pumps / Booster Pumps
If your water pressure is low, don’t install a booster pump on your own. These are illegal and selfish because they draws water pressure away from your neighbours. If found with a pressure pump, you may get a fine.
The best method is to call the Town Council or MCST for a solution. They can fix your issue at the source.
Water Pressure FAQ
Do heat pumps have a pressure pump?
Heat pumps are not ‘pumps’, they are a type of storage heater. They get their name by ‘pumping’ free air heat into the water heater.
As they are storage heaters, the water pressure of these heaters are high.
Which heaters reduce water pressure?
Instant or gas heaters will reduce your water pressure.
Storage heaters do not reduce your water pressure, but neither do they increase it. They retain the same water pressure at inlet and outlet. If hot water is released from the tank at 15 lit/min, cold water goes into the tank at 15 lit/min.
If you want to increase your water pressure, the only way is to do it at the water mains before it enters your home. For this, you need to contact your building management MCST (condos), Town Council (HDB).
Will a pre filter reduce my water pressure?
- The pre filter (G1 model) can be installed in HDB and condos without reducing water pressure.
- For buildings or large areas, use B1 model with a higher rated pressure.
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