Extreme High Pressure Water

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ronw

1222 posts

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#265689 5-Feb-2020 13:07

I have a high Pressure water feeding a solar hot water system. In the last week the pressure has been way above what we usually have to the point of flooding the shower in a couple of minutes. I have to turn the mixer tab down to mostly cold water as the pressure and hot water can almost scald.

Not sure what is wrong and are looking fir suggestions.

Is it likely to be the Solar Cylinder I have heard people saying they needed to vent the cylinder but not sure why.

Should I close the street Toby to reduce the pressure.

Any suggestions welcome

Thanks

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8315 posts

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#2413065 5-Feb-2020 14:17

If its only just started happening, It sounds like a Pressure reduction valve or tempering valve in the solar plumbing has failed...

Are the plumbers that installed the solar HWC still in business?, if so I would get them, or others with experience with solar) to come an have a look.....

tdgeek

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#2413067 5-Feb-2020 14:25

Does the solar actually matter? We have solar HW, and AFAIK it just recycles hot water from the solar tubes into the cylinder, the tubes are recycled with the cooler water from the bottom of the cylinder. There isnt any pressure involved its just pumped. The only special point I am aware of is that the cylinder can manage 116 C HW temperature (which might be normal anyway, unsure)

Not a plumber just a solar HW user

ronw

1222 posts

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#2413140 5-Feb-2020 15:53

The Solar installer are still in business rang them they did not think the Solar system would suddenly cause increase in pressure. Rang my plumber but not available at moment will ring back later. Just in case it does damage can I back off the street Toby a little would that decrease pressure?

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wellygary

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#2413144 5-Feb-2020 15:57

Winding back the street toby might help,

but, has the cold water pressure gone high as well??, this will be usually be directly from the street feed,,,

but if the Cold water pressure is normal , then something is very odd..

ronw

1222 posts

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#2413160 5-Feb-2020 16:20

Yes Cold water pressure seems to be high throughout the House. it is hard to test as it is very subjective the shower is very noticeable because it is now filling up the shower tray very fast and you can feel the pressure of the spray against skin. Will go and wind back street Tap

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wellygary

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#2413165 5-Feb-2020 16:26

if both are high, then wind back the toby and wait for a plumber to come and have a look,

Paul1977

5042 posts

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#2413715 6-Feb-2020 17:09

I'm going to show my ignorance here.... I thought shower heads and taps were only capable of a maximum L/m flow regardless of the water pressure? Even with increased pressure is it normal that a shower head could flood the shower tray so quickly?

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ronw

1222 posts

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#2413716 6-Feb-2020 17:14

I wound back street Toby but no difference I know that in wall behind shower there are a tap on both hot and cold water so that you can adjust mix. Will try and get to that

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muppet

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#2413809 6-Feb-2020 19:09

Have any of your pipes recently lost their job, or have had something else come up that is causing a load of financial worry?

If they're not sure they're going to be able to pay the bills/feed their family this can put them under a lot of... extra pressure.

I'll get my coat.

Bung

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#2413823 6-Feb-2020 19:40

Paul1977:
I'm going to show my ignorance here.... I thought shower heads and taps were only capable of a maximum L/m flow regardless of the water pressure? Even with increased pressure is it normal that a shower head could flood the shower tray so quickly?

Everything depends on pressure but if the water is starting to back up it could indicate that the shower trap needs a hairball removed. If it isn't a removable trap style of waste but an older trap that is accessed from below, try drain clearer or caustic soda.

The property could have a pressure limiting valve because street pressure is high. Real plumbers say that these can fail whether it's because they are on crack or the water is too potable is just speculation.

mentalinc

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#2413846 6-Feb-2020 20:15

Have you cleaned the shower waste out recently?

You'll be amazed at the hair that gets stuck and can cause the shower tray to be fine one day and flood quickly the next.

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ronw

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#2413899 6-Feb-2020 22:28

Sorry Guys I may have mislead you. The shower is definitely pumping out water at a much higher pressure. When I said that water was building up on shower floor it is not because of the waste being blocked its because there is so much water coming out of shower head. I dropped the shower head and it started to swing around the shower at a furious pace hitting the walls etc. it was like a jet propelled shower head. It has never been like this before.

So problem is definitely increased water pressure way beyond what it has ever been before.

Sorry if I mislead everyone

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JaseNZ

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#2413902 6-Feb-2020 22:34

Yeah I would be getting a plumber in quick smart, if there is that much pressure then something is going to let go and with extra pressure means extra volume of water to destroy everything.

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Paul1977

5042 posts

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#2414129 7-Feb-2020 11:22

ronw:

Sorry Guys I may have mislead you. The shower is definitely pumping out water at a much higher pressure. When I said that water was building up on shower floor it is not because of the waste being blocked its because there is so much water coming out of shower head. I dropped the shower head and it started to swing around the shower at a furious pace hitting the walls etc. it was like a jet propelled shower head. It has never been like this before.

So problem is definitely increased water pressure way beyond what it has ever been before.

Sorry if I mislead everyone

You didn't mislead anyone, I was just surprised that a shower head (even with an increase in pressure) would be capable of pumping out enough water to flood the shower that quickly. I thought maybe you also had a clogged drain that you just never knew about until the pressure increased.

I assume they haven't been doing any work on the street to do with the water supply? Maybe ask your neighbour of they have also experienced an increase in pressure?

Paul1977

5042 posts

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#2414130 7-Feb-2020 11:23

JaseNZ:

Yeah I would be getting a plumber in quick smart, if there is that much pressure then something is going to let go and with extra pressure means extra volume of water to destroy everything.

That's a good point. How old is the house, and what are the pipes made of?

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