Shower Pumps

If your bathroom is beginning to look tired and worn, it may well be time to consider making some changes. The thought of updating your bathroom décor is often accompanied by a sense of impending doom with the inevitable outlay of cash. An update to a rapidly deteriorating bathroom needn’t be an extremely expensive undertaking. On the contrary, with the right advice, you can rejuvenate both the appearance and efficiency of your bathroom affordably in one fell swoop. From replacing outdated, ineffective pumps with newer, more efficient alternatives to updating your décor DIY-style, transforming your bathroom for the better is very much achievable.

Quiet shower pumps

Replacing or installing a new shower pump is a practical move that will serve your bathroom well for years to come. If you don’t already have a shower pump installed, you only have yourself for to blame for the disappointingly weak water flow emanating from your shower. If on the other hand, you do have a shower pump bolstering your water pressure - and have had so for many years, it is most likely time for an upgrade. Technology moves at a rapid rate, and seemingly minor developments can culminate in major improvements in efficiency. This is true too of Salamander shower pumps and Stuart Turner shower pumps.

At Pump Sales Direct, we stock a range of energy efficient products, a great deal of which are shower pumps. Designed to run with extreme efficiency, the installation of one of the latest models of shower pump can equate to a 50% reduction in energy consumption, which is of benefit to both the health of the environment and your finances. Another factor worth noting is just how quiet shower pumps are now. A new shower pump is worth the investment to achieve the kind of tranquilly quiet bathroom you have always hoped for.

Décor

A new shower pump will improve the practical makeup of your bathroom, but it won’t have the kind of impact (at least aesthetically) that actually altering your décor will have.

Lighting

A change in lighting can make a deceptively drastic difference to your bathroom. Scientific studies have demonstrated the strength of the relationship between lighting and mood.  Neglecting older fluorescent lighting in favour of newer LED lighting is an inexpensive way to generate a mood-boosting ambience in your bathroom.

Paint

In a similar fashion to the way a change in lighting can elicit a positive response, so too can a fresh coat of paint. Again, opting for lighter colours is the best strategy. While repainting your bathroom is inexpensive, it does however demand a fair amount of hard work. From ridding the bathroom walls of soap scum to painting around toilet tanks, painting a bathroom properly is no easy task.

Armed with this knowledge, you should be well-equipped to go about injecting a new lease of life into your bathroom. If you are interested in purchasing one of our products but still have a few questions you need answering before you take the plunge, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can contact us by email, phone or through this contact form.

At Pump Sales Direct, one of our most enduringly popular products is the shower pump. And as one of our most popular products, the burden of responsibility falls on us to provide all potential and current customers with the information with which to make a smart and informed purchase. As simple as the premise of a shower pump is - to boost the water flow emanating from a shower - there are a variety of surrounding complexities that can act as stumbling blocks for customers. One of the most prevalent of which we are going to attempt to answer today - can a shower pump be used with a combi boiler?

What is a combi boiler?

Combi (or combination) boilers are the culmination of a recent spate of research and investment into making a more compact, energy-efficient and cost-efficient replacement for the traditional boiler. While their comparable efficiency has made them a popular choice in recent years they still lag someway behind conventional boilers - partly because of their newness and partly because they can only service smaller properties.

Essentially, a combi boiler is a central heating boiler and a high efficiency water heater rolled into one single compact unit. They operate at mains pressure, which means they don’t the hot and cold water tanks that typically provide for a traditional boiler - which has has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, they are able to provide an instant supply of temperature regulated water as and when required. On the other hand, they are only able to provide homes with a limited supply of water, meaning that combi boilers are only really sufficient for smaller properties where its capacity to provide hot water to only one source at a time isn’t an issue.

Why can’t a shower pump be used with a combi boiler?

Combi boilers’ reliance on mains pressure is both a blessing and a curse. While it saves space by rendering hot and cold water tanks redundant, it also negates the possibility of adding a shower pump to the system to bolster water pressure.

What are the alternatives?

Ideally, you made sure to check that the flow rate and capacity of your combi boiler is compatible with your shower prior to purchase. However, if you hadn’t, you may need to install an entirely new shower in order to get your water pressure up to the desired level.

What if I don’t have a combi boiler?

If however, you don’t have a combi boiler fitted in your home, shower booster pumps are more than capable of boosting your shower’s water pressure. Instead of being stuck with a shower that isn’t compatible with the rest of your home’s system, most traditional setups can easily be altered and adjusted for the better with the addition of a home booster pump.

Stuart Turner shower pumps and Salamander shower pumps alike, we have a diverse range of quiet shower pumps available at Pump Sales Direct. If you have any questions or queries about any of our products, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member our team by email or phone - or even this contact form.

A shower pump can have a transformative impact on the quality of the showers in your home. There can however, be an imposing number of barriers to acquiring a quality and affordable pump that perfectly services your home. A shower pump is a sizeable investment and you want to be sure that every penny that you do put towards it is worth it. Acquiring a top of the range product that services your home perfectly is essential. With this in mind, we have put together this guide that answers many of the most common questions and queries that people have when it comes to Grundfos shower pumps. There are a number of inherent factors that affect the lifespan of shower pumps but it is worth noting that there are external factors that also play a role.

Brand name

A well-respected and well renowned brand name is often a signifier of quality and the same is true for shower pumps. At Pump Sales Direct, you will only find products from leading manufacturers, meaning that you can rest assured that each and every purchase you make is a worthwhile investment.

Water quality in your area

The hardness of water is dictated by the levels of dissolved minerals that are present within it. High volumes of magnesium and calcium make hard water particularly reactive - leading to a plethora of inconvenient outcomes. Washing your hands with a combination of soap and hard water is likely to leave behind a residue of sorts. Similarly, in the presence of heat, dissolved calcium reacts to form solid carbon carbonate, which is why hard water leaves behind scale in heating equipment throughout the home. Because of this reaction, the harder the water is in your area, the quicker your shower pump is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, the lifespan of a shower pump can be reduced by the quality of your water supply.

So, what is the average lifespan of a shower pump?

Typically, excepting the influence of all the aforementioned factors and any other uncontrollable interruptions, you can expect a shower pump to last for somewhere around eight years. Of course, this is just a generalised observation and if you are looking for further indication of the durability of the shower pump you are buying, you are best checking the duration of the warranty that has been offered to you. A warranty more or less guarantees the product’s survival. At Pump Sales Direct, the vast majority of our shower pumps are protected by comprehensive two year warranties.

Where to direct any further questions and queries you may have

If you feel any of your questions have been left unanswered, or if you simply need further explanation or clarification, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our dedicated team are ready and waiting to field any of your questions and queries. Call us on 0800 008 6405, email us or use the contact form on our website.

If you have spent a fair bit of time browsing through the range of shower pumps we have on sale, you may have noticed a piece of notation you were not familiar with - the letter B. Accompanying the brand of shower pump, the number of impellers it has, and its listing as positive or negative head, is a two digit number that lies somewhere within the 1.0 to 5.0 range. This number is an indication of a shower pump’s bar rating. To give you a better insight into exactly what bar is, how it works and how it should affect your decision to buy or not buy a particular shower pump, we have put together this helpful guide.

What is bar?

First things first, an explanation of bar is required. Bar is a metric unit of atmospheric air pressure, and the bar rating of a shower pump is a reflection of its ability to generate pressure. The higher the bar rating, the higher pressure the shower pump is capable of generating. More precisely, 1 bar of pressure is equal to the pressure exerted by 10m of water. Although there are instances of pumps with a full range of bar ratings from 0.5B right through to 5.0B, the vast majority of shower pumps lie somewhere in the 1.5B to 4.5B range.

What bar shower pump do I need?

The sheer scale of the room you aim to service with your shower pump is perhaps the simplest yet strongest indication you can garner of the bar rating you’ll need. A pump with a 0B or 0.5B rating (a rating which you’ll really struggle to find) is incapable of generating any of its own pressure, meaning it is largely reliant on gravity to shift water from A to B. At the opposite end of the spectrum are pumps with a rating of 4.0B, which possess the ability to move masses of water. So much so, that a Grundfos shower pumps guide suggests that a pump with a rating of 4.0B can service two bathroom suites single-handedly. From that, you should have a better idea of the kind of bar rating your shower pump is likely to need.

What other factors should I consider?

Alongside bar, there are a number of other factors you should consider before committing to buy a certain shower pump. Just as important, if not more so, is the positive or negative head status of your shower pump. So too is the pump’s centrifugal or regenerative status. You can read about the implications of positive and negative head shower pumps, as well as centrifugal and regenerative shower pumps here.

What next?

Hopefully, you have a far greater understanding of bar, and how differences in its rating are likely to affect the kind of shower pump you require. If you need a more detailed explanation, or want some clarification on the specifications of a particular product, you can contact us by phone (0800 008 6405) email (customerservices@pumpsalesdirect.com) or through the contact page on our website.

Winter is a time where we all get to relax more than we should, eat more than we should and spend more than we should. When it comes to spending money though, we want to be sure that it goes on gifts for our closest friends and family – not on mundane but essential updates to our home. Unfortunately, the festive period also brings with it some of the worst weather the year has to throw at us, making repairs to plumbing and heating apparatus all too common. To ensure none of this seasonal reaches you over the winter months, you may want to consider some of the following changes to keep your bank balance as healthy as possible.

Shower pumps

Salamander are one of the leading pumps brands around, and from their base in the South East, they have been providing UK homes with the highest quality pumping products for years. A core part of their range that will guarantee you perfectly pressured showers in spite of any boiler problems that may arise during the colder months, is the salamander shower pump. A shower pump of this quality is as effective as they get, and will keep your water pressure intact without any of the associated extra cost that you might otherwise expect.

Circulating pumps

Whilst you may not be familiar with circulating pumps, they are actually one of the most cost-effective heating products money can buy. By ensuring that hot water is distributed evenly throughout the home, any additional and unnecessary expense is circumvented. Not only does the efficiency of a circulating pump minimise the cost of your water bill, it also ensures that extra energy won't be expended heating up water that won’t be used - allowing you to rest assured that your actions aren’t taking a toll on the environment.

Grey water recycling

Similarly, a grey water pump is ideal not just for those of us who are desperate to safeguard the health of the planet for the foreseeable future; it is also perfect for those of us who are more conscious than ever of exactly how much money we are spending (which is especially true during the festive period). A grey water recycling pump achieves both of these things by repurposing all of the grey water that would otherwise go to waste (from your baths, showers, dishwashers and sinks) for use elsewhere in the home. Given that a grey water recycling system is more than capable of reducing water usage by up to 50%, the upfront investment is miniscule and one you should be certain of considering.

Sump pumps

The threat of flooding is never higher than over the bitterly cold and wet winter months - whether that is from a particularly heavy downpour or pipes frozen to the point of bursting. Fortunately, there is one simple step you can take to stave off costly water damage. Installing a sump pump provides a hardy barrier to flooding by automatically casting away any water that may accumulate in the home. Once again, it is an essential initial investment that will easily repay itself over time.

Increased investment into sport, accompanied by developments in science and technology, have dramatically changed the way elite level athletes are being treated for their injuries. Some of the newer treatments that had previously been reserved only for full-blown injuries have now been incorporated into the everyday routine of many professional athletes, as part of a strategy to enhance rest and recovery. And no treatment has benefitted more from changing attitudes than hydrotherapy.

Whole Body Cryotherapy

An exercise that started as a treatment for rheumatism in Japan in 1989 has since become standard practice the world over. By plunging the body into startling temperatures of -160°C, the brain reacts by stimulating the process of vasoconstriction - causing the arteries and the veins that carry blood to narrow. Because of this, less blood, and therefore fewer white blood cells, reaches the inflamed areas of the body, resulting in a reduction in swelling. Other rumoured effects include a feeling of well-being, increase in mood, and better quality sleep. The scientific basis is, at best, sketchy, but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Leicester City and the Welsh rugby team from undergoing whole body cryotherapy on a regular basis.

Cold water immersion

While human nature explains why whole body cryotherapy has superseded the popularity of ice baths (people would rather be colder for a shorter period of time) the evidence actually suggests that the less popular (and harder to endure) practice is actually a more effective one. Research published in June declared that undergoing cold water immersion at 8°C for ten minutes produced a greater decline in tissue temperature and blood flow than those who underwent whole body cryotherapy at -110°C for just two minutes.

Traditional hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy in its truest sense is used throughout professional sports. Typically in a heated, rectangular pool, athletes benefit from the reduced load environment offered by the water. For this reason, traditional hydrotherapy is particularly popular for early forays into rehabilitation. Because of the variety of depths, underwater exercises can be accomplished by players with different injuries at different stages of their injuries.

Standard hot shower

As much as it seems that wince-inducing cold is the only way to go when it comes to hydrotherapy, a standard warm shower can also be beneficial. Because hot water encourages vasodilation, blood flow is increased - meaning muscles are relaxed and lactic acid is flushed out - making a warm shower the perfect way to recover from anaerobic exercise. And, as with any hydrotherapy treatment, you want to make it as easy as possible to endure, so investing in a shower booster pump that can provide you with the perfect water pressure is a must.

In summary, hydrotherapy is far from a perfect way to address recovery, but it is nevertheless a helpful one. The effects may be minimal, but that can be the difference between success and failure. And nowhere are these margins more critical than in the world of elite professional sports, which is probably why they have been more widely adopted in this arena than anywhere else.

Designing a new bathroom can be a real headache. More often than not, bathrooms are already one of the smaller sized rooms in the house. When you add showers, sinks and toilets to it, it can make planning your new bathroom very tricky indeed. Juggling these space constraints whilst simultaneously worrying about functionality, visual appeal and durability, can lead to a muddled approach, and a disappointing, sub-par bathroom. To walk you through this process, and point out what you should be prioritising, we have put together this quick guide to designing a new bathroom.

Functionality

At the end of the day, a bathroom’s functionality is of utmost importance. If your shower doesn’t work and your toilet doesn’t flush, you’re going to run into some problems. With this in mind, you want to be certain that all of your appliances, regardless of appearance, will function the way you need them to. And Grundfos pumps UK are a manufacturer you can rely on. From home booster units that can resolve low water levels to central heating circulators that can single-handedly improve efficiency across an entire system;  Grundfos can help you sculpt a superbly functioning bathroom.

Durability

When you are investing money into anything, one of the very first questions you should ask is: how long is it going to last? And this ethos is definitely applicable to bathrooms. While wallpaper might be an attractive short term investment, it is exactly that - short-term - it might be visually appealing, but it won’t last a fraction of the time that tiles will. Tiles are far better suited to tolerate splashes of water and clouds of steam, offering you superior value for money.

Visual appeal

Your primary concern should always be quality, but that does not mean you need to scrimp on the visual aspect of your bathroom. Brass fittings have experienced a resurgence as of late, mostly because of its warm tones that help to distinguish it from the  cold and clinical looking, albeit popular, chrome and nickel. A distinctive vanity cabinet can have a similarly drastic effect. By acting as the focal point of the bathroom, it can add a healthy amount of character. It is however, vitally important to consider how your own financial and space restrictions can dictate your ability to outfit your bathroom in the exact way you want it to.

Space

One way of circumventing a space issue is to choose a floating vanity cabinet. Its ability to float far from voids the traditionally elegant nature of the vanity cabinet, and creates space that otherwise would not exist. As well as providing additional storage space, the floating vanity cabinet, more importantly, creates the perception of a larger bathroom. Equally deceptive but effective are large mirrors and glass panels, both of which are adept at creating the illusion of a bigger bathroom.

In the desperate dash to attain the perfect summer body, to luxuriate with a certain confidence on the beaches and swimming pools of the world, more and more people are exploring alternative ways of losing weight. You may be familiar with the 5:2 diet, the Atkins diet, as well as the Dukan diet, but have you heard of people purposely exposing themselves to cold conditions in order to lose weight? The latest weight loss trend reportedly requires no change in exercise or diet, leading some of us to posit that it sounds too good to be true - let’s find out.

Initial discovery

Non-shivering thermogenesis is a burgeoning field that has less than ten years of research and investigation under its belt. The brainchild of a former NASA materials scientist, Ray Cronise boldly surmised that Michael Phelps was able to maintain a steady weight despite his 12,000 calorie daily intake because of the amount of time he spent immersed in cool water. It turned out he was right. After a bout of self-experimentation, which included cold showers, winter walks, and sleeping without sheets, Cronise discovered that he was able to lose 26 pounds in a matter of six weeks. And thus, the field of non-shivering thermogenesis was born.

The theory behind it

So does the theory support Cronise’s hypothesis? A spate of recent research would suggest so. Understanding why cold causes weight loss first requires an understanding of brown adipose tissue (or brown fat). Also in its infancy research-wise, the presence of brown fat in humans was only unearthed less than a decade ago, when a PET scan conducted by Jan Nedergaard and Barbara Cannon to locate the presence of tumours in a patient, instead found an unrecognisable cluster of dark spots, that were later identified as brown adipose tissue. When the body is cold, it can warm itself by burning up stores of brown fat to generate heat. For this reason, cold can cause weight loss without any need to exercise or alter food intake.

Putting theory into practice

Wouter van Marken Lichenbelt, a professor at Maastricht University who headed research on non-shivering thermogenesis, concluded that “mild cold exposure increases body energy expenditure without shivering and without compromising our precious comfort,” yet it is achieving this precise state that makes it so difficult. How cold is too cold?

Lifestyle changes

Ray Cronise, the father of non-shivering thermogenesis himself, advocates a number of simple lifestyle changes. Cronise avoids turning the heating on, sleeps without even a sheet, never mind a duvet, and always opts to forgo a jacket where others would be altogether more indecisive. Whilst all of these measures will undoubtedly test your resolve and endurance, all are free and uncomplicated to implement, and should see you lose a few pounds in no time.

Ice vest

Others prescribe more extreme measures. Wayne Hayes has developed an ice vest that can be worn throughout the work day, although he only suggests wearing it twice a day, for up to an hour at a time.

Cold or tepid showers and baths

If you want more immediate results but you aren’t prepared to walk around with an ice vest underneath your clothes, a more practical alternative is to swap out a hot shower or bath for a cold or even tepid one. To salvage some remaining enjoyment out of the shower, you should at least make sure the pressure of your shower is protected, and you can do this by acquiring a salamander pump.

While the exact relationship between cold temperatures and metabolic action of brown adipose tissue is far from set in stone (especially as stores of brown fat vary from person to person) it is clear that tolerating lower temperatures does cause weight loss. And the means by which you choose to do this is completely up to you - good luck!

In Britain, we are unaccustomed to it being dry, never mind hot. When temperatures do climb above the 20°C mark, it tends to elicit a state of panic - with people scrambling for sun screen, shades and ice cream. And that is exactly what we are in for this summer if recent weather reports are to be believed - surges of heart are set to be part and parcel of 2017.While we’d like to think we all relish the sunshine, there are some downsides. The most obvious of which is miserable and fitful sleep. To help you keep cool in the sun and sleep soundlessly, here are some of the most effective solutions. Some will be obvious, and others may surprise you!

Eat less and more often

Heat tends to stifle the appetite and you should probably follow your body’s lead if you want to stay cool this summer. When we eat food, our body expends energy digesting it, producing metabolic heat in the process. The larger the meal we eat, the more metabolic heat our body creates. For this reason, it is best to sacrifice bigger meals for smaller, more frequent ones - your body temperature will thank you!

Keep away from alcohol and caffeine

A cold beer and a refreshing glass of white wine are staples of summer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are ideal for the hot weather. As you may already be all too aware, alcohol dehydrates the body, which can lead to headaches, dizziness, tiredness and even heat exhaustion, all of which are exacerbated by high temperatures. Caffeine-containing drinks are just as bad for dehydrating the body. While it is unlikely you’ll be putting the kettle on for a cup of coffee with the sun beaming overhead, you may fancy a quick, caffeine-filled coke. You are far better off drinking water instead, which will keep you hydrated and cool.

Hot or cold shower?

Logically speaking, it seems obvious that taking a cold shower would be perfect for relief from the hot weather. Think again. Taking a cold shower actually causes our core temperature to increase. Because our skin temperature is dramatically reduced under the jets of cold water, the body decreases blood flow and therefore reduces its ability to lose heat. The cool shower will give you an initial feeling of coolness, but within minutes you will have inadvertently made yourself warmer. That is why it is better to stick to a warm, or if you don't think you can tolerate it, a tepid temperature shower. Regardless, you want to be certain that your shower is performing at peak capacity and packaged pump systems are the best way to achieve it.

Light clothing - in all senses of the word

Lighter colours reflect heat radiation from the sun whilst darker hues absorb it, making it vital to to stick to lighter coloured clothing to avoid sticking to your clothes. In terms of material, opt for natural materials over synthetic ones, cotton and linen won’t cling to your skin and trap heat like their synthetic counterparts, allowing you to stay cool.

By definition, a pump is a device that moves fluids by mechanical action. The form which this mechanism takes is becoming more and more diverse. We are all familiar with central heating pumps and shower pumps, but pumps are increasingly being used to save lives across the globe, thanks to the latest technology. From people suffering from heart problems in the UK, to those struggling with respiratory problems in Malawi, pumps have been able to grant them all a new lease of life.

Preventing death from waterborne diseases

In many areas across the world, people do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Often dependent on a single body of water, residents often have no choice but to consume contaminated water plagued with disease. Inevitably, this leads to countless deaths from diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and cholera.

That is why it is so important that wells are built to provide safe drinking water. Fresh water can be transported up to ground level from hundreds of feet below using submersible pumps, providing residents with water they can consume without risking death.

Saving those that are too ill to undergo a heart transplant

A research programme headed by world renowned heart surgeon, Sir Magdi Yacoub, has made huge strides towards saving the lives of those who would otherwise die waiting for heart transplants from cardiomyopathy. Instead, a 3 by 5 inch pump is implanted into the abdomen and attached to the left ventricle. Deputising for the failing left ventricle, the HeartMate 2 allows the heart to continue to pump fresh blood around the body.

While the heart is bolstered by the pump, the patient is given high doses of heart failure drugs that the diseased heart would not otherwise be able to cope with. Many patients, who were so ill that they were taken off the heart transplant list, were able to make a full recovery thanks to this pump without even having to undergo a transplant.

Innovations that are saving people in the developing world

In the developing world, conventional medical technology is invariably too expensive to procure. Fortunately, researchers at world leading universities like Rice and MIT have created viable, cost-effective alternatives for those in developing countries in desperate need of medical assistance.

Bicycle pump nebuliser

One such example is the spawn of MIT’s Innovations in International Health; a nebuliser constructed using a bicycle pump. For the unfamiliar, a nebuliser provides emergency relief for patients suffering from respiratory diseases. The bicycle pump replaces the air compressor of the nebuliser, and allows it to run in the absence of electricity, making it a more cost-effective and versatile replacement.

Fish tank pump CPOP machine

Another example of innovation at its finest is the fish tank pump that is being used to ensure the survival of premature new-borns in developing countries. Researchers at Rice University have created a functioning Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine for a tenth of the price - using only a box and a fish tank pump. Trialled in Malawi, the device had an immediate impact, the survival rate of premature babies jumped from 43% to 71%.