BOOST HOT WATER PRESSURE - CT Force pump

How to boost your hot water pressure on a gravity fed hot water system. If you have a vented hot water tank you might want to consider boosting the pressure using a Salamander CT Force pump. We show you how to fit one and how they work. We show you how to install a salamander surrey flange to prevent air getting into the pump, and we show you how to pipe one up. I hope you enjoy the video. If you're reading this after the 15/06/2017 then the competition is over!

[TheEulerID]

Have you tried looking at warwick flanges? They are approved by Salamander too, and work in the same way save that the pump outlet comes out the top whilst the hot water outlet is on the side. The advantage of those, is due to the rotating collar, there is complete freedom of direction on both. I've fitted a couple. As the pump feed comes out the top, I also put a manual air vent into the loop above as it allows air to be purged when it's filled.

On those top fittings, I also seal them with a tiny smear of LS-X sealant, as on old tanks they rarely make a good seal with the fibre washers. As for putting PTFE tape on the thread, then I suppose it might make the fitting easier to remove, but those fittings aren't sealed by the thread, they are sealed at the mating surface on the fibre washer.

[jeremyward]

Brilliant video with loads of useful tips and tricks. I was particularly impressed with the noise - or lack of noise rather! Thanks a lot.

[elwittinio]

Just been to a job tonight with exactly this problem. But for a shower gravity fed. Looked at loads of pumps, and I’ve just seen your video. Never a fan of the twin pumps or pumps in general, but needs must. Helped me out a treat, many thanks 🤟🤟

[charlieyoungman]

I’ve just fitted one after seeing this video and THANK YOU. The difference is bordering on being life changing

[robertlowe]

You are worth your weight in gold no kidding! bob here again had this problem for a while flat kitchen bathroom tank on same level, dead slow problem solved thanks to this vid a pump never crossed my mind .my best to family again take care be safe with virus knocking about bob lowe.

[rogergarrick]

Hi Mate Im a licenced plumber in Queensland Australia, I'm moving over to Wolsatanton, Newcastle - Under - Lyme next month to live. UK plumbing is so different to Australia, we haven't used soft solder for over 30 years, we only use silver soldered joints, so that is a BIG learning curve. I have watched a huge amount of your plumbing tips, they are fantastic. Just like to say keep up the great work. I need to have my qualifications recognised by UK plumbing, then I'm sorted and remember HOLD TIGHT

[BariumCobaltNitrogn]

Sparky here, thanks for the shout out, electrical should never be DIY unless it plugs in. And you don't EVER want an extension cord running to a pump like that.
Those stairs, yikes. I'm clean and dry. great vid, good etiquette.

[BloomingEck]

You did a similar video 5 years ago - ie boosting hot water pressure from an indirect cylinder, gravity fed. You mentioned the possibility of air getting into the pump being negligible if the pump had 2-3 meters head; does that advice still hold ?. As in your video I want to feed a number of taps not just a shower - would a surrey flange not 'throttle' the flow ?

[andregriffiths]

Hi James lovely vids as always have you heard of Shower Power Booster pumps and if so what do you think?

[scottobrien]

CT Force is a shower pump rather than a whole house pump. Assuming you are happy that you are unlikely to be running the shower and kitchen taps at the same time, would this be sufficient to boost both outlets as needed? (Standard shower head, one kitchen tap and one bathroom tap).

[emsd]

Just had the guys out to fit one of these today. Thanks for this info I now understand what they did and how it will improve the water pressure for me.

[knightbeat]

I see this problem coming. We have a 35W combi boiler fitted last year. We are building a new extension with a second shower room. I think we will have a low pressure on hot water afterwards. Is there a way to address that issue? The boiler will be in the garage (ground level), the new shower also will be in the ground level, but the existing bathroom is upstairs.

[charlesflint]

Hi, thanks for that. I’ve already bought a 120 w booster pump, but just needed that bit of extra reassurance as to the correct place to connect.

[Captain-Paul]

Would this also work for a downstairs shower to give the hot water enough of a boost to work ok with a thermostatic shower (where the cold water is fed from the mains cold water supply) ??

[christopherpeacher]

I wanted to find out how noisey a pump would be in my new home, I am not a plumber so have not had to hear one before this, seems really good, thanks guys for a great video.

[actiongirl]

I often find myself watching these videos even though I have no need for a pump and I do not have a gravity fed system....it is sometimes frightening how interesting your videos really are. lol. Just reading a few comments I though clearing the area for a tradesperson to work was the norm??? We had an external expansion vessel fitted to our boiler last week and it was sited in a really tight and awkward spot. I moved all small appliances out of the way, cleared the kitchen worktops from the side in use and I even pulled out the washer dryer and disconnected it so the area was set up ready for the plumber to get in and out. Must just be me but you can't expect the plumber to do all that.

[robertallen]

Trying to boost the flow to upstairs hot taps but my hot water pipe from the cylinder goes back up into the loft and across the floor before dropping down to the upstairs bathroom and on to the downstairs tap. Would this type of pump be suitable for my application?

[mikefarquhar]

Nice, I have a question regarding a system same gravity fed hot water cylinder, low pressure and flow rate through hot water potable, but with some big differences, it is in a flat ground floor no upstairs just one floor, the f&e tank and the hotwater cylinder are all in one cupboard in the bathroom right next to the shower, the bottom of the f&e tank feeding the hotwater cylinder is 300mm head between the bottom of the f&e tank and the top of the shower head, and about 1.5mts head height between the bathroom basin tap,
So all of the pipework is under the floor plenty space to get around down there, it's a system boiler else I'd have just went for a balanced system off a combi, but I'm looking for one simple fix- install a pump to boost the hot water.
The plumber fitted a single impeller pump, not a salamander brand, something cheaper from toolstation, its a Stewart Turner showermate, it's not engaging not even with all hotwater taps, I think he's just rigged it to boost the shower, is that even possible?
I thought if it was connected to the hot water pipe system then it would then have more flow rate and then engage pump vie flow switch and boost whole hot water including mixer shower.
The pump sits above the base of the hot water cylinder by about 100mm right next to the cylinder.
With just two pipe in q5mm pvc speed fit,
Would having a larger bore pipe from cylinder to pump the to shower say 22mm help?
or a header pipe at 1" then to 22mm to encourage flow?
I would really appreciate your advice or any onput. Your channel is great! Very informative and a natural entertainer, you're obviously good at your job.
Cheers, Mike.

[Mackeson]

I had one just like that fitted but it died after 4 years. Is there a better quality one you can recommend?

[richardheywood]

Would this pump work in my situation? My house has no gas or oil. My central heating is just all old storage heaters. I have a cold water storage tank sitting above a direct hot water cylinder with the immersion heater in this heating my hot water. I did have all my cold taps and toilet (exception being kitchen cold tap) fed by gravity coming straight off tank and all my hot water obviously gravity from the cylinder. A plumber has re plumbed my bathroom so that every cold outlet is now directly off the mains but obviously hot water still gravity. I want a mixer shower on the bath ran straight off a deck mixer thermostatic tap on the bath. I've been told these require equal hot and cold inlet pressures. Would the ct force pump be the answer to this situation?