TechIn most homes water comes from an overhead tank by gravity. Gravity gives about 0.1 bar of pressure for every metre of height between the water level in the tank and the outlet. That is why the ground floor feels fine while the top-floor shower only trickles.
Common causes
- Not enough height. If the tank is only 1 to 2 metres above the top-floor shower, you get just 0.1 to 0.2 bar. A good shower needs about 1.5 bar.
- Narrow or long pipes. Half-inch lines with many bends lose a lot of pressure along the way.
- Air locks in the pipes after the tank runs dry.
- Blocked shower heads and aerators. Hard borewell water leaves scale that chokes the small holes.
- Partly closed valves left over from a repair.
Quick checks you can do
- Remove the shower head and aerators and soak them in vinegar to dissolve the scale.
- Open every valve on the line fully.
- Bleed air from the highest tap after refilling the tank.
The lasting fix: a pressure booster pump
A booster pump installed after the overhead tank or sump raises the pressure at every outlet. A model with a pressure tank and automatic control starts when a tap opens and stops when it closes. You get steady, even pressure on every floor without any switch to remember.
For most homes, a 0.5 to 1.0 HP booster with a 24 to 60 litre tank is enough. Read our guide on how to choose a pressure booster pump to size it, or contact us and we will do it for you.
