When fitting new taps and shower valves water pressure can be a very important factor in choosing which products will be suitable. Normally the cold water pressure doesn't present a problem as this should be at the pressure of the mains, but the pressure of the hot water must be taken into consideration when deciding which tap style to choose. This is because a tap that is designed for a high pressure water supply can take an excessively long time to fill up a bath if it is fitted on a gravity fed system, and likewise a high pressure shower valve can be reduced to little more than a trickle.
Before choosing the taps or shower valve it is important to know the current pressure of the hot water system. Water pressure can be measured in three common units, bar, psi and Head (m). 1 bar = 10 metres Head = 14.5 psi.
There are two types of domestic hot water systems Pressurised and Unpressurised. Below is some help in understanding more about water pressures.
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