Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Oct 11, 2011 5:12 pm We've just moved into a new house which is a duplex in Sydney (Randwick area). The water pressure seems very low (in both units) versus our old house. We're seeing about 6L/minute from just about everywhere at the new place (the front garden taps, inside hot taps, laundry, upstairs cold and hot water taps). In our old house we were seeing about 24+Litres/minute (could fill a 12L bucket in 32 seconds) yet in the new place it's taking about 2 minutes to fill the same bucket... Like i say this is everywhere, including the garden taps in the new house which i presume have no water saving devices nor aeration filters etc attached. We do have instantaneous hot water systems fitted (24L/minute capacity i believe) however given we have such low flow at the front garden tap i would hazard a guess the hot water systems are not prime suspects, but i have no idea really. I've asked the builder to do a pressure test (we're waiting..) but i thought i would ask if anyone knows about NSW/Sydney regulations relating to new dwellings (basix?) and perhaps being a duplex if that complicates matters (perhaps dividing the pipes, although both units have their own meter) or perhaps being a "multi-dwelling" that could complicate matters with basix water saving devices fitted to such dwellings. Anyone exeperenced significantly low water pressure in their new (vs old) house? It's driving us nuts. Re: New house, water flow seems low (Sydney) basix / other r 2Oct 11, 2011 6:08 pm Water pressure is all relevant to where on the pipe you are situated. For instance. My brother lives in Tanunda SA and his house is the very last house on that particular pipe. In winter he has good flows, but summer time it all but dries up. On hot days when everyone is using their hose for the garden, showers are happening ETC... he can turn on his tap and get more water by breaking into a sweat. It is so bad that he had to install a special rainwater tank to fill up and use on the days when the water to his tap stops. So perhaps you are on the end of a line or near the end of a line. It can also mean if you are in an old house that perhaps your pipes are clogged with tree roots ? Re: New house, water flow seems low (Sydney) basix / other r 3Oct 11, 2011 8:28 pm location could be a factor, however in this case we are in a busy suburb, and the house and all pipes are brand new (duplex development just built). we are at the top of a hill, so that could be a factor too, but at a 1/4 of the flow vs the old house, i have the feeling something else is going on, with respect to basix, flow regulation, or similar. Re: New house, water flow seems low (Sydney) basix / other r 4Oct 12, 2011 8:56 am im pretty sure these days that most new houses have restrictors in the water pipes , as water pipes are plastic ,u wouldnt wont a broken pipe fitting in your walls. thats why low pressure, could b wrong though. Re: New house, water flow seems low (Sydney) basix / other r 5Aug 12, 2012 9:55 am Buy yourself a cheap water pressure tester from Bunnings or Reece. The type that connects to a garden tap. Connect it to your garden tap and turn the tap on. Take note of the pressure reading. Then do the same at the front unit on the front garden tap. Compare the two readings. Check at the meters to see if a pressure limiting device has been fitted. Re: New house, water flow seems low (Sydney) basix / other r 6Aug 12, 2012 11:48 am There are quite significant variations around Sydney. I don't think that Sydney water has a minimum flow rate but for other Water Authorities a rate of 20L/Min for 95% of the time is considered the minimum. The 95% of the time is based on the fact that keeping the pressure up on days of high demand is very difficult. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Good luck with it. I don't know what the cost of a nice bidet seat with a 25mm air gap will be but you are obviously deducting the cost of a RPZ valve and its… 9 6985 You may still have a case, but your next step is to speak to a lawyer. 3 1645 If you can calculate the reasonable charged head from let's say 100mm below the gutter to the top of where the vertical riser's horizontal discharge pipe will be, that… 11 17538 |