The bar size shower pump you need will be determined by the pressure requirements of your home. You need to consider:

  • The size of the showerhead
  • Size of your home
  • The amount of water in your storage tank

You need to consider each of these factors carefully before purchasing a shower pump. It may seem like a good idea to purchase a cheaper, low-pressure shower pump, but if you have a large showerhead then it may fail to adequately boost the water pressure in your shower.

To help you consider which bar shower pump is right for your home, we have a few general rules that should help you make a purchase decision.

Showerhead Size

The bigger your showerhead the more powerful the pump you will need. This is because you will need a larger flow of water, at a higher pressure, to deliver a refreshing boost at your showerhead.

The image below is a rough guide to help. Where your measurements fall between two categories, always choose the higher bar shower pump.

graphic showing what bar size shower pump you need based on the showerhead diameter

Size of Your Home

Big family homes will generally require bigger shower pumps. This is because more people will be using water outlets in your home at the same time. In larger homes, the water will have further to travel and are also likely to have larger showerheads.

We’ve detailed some general rules below, but there are likely to be exceptions to these rules.

graphic showing you which shower pump to get for your different size home

A small flat

If you’re living in a small flat, apartment or house as a bachelor/bachelorette or with one partner, then you will generally need to purchase a shower pump with 1.0 to 1.5 bar pressure. You should also consider the size of your showerhead. If your showerhead is quite large, then you may need a pump with a bit more pressure.

A small family (2 Bedroom House)

A young, small family in a smaller house will generally need something around 2.0 bar of pressure. You may be able to get away with 1.5 bar, but again it will really depend on the size of your showerhead. For a normal shower with low-pressure issues, we would recommend a 2.0 bar shower pump.

A family of four (3 Bedroom House)

The average family of four in a standard semi-detached house will need a shower pump between 2.0 to 3.0 bars of pressure. If you have a busy morning where lots of people are using the bathroom at the same time, then we’d recommend purchasing a pump with about 3.0 bars. And again, if the showerhead is quite large, over 10cm in diameter, or has booster jets, then we recommend going for the higher pressure shower pump.

Multiple showers

If you live in a more modern home with multiple showers in use at one time, then we suggest purchasing a pump with at least 3.0 bars of pressure. If the showerheads are quite large, or have a booster or massage function, then you should consider even 3.6 bars and above.

Size of Your Cold Water Tank

You should also check the size of your cold water tank. You will need at least a 50 gallon (225 litres) water tank to supply any shower pump upwards of 1.5 bar. A shower pump above this bar will use all your water before you’ve even got in the shower. For bigger homes using a powerful shower pump, you should consider installing an even bigger tank to ensure you have adequate water supplies.

Free Advice

Shower pumps can be complicated tools, and each home will create an exception to the rule. For more dedicated advice, speak our shower pump experts for free on: