Hi sifus,

I have asked this question before and would like to reconfirm again.

My dad's room shower is experiencing low pressure to the point he has to collect the water in the pail for bathing. It seems like the water pressure is getting lower over the years. Many years back, there was no such thing. We have asked plumber to come and check and his solution was to get a pump to boost the pressure. I am not sure I agree with him because we are not sure what the problem is. If 10 years back, we didn't need a pump, why should we now? What is your opinion?

I am considering to change the rainshower as well as the previous one had gone rusty and we kept buying the replaceable ones from hardware shop. If I were to buy a new one, will I need to hire a contractor to help me drill the tiles for installation or the shop selling the rainshower can provide such service?

This post has been edited by janson_kaniaz: Nov 23 2014, 10:51 PM


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is ur house using GI pipe ? those pipes get rusty inside over the years, so u need to clean the pipe as much as possible, or maybe u want to consider making new piping PVC type. No point getting a pump if u r using GI pipe cause it will get rusty inside n the pressure is low again in future. For rain shower u need to have a good water pressure for it to spray properly cause it has many holes.

actually how to tell whether the current internal piping is of GI or PVC?

ya, i felt like the plumber was merely giving me temporary solution instead of solving the true problem...

GI pipe is like those metal pipe, they r smooth inside when new , but when old it becomes rough like cancer





PVC is plastic n in Malaysia we normally use the grey color ones, they r smooth inside n last long but cant stand extreme high heat

the only way I can know the type of pipe in the wall is to see the pipe near the tank right? I assume they are the same right

You need to tell us more.

How old the house. Are the water supply from tank. Have you wash the tank before. How is your kitchen tap pressure. Is your others bathroom have same problem. Any rust color water come out so far.

How old is your house?
If > 10 years, suspect the pipe blocked. You always open the pipe up, the outside parts and see got dirt or not?

my house now is close to 15 yrs now since completion. my room at the same level as my dad's room does not experience the same problem. the tank has not been washed before. all water tap at the ground floor is fine, just the water to my dad's shower got problem. i'm not sure there's any leak since all other water taps seem fine.

supersound how to open the pipe? it's all within the wall...

PS I have attached photos of the water heater and the tank (located at the window at the top). The tank is pretty high which is sufficient to give enough pressure. Plus my dad's room is nearer to the tank than mine.

This post has been edited by janson_kaniaz: Nov 24 2014, 08:13 AM


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all original pipe will b in GI. replace it wit hdpe pipe (d black color 1). or use booster pump whichever solution cheaper.

is HDPE commonly used for heated water line? if the current pipe is clogged, booster pump can only help for few years before the same problem arises again...

This post has been edited by janson_kaniaz: Nov 24 2014, 08:20 AM

Change the shower mixer. Probably clog the mixer already. If this doesn't work, change the stop cock abit higher side around your bathroom.

Your pipe is pvc and water supply from the tank. You need to wash your tank already. The sediment and rust is a lot inside the tank for 15yrs.

if i buy a new rainshower with shower mixer, will the shop provide installation including removing the old one?

how can u tell the pipe is pvc ar? does normal plumber provide tank cleaning service as well?

Best just take out the flexi hose, and try the water pressure without the hose. Sometime the flexi hose is blocked, and some flexi hose have a small wire mesh in between.

I guess no. Installation is extra charge. Not sure plumber will do the cleaning. My whole house water system is DIY. I wash the tank 2x every yrs.

Normally GI pipe is only from the main to the kitchen and water tank. The rest is PVC pipe. Base on your house age.

if the tank is climbable type i also dun mind cleaning myself, it's quite high...
i hope what you said is true, that the pipe is PVC type. removing the pipe due to rust/clog is the last thing i want...

if its heated, best is still GI. u can replace it but no need tanam inside wall.. n u r right ab d booster pump. again, see whichever r cheaper solution

ermm...imho, it really depends. on newer house, mostly use pvc, but old systematic house, all use GI..

This is pretty std plumbing for house in here. GI is for high pressure. While PVC is for low pressure.

Your house is about same age as mind. I map my whole house plumbing system and modify it before go in.

If the plumber can climb, why can't we? My water tank at open rooftop. Climb thousand time. Sometime to enjoy the top view with a nice cold beer while submerge inside the tank.

coz they have extendable ladder and i don't?

You don't need a long ladder if can climb up from 2nd floor.

There is another possibility. Since you never wash your tank before, the rust and sediment probably built up around the pipe hole in the tank and getting small. That reduce the flow.

Standard Sybas pumpling is steel pipeares mandatory for connecting after the Meter. Hence you see most of the old house use GI, because is the cheapest compare to copper and SS pipe.

Of course Sybas take action or not when you use difference pipe is another story.

GI also steel ma. GI is already been using for 40yrs or more. Initial is whole house is GI. Than reduce to only main pipe. Than gradually to poly pipe. And sometime I saw ABS or even PVC for the main.

Wonder later will change to flex hose or not.

But I have been using polyurethane hose with 1 touch fitting for very long. (testing) No problem with the pressure leaking as it can stand for over 10bar for the spec. Very easy work with less tool to fix.

Yes, I saw many even new house development using non steel pipe. Which I know is against Syabas regulation. When I apply for the water meter (After the house left empty for >6 months), syabas need you to get their certified contractor and the contractor will advice you to have a Steel pipe after meter. Difference state maybe have difference rules, and you know how good they enforce the law.

from the picture posted i am guessing you meant the hot water flow is slow?
that pipe is copper pipe. if both of you sharing the same water heater and your water pressure is ok, then it'll be pipe block by dirt or stone.
my tap in toilet needs to clean every few months. can find little stones at the wore mesh

I said wrongly, just open the faucet to check.

we dont share the same water heater.

now when i think back, the water at the basin seems fine, so i assume it might be caused by the shower mixer. i'll probably clean the tank first and change the shower mixer and we'll see how it goes from there...

now the tricky part, who to contact to clean the tank!

so the tank that you took is not the cold water supply tank la.
the cold water tank would be above the ceiling.
usually the cold water from the tank to mixer is PVC pipe.
guess the mixer blocked. or the shower head

ya the main water tank is outside the window, much higher.

anyone any contacts with plumber that can help clean the tank?

Don't one put pump, then just do new pipe direct expose outside from the top of tank to your heater rain shower.

Anyway like water tap internal stuck some dust of smaller fine stone = reduce the water pressure also.

My suggest ask blumber to change new mixer tap or clean out mixer tap as well.

just to update, have just replaced the shower mixer, water pressure is still low, can't get enough pressure to use the shower head

is it normal for hot water tap to have slower water flow? seems like my hot one is very slow, both the shower and basin.




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Maybe your storage side clog. Can try bypass.

the hot water sure lower pressure due to the storage type hot water heater.
There's quite a lot of pressure lost.

How is the water pressure in the kitchen? How about other toilets in the house?
It may be clogged GI Pipes are many forum contributors have mentioned. Have to trace if it is silt from the tank or built up corrosion.
Did you check the supply valve from the tank are fully opened?

ya, i'm thinking to change it to instant type.


all the taps on ground floor is fine. just this particular toilet.

if the supply from storage tank to another toilet is ok, then the home water tank supply is probably fine.
On that particular toilet, is the sink ok or not? Just the shower or the whole toilet is low pressure? May be the pipe is block somewhere upstream from the toilet. try to korek2 and see. Else you need to consult a plumber liao.

If all else fail, HACK THE WALL... at least now you have a reason to change the wall tiles. The design is so old

I think the whole toilet has pressure problem including the sink.

the toilet wall has tiles as high as 4-5 metres up till the ceiling. was hoping to solve it the cheaper way

This post has been edited by janson_kaniaz: Nov 26 2014, 09:52 PM

Have you clean the tank?

And when you ask some plumber cleaning the tank, ask them to clean the internal pipe also. Some plumber have the long wire pipe cleaning with a brush infront. Take out the new mix shower before do the cleaning. Otherwise it block the mixer.

Look for easy solution first before the difficult way.

trying to find someone to clean my tank!

Either change tank, I guess internal has been rusty, not healthy for you, 15 yrs already why still wanna be work.. Nothing can expected

Brand new Joven 25L just Rm699 only

This post has been edited by kimsim: Nov 27 2014, 09:11 PM

how big do u think the existing is?

how many bath for supply it?

kitchen, bath room?

if just 2 bathroom for 20L good than enough.

actually the current heater tank is only for that bathroom. the other bathroom got own heater.

this is 15L?




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15L good than enough.

does anyone know to dismember the goose neck from the body?




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This is an alen key set screw. You need alen key to unscrew the set screw.

finally engaged one of the plumbing company and was told my water pressure at the meter (outside the house) itself is not as high as i initially thought. the guy traced from the tank to ground floor to meter. he suggested to me to lodge a complaint to syabas to ask them to change the pipe coz the water pressure prior to meter is already considerably low.

has anyone got experience complaining to syabas and successfully have the pipe changed by them? i am thinking syabas will probably not entertain my complaints, so was wondering if anyone has any experience changing the pipe prior to meter?

Check with your neighbour to see whether they have the same problem or not

if your water is connected to the tank, water pressure outside no longer matter unless the water unable to reach the tank, and if that is the case, u wont be the 1st person facing the problem, entire area will have the same problem, but if its the tank, then refer to this, i just came across.
http://www.joven-electric.com/page.php?men...=21&parent_id=2

Ya, that is why i suggest TS check with the neighbour 1st

Bro... you managed to solve your water pressure issue already?

TS using storage heater and mixer but dont have a pump. One possible reason, he is using main water for shower instead of water tank.

As i see TS only using hand shower, no rain shower and seems like there is no bathtub there. Actually from start if dont plan to install water pump, straight get instant heater with built in pump, save cost. Usually ppl use storage heater because they wanna install pump for high pressure and flow, but with high flow instant heater may not b hot enough (not enough time to heat up water), so they opt for storage heater (boil and store hot water)


Water from tank wont be strong (no pressure only gravity flow). The only way to have strong pressure is either bypass tank by using MAIN WATER or install a water pump.

If main water is weak or neighbor using water, your water pressure will drop. Imagine you are showering, suddenly some1 downstairs or neighbour turn on water, your pressure will drop, then water will suddenly get hotter, that is why many ppl dont use main water for shower.

So pump is the best solution for consistent strong pressure.

why not install outdoor water pump ...tsunami 0.5 to 0.75hp will do the job

After many tries, I have decided to install outdoor water pump and it solves all the water pressure at home.