10 Best Shower Pumps Including Different Types And Benefits

If you ever wondered why your shower has a weak flow, this is because the hot and cold-water tanks are too low which is why I have put together this 10 best shower pumps guide explaining all the different types of pumps and the benefits between them

Let me explain.

Hot and cold water in your home are both on a gravity feed system; this is where you rely on the flow of water being above the tallest outlet, which in most cases is the shower valve.

For the best showering experience without using a pump, you require a good flow of water from your hot and cold water tanks.

If your hot and cold water tanks are both in the loft, you will most likely have a reasonable flow rate of water which means you will have a good showering experience same as if you have an unvented hot water cylinder then you would not require a shower pump as the cold water is mains water and the hot water is pressurised, I have more information about unvented hot water cylinders for you.

Different Water Flow Rates Explained

Most homes will have their hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard which would be on the same level as the shower which would mean the flow rate to your shower on the hot side would be below.

The cold water tank is more likely in the loft which is above the shower valve, which means you would have a reasonable flow rate on the cold side, this would cause you to have different flow rates between the hot water and the cold water giving you a bad shower experience.

Thankfully this is where shower pumps come in.

The Benefits Of A Shower Pump

Shower pumps are designed to pump water from both hot and cold-water tanks at equal pressures at high speeds.

The benefits of a shower pump are to give and better shower experience by giving you better water flow out of your shower, resulting in a power shower.

What Is The 10 Best Shower Pumps 

We have put together a guide to the 10 best shower pumps for you, and then we will give you more information on how to choose the best shower pump for you and your home.

1. Stuart Turner – Eco Twin 1.5 bar twin
2. Stuart Turner – Monsson 2.0 bar twin
3. Stuart Turner – Monsoon 3.0 bar twin
4. Grundfos – Amazon 3.0 bar Twin
5. Salamander CT50CTRA 1.5 bar twin
6. Bristan - 1.5bar twin
7. Stuart Turner – Monsoon Universal 1.5 bar twin
8. Salamander - CTU60BU 1.8 bar
9. Salamander - CTFORCE 20TU 2.0 bar
10. Grundfos – 96788173 3.0 bar

Positive Head Shower Pumps

1. Stuart Turner - Showermate Eco Twin 1.5 Bar Twin

The Stuart Turner shower mate eco twin impeller positive head shower pump is a great little pump that is perfect for domestic use with a single-function shower, bath or basin mixer tap on a positive head system.

This shower pump gives a flow rate of just 0.8l per min.

Stuart Turner is a well know brand for shower pumps with over 110 years of engineering excellence which makes them the UK’s market-leading manufacturer of shower pumps for over 40 years.

2. Stuart Turner – Monsoon Shower Pump 2.0 Bar Twin

The Stuart Turner monsoon 2.0 bar twin impeller positive head shower pump is excellent is designed for installation on both hot and cold water supplies which will boost both equally this shower pump can be used not just as a shower pump but as a pump, you can boost both hot and cold water supplies to the bathroom, kitchen or cloakroom for high performance for best shower pump experience this pup is best designed to work with 2 showers

3. Stuart Turner – Monsoon 3.0 Bar Twin

The Stuart Turner Monsoon 3.0 bar twin impeller positive head shower pump is in a case of its own this pump will pump not just 1 shower or even 2 showers it can pump the whole bathroom, kitchen or cloakroom.

It can be used where 2 or 3 showers are running at the same time perfect for the more significant property where the pipework runs are longer and more complex.

4.  Grundfos Amazon Shower Pump 3.0 Bar Twin 

The Grundfos Amazon 3.0 bar twin impeller positive head shower pump has been designed to the highest standard with brass impellers and machined brass stampings.

These pumps are generally heavy-duty; therefore, this pump can be used as a domestic, commercial or light industrial pump not just as a shower pump.

5.  Salamander CT50XTRA Shower Pump 1.5 Bar Twin

The Salamander CT50XTRA 1.5 bar twin impeller positive head shower pump is a great little pump, and therefore it’s the best shower pump for one shower.

Salamander is a UK-based company that you can entirely rely on, and they are in the same class as Stuart Turner as they always deliver on creating reliable and efficient shower pumps.

6.  Bristan Shower Pump 1.5 Bar Twin

Sturt Turner has designed the Bristan 1.5 bar twin-end impeller shower pump for Bristan; therefore, this pump has the same benefits and possibilities as the Showermate eco shower pump.

This pump also comes in 1.8 bar twin and 2.0 bar twin

Universal Head Shower Pumps

7. Stuart Turner Monsoon Universal 1.5 Bar Shower Pump

These Stuart Turner Monsoon 1.5bar twin universal shower pumps are designed to work with a positive and negative head, and it boosts water pressure for the gravity-fed hot water system.

As this shower pump works with both positive and negative head systems, you don’t have to worry about the compatibility with which water system you have, and this pump doesn’t need a gravity flow of water to work.

8,.  Salamander CTU60BU 1.8 Bar

This Salamander CTU60BU 1.8 bar twin impeller universal head shower pump is a reliable twin pump that is designed to be connected to the storage water supplies of both the hot and cold water.

The main benefit of this type of installation is to boost both hot and cold water to the same pressure giving you extra control when operating your shower

9. Salamander CTFORCE 20TU Shower Pump 2.0 Bar

This Negative Salamander head CTFORCE 2.0 bar twin impeller shower pump is twin ended pump suitable for a bathroom it will quietly and efficiently boost both hot and cold water to equal pressure, this shower pump is a universally positive and negative head pump

10. Grundfos 96788173 Shower Pump 3.0 Bar

This Grundfos 96788173 regenerative twin impeller 3.0 bar shower pump is perfect for both positive and negative headwater systems as it doesn’t just rely on pressure switches to the operator of the pump, it is designed to boost water pressure on a gravity-fed system where the outlet is below the cold-water tank

Buying Guide For Choosing The Best Shower Pump

What Shower Pump Do I Need?

It may look overwhelming as there are many different brands of pumps plus different sizes and types, including positive head, negative head and universal head but don’t worry, I have broken down each part below.

The pump I have listed are not the cheapest as there are a few more affordable pumps out there than these; however, I have not listed them as the most inexpensive pumps are the best way to go.

Your shower pump will get a lot of use sometimes up to as many as six times daily; therefore, you would want to purchase a pump that will deliver the best shower pump experience and will last the test of time.

When installing a shower pump, the pump should be located as close to the hot water tank as possible.

Below the pipe coming out of the top of the hot water tank, this is because when installing and shower pump the pump will require a direct feed from both hot and cold-water tanks before any other outlet.

Centrifugal Vs Regenerative Shower Pumps

If you are unsure what type of shower pump you need, I have broken down the difference between centrifugal and regenerative shower pumps and the benefits of both.

What Is a Centrifugal Shower Pump? 

A centrifugal shower pump is designed to draw in water and thrust it out towards the shower under higher pressure using centrifugal force to increase the water pressure created by an internal impeller. These pumps are incredibly efficient and are generally quieter.

For higher pressures, multiple impellers can be added to the pump to create improved pressure as the water reaches each next impeller.

Centrifugal shower pumps that have more than one impeller are often referred to as twin centrifugal pumps.

When using a centrifugal shower pump for increasing pressure results in a more increased flow efficiency than with a regenerative pump.

Installations, where multiple bathrooms require the use of a shower pump, can benefit from installing a centrifugal shower pump

A centrifugal shower pump can be less noisy than a regenerative shower pump as they don’t have a stripping action from the process resulting in a much quieter shower pump too.

What Is a Regenerative Shower Pump? 

Regenerative shower pumps such as the Salamander CT range of pumps and much different to the Stuart Turner Echo twin pump as they have a water wheel impeller inside one end of the shower pump.

Water from the hot and cold water supplies from the water tanks enters the end of the pump where the impeller spins the water around the pump inside the impeller casing.

The water inside the impeller casing starts to build pressure as the water travels around the end of the pump between the inlet and the outlet.

There is a stripping block inside the impeller casing, that strips the water from the impeller and directs the water out of the pump of a regenerative shower pump is designed to deal with air that can get into the system.

As a regenerative shower pump uses a stripping block to remove the water from the impeller can make this type of shower pump can be much noisier than a centrifugal shower pump

Compatibility With Showers

Most shower pumps will work fine with most showers that are on a gravity-fed water system it is essential to not you must never install a shower pump onto the mains water.

There are different types of shower pumps that I have listed these are the positive head, negative head and universal below is their full description.

What Is A Positive Head Shower Pump?

A positive head shower pump is a pump that can be installed below the cold and hot water tanks but must be seated next to the hot water tanks

What Is A Negative Head Shower Pump

A negative head shower pump is for the times that the shower pump can’t be installed below the hot water tank, or the showerhead is above the cold-water outlet causing this to be a negative head of water feed to the shower pump.

For example, the pump is installed in the loft next to the cold-water tank; however, the pump must still be installed below the cold-water tank.

What Is Universal Head Shower Pump?

A universal head shower pump is a bit of both a positive and negative head.

If you are sure you will be able to install the shower pump below the top outlet from the hot water cylinder and unsure if you can install the shower pump next to the hot water tank, then a universal head shower pump is the best pump for you.

What Are Twin Impellers On A Shower Pump?

The twin impeller pump is designed to boost both hot and cold water equally to outlets such as a shower or mixer tap, and this is achieved by the water from both hot and cold going into each side of the centre of the pump.

As the impellers turn, it increases the speed of the water that gets pushed out at the top, which then mixes at the outlet, i.e. the shower valve.

What Is The Quietest Shower Pumps?

From the list above all showers, a pump is very similar when it comes to noise with the larger pump being the noisiest.

All shower pumps now come with rubber pads on the feet as part of their anti-vibration system; however, if you still think the pump will be noisy, there are solutions such as a rubber mat or foam padding as shown below.

How Long Should A Shower Pump Last?

This is a tricky question really as it can depend on the amount the shower pump is being used and where you have any water issues such as no cold or hot water – which can burn out the pump if operated dry.

If I were going to put a time on how long should a shower pump last, I would have to say around eight years this is without any problems as already mentioned.

There are many different reasons why a shower is not lasting.

The best guide to find out how long a shower should be is the manufactories warranty as this would be a pretty good estimate as the manufacturer gives this warranty for more than less the product survival time under normal circumstances.

Can One Shower Pump Run Two Showers?

Some pumps are designed for use with multiple showers, however for one shower pump to work correctly with two or more showers then the shower pump that will be required will need to be above a 2.0 bar, but for the best shower experience, a 3.0 bar would be best.

Which Is The Best Shower Pump?

All shower pumps are made to last even the more budget shower pumps with that being said the high-end shower pumps I would say more robust as they have a brass body and brass impellers which are designed to be long-lasting.

There mainly three shower pump manufacturers, which is why I have listed them they are:

• Stuart Turner
• Salamander
• Grundfos

There are other shower pumps out there such as the Bristan shower pump which is made by Stuart Turner.