When it comes to household water usage, many people wonder whether it is possible to run two showers simultaneously without experiencing a significant drop in water pressure or temperature.
Can you run two showers at the same time? It’s fine with just one, but when you try two, there’s a problem. Yes, you can have both showers on together, but it will make the water pressure lower in both.
When using two things like a shower and a tap, or two showers together, the plumbing system needs to be set up right for it to work well.
The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the capacity of your water heater, the size of your plumbing system, and the overall water demand in your home.
We will explore the feasibility of running two showers simultaneously and provide insights into the factors that can impact water pressure and temperature.
Running Two Showers At The Same Time
Is it possible to run two showers simultaneously? The answer is yes. Nevertheless, it also has certain side effects. Let’s talk about it.
The water flow won’t be adequate through two showers if they run at the same time. Running one shower at a time will provide the necessary water flow. Starting another will result in pressure loss and volume loss.
As a result of friction between the pipe and the water, the pressure drops. A higher flow rate and longer pipe length results in a greater friction loss.
Pressure drop at the outlet will be greater as friction loss increases. Consequently, you will experience higher pressure in the shower that’s close to the water supply.
Running more than one shower without disrupting the flow rate and pressure is generally impossible. Hot water might not be available with temperature-controlled showers.
At constant pressure, friction loss increases with the volumetric flow rate. Two showers running simultaneously result in an increased water flow rate at two pipe ends.
In addition to this, using two showers can lead to increased flow rates that result in pressure losses.
How To Maintain Water Flow In Both Showers Running Simultaneously?
When both showers are running at the same time, you can maintain a decent pressure of flow. Here are the methods you need to follow to achieve this result:
Low-pressure Shower Heads
The pressure in showerheads with lower GPM is high. It is because there is a smaller amount of space inside that shower.
Showerheads with this type of design helps concentrate the water. They accumulate water while increasing pressure behind them. So, such showerheads can be used to maintain the desired water pressure.
The Thermostatic Shower Valve System
The valves on showers are divided into two types. Two types of valves exist pressure balance valves and thermostatic valves.
The pressure balance valve attempts to maintain even pressure in both shower heads. A reduction in pressure is the result of this.
Conversely, a thermostatic valve controls each shower head’s volume. Each showerhead could experience increased pressure and volume if you use this.
Checking Water Source
Pumps with good performance usually deliver 5GPm. There is a tendency for a showerhead to consume almost 5GPM. The output is 2.5 GPM if you use two showerheads.
That’s why you need to upgrade your good pump to maintain 5 GPM per showerhead. A water storage tank can also help you increase the flow rate to a minimum of 10GPM.
Internal Plumbing Pipe Size
Your house usually has pipes that are 1 inch or 34 inches in diameter. Afterwards, it enters a ½-inch pipe in your home. Approximately 75% of the pressure and volume will be lost due to this reduction in OK pipe size.
It’s time to upgrade the pipe leading to your bathroom to ¾”. The increased pressure will increase the effectiveness of your shower.
Can I Run Two Showers With A Combi Boiler?
Combination boilers provide heating and hot water in one system. You cannot operate two showers simultaneously on a combi boiler.
Unlike a tub, you can run one shower at once since the first one loses water pressure when the second one is opened. There may be a possibility of taking two low-flow showers simultaneously.
With a combi boiler, you cannot operate a pump. Therefore, this problem cannot be solved easily or cheaply. If you want to run two showers simultaneously, you must install a high-flow multi-point.
Can I Run Two Shower Heads Using One Valve?
Definitely, it is possible to use one valve to run two shower heads. Nevertheless, you must consider the tubing size and the number of fittings. This is the only way to run two showers simultaneously without changing the flow of either shower.
Water will be sufficiently supplied to both shower heads with ½” tubing. 2.5 GPM is the maximum flow rate that a showerhead can provide.
5 GPM can be delivered with a supply tube of ½”. Flow restriction due to corrosion, long runs, and many twists and turns are all undesirable when it comes to supply tubing.
Two showerheads can be fed if the flow rate through the valves is greater than 5GPM. A single valve can run two showers simultaneously, which makes life easier.
Conversely, the supply tube may have many flow restrictions. This situation calls for showerheads with less flow-through.
Is It Possible to Run Two Electric Showers at the Same Time?
Energy consumption is high when using an electric shower. Consequently, the shower head supplies warm water to the cold water.
Electric showers are available in different designs depending on the shower amps and wattages. In this way, the varying rating powers ensure the desired flow of hot water.
Showers with electrical power are typically between 8 and 9 KW. Running each one individually consumes nearly 40 amps.
It would take 80 shower amps to run two electric showers at the same time. A fuse of this rating will cross the main house fuse. In this case, the main fuse will blow.
Can I Run Two showers Off One Pump?
In short, yes. Using one pump, you can run two showers at once. It is necessary to ensure that the pump you are using is powerful enough.
Furthermore, the cold water tank and hot water cylinder need to be large enough to maintain a continuous water flow.
Can Shower Heads Increase Water Pressure?
Shower heads normally decrease water pressure, but some shower heads increase the pressure. It is typically less significant for low-flow shower heads (1.5GPM) to decrease the pressure at the outlet.
What Causes Bad Water Pressure When Two People Shower at the Same Time?
For one shower, the flow rate is not high enough to cause considerable pressure loss.
However, a shower with two people at once will result in a high water flow rate at the ends of the pipeline. This will result in greater friction loss, resulting in lower water pressure.
Final Words
You can see that running two showers simultaneously without pressure loss is not generally possible. The water volume and pressure will be very low when you do this.
There are a few techniques that you can use to solve this problem. Those methods will ensure the water flows smoothly in both showers.
The flow you’ll get will still be less than the flow you would get if you were just running one shower at a time.
