Shower Power Booster

Shower Power Booster, pressure booster pumps manufactured in the United Kingdom

Shower Power Booster is a British company dedicated to the design and manufacture of compact pumps that increase water pressure and flow in domestic showers and taps. Its equipment is presented as an alternative to traditional pumps: they run on a 12-volt motor and are retrofitted into existing installations, with no need for renovations or an electrician.

The firm states that its pumps are manufactured in the UK, are WRAS approved for use with drinking water and are individually tested. The website mentions a three-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Origin and inventor

The device was designed in 2012 by Alan Wright, a chartered civil engineer and hydraulics specialist with more than thirty years' experience in the water industry. According to the company, the project arose from his interest in solving basic pressure problems with simple physical solutions, without complex electronics. The pump appeared on the BBC programme Dragons' Den and, according to the source, has been installed in more than 30,000 UK homes.

The company attributes the Best Innovation Award from Imperial College London in 2012 to the product.

Compatible systems

The catalogue organises the pumps according to the type of hot water or heating installation in the home:

• Gravity systems, one of the most common uses for improving pressure in installations of this type.
• Combination boilers, where the company claims it is the only pump that works on the hot side of the boiler.
• Unvented systems such as Megaflow or similar cylinders, including heat pump ones.
• Compatible electric showers, to prevent them from shutting down due to low pressure.
• Mains pressure, for homes with low incoming pressure or flow.
• Radiators, to balance the system and eliminate radiators that do not heat properly.

Models and catalogue prices

The shop displayed four main models, with prices in pounds sterling:

• SP2B, automatic pump to boost the whole house or a single shower or tap, compatible with any plumbing system: £143.00.
• SP21S, with two pumps for double boosting hot or cold water: £176.00.
• SP22S, with two pumps for double boosting hot and cold water when both need it: £231.00.
• SP1, manual pump that can be connected to a lighting circuit or switched on and off at a power socket; upgradeable to double boost: £93.50.

The catalogue also includes accessories, spare parts and upgrades, as well as a section on negative head systems.

Installation and operation

The company maintains that a user with basic DIY skills can install the pump in minutes. The unit runs at 12 volts via a transformer that plugs into a standard socket, which avoids rewiring the bathroom. The warranty also covers installation carried out by the user, a plumber or a handyman.

The brushless motor and low-friction bearings are designed to reduce noise. The company cites consumption at 12 watts, around 5% of what a conventional electric shower consumes, and claims that its patented design with a non-return valve achieves the effect of a much larger pump with a fraction of the energy, without blocking flow even during a power cut.

Advice and service

The website offers a tool to identify the right pump according to the home's system, help articles, a forum for installers and a direct consultation service with Alan Wright and his team for questions about the water system, choosing the model or installation. The company also facilitates finding plumbers.

Shipping is free for next working day delivery in the UK for orders placed before 12:00. Telephone and email support is available Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 17:00.