What is a gravity fed (low pressure or open vented) system?
Gravity fed systems are the most common type of water system in the UK. The mains water enters the property and flows through a stopcock (usually found under the kitchen sink) before dividing into two pipes. One of the pipes takes water at mains pressure (high pressure) to the cold tap in the kitchen sink. The other pipe runs up into the roof space and fills a large water tank, which feeds the cold taps in the bathroom and the toilet cistern. Water also runs from the tank through a pipe to a hot water cylinder which provides hot water to the bathroom and kitchen sink. The system is called gravity fed because it is only the weight of water falling from the tank which makes it flow through the pipes. The water is at a much lower pressure than the mains water (at the kitchen sink) and so a gravity fed system is also called a low pressure system. That s why it is usually recommended to have a shower pump to increase the flow rate.
Related Questions
- My plumbing system consists of gravity fed low pressure hot water and mains fed high pressure cold water can I use a thermostatic mixing valve on this type of system?
- If I change my gravity fed water system to a mains pressure system will I have to change my Satellites LP digital shower to a HP digital shower?
- When RAT deployed and the pressure is low which system has priority electric or hydraulic?
