You’ve chosen the tiles, you’ve picked a lovely walk-in shower, and then the fitter asks which toilet and taps you want. It used to be a question of looks and price. Not any more. According to PHAM News, the Government is pushing ahead with tighter water-efficiency rules, and for anyone planning a bathroom installation in Medway, from Rainham to Twydall and over towards Hempstead, that’s worth knowing before you buy anything.
The headline figure is the Part G limit for new homes, which is being tightened from 125 litres per person per day down to 105, and 100 in water-stressed areas. The South East is one of those areas. On top of that, a mandatory water efficiency label is due to arrive by the end of the year, rating WCs, taps and showers on how much they actually use. A dual-flush cistern at 4 and 2.6 litres or less should come out well. An old 9-litre single flush won’t.
Showers are where the biggest gap shows up. Those big deluge heads running at 12 to 15 litres a minute are expected to land in the E and F bands. A good aerated or air-injected head at around 6 to 8 litres a minute still feels like a proper shower, and it’s kinder on your meter and your combi boiler. Taps are similar: a flow regulator at 5 to 6 litres a minute cuts the waste without you noticing.
One catch worth flagging. The label rates the pan and cistern as a pair, so buying a cheap cistern and a different pan from another range could drop you down a band. Keep them matched. And if you’re replacing 15mm feeds in a Gillingham terrace while the walls are open, it’s the cheapest moment to sort the pipework, fit isolation valves on every outlet and check everything is WRAS approved.
If you’re thinking about a new bathroom or shower room anywhere around Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester or Rainham, Smithsons Plumbing can talk you through products that suit your home and your budget, and give you a free quote. Have a look at the work on the website at https://smithsonsplumbing.co.uk/ or give Shaun a call.
