In Depth Guide

Use our handy guide to understand your plumbing system and calculate water flow.

How to check what type of water pipe you have in your home

The best way to check your pipe diameter at the intended point of installation is with a Vernier measuring caliper.

As a rough guide, 15mm pipe is approximately the same diameter (width) as a 5p coin,
whilst 22mm pipe is more similar in diameter to a 20p coin.

15mm copper water pipe

22mm copper water pipe

28mm copper water pipe

* Please note, this method is intended as a guide only and assumes metric pipes. If in doubt consult a qualified tradesperson.

Measuring your property’s flow rate (LPM or Litres per Minute)

Follow the steps below to calculate your flow rate. Use our handy calculator below to avoid the maths part entirely.

1. Let it flow

Place a bucket under a tap and turn the cold water on full blast. Important: note the bucket's volume in litres.

2. Start the clock

Time how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket to the brim. Ensure you don’t have a flow restrictor fitted to your spout or system.

3. Do the maths

Divide the volume (in litres) by the number of seconds, so if it took 15 seconds to fill a 5 litre bucket do: 5 divided by 15 = 0.333

4. Magic number

Then multiply this figure by 60 to calculate the number of litres per minute: 0.333 x 19.999, or 20 litres per minute.

Seconds taken to fill a 5 litre container:

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