Why 32mm is the New Standard for Modern Homes

If you are renovating a house or building a new one, the size of your incoming water main is a crucial detail that often gets overlooked. While 25mm pipe has been the standard for decades, modern living demands more.

At Ardent Utilities, we increasingly recommend upgrading water supply pipe diameter to 32mm to future-proof your property.

The Flow Rate Factor

Water pressure (bar) is how hard the water pushes; flow rate (litres per minute) is how much water actually comes out. You can have high pressure but poor flow if the pipe is too narrow. A 32mm MDPE pipe can deliver significantly more volume than a 25mm pipe.

• 25mm Pipe: typically delivers around 30-40 litres per minute.

• 32mm Pipe: can deliver over 50-60 litres per minute (depending on mains pressure).

Why Do You Need More Volume?

Modern homes are thirsty.

1. Combi Boilers: High-performance combi boilers heat water directly from the mains. They need a high flow rate to fill a bath quickly or run a powerful hot shower. If the pipe is too small, your boiler cannot work at full capacity.

2. Multiple Bathrooms: If someone flushes a toilet while you are in the shower, does the water dribble? A larger pipe ensures enough volume to supply multiple outlets simultaneously without a drop in performance.

3. Unvented Cylinders: Large hot water tanks (like Megaflo) rely entirely on mains flow to drive hot water to your taps.

The Cost Difference

The cost difference in materials between 25mm and 32mm pipe is negligible. The labour to dig the trench is the same. Therefore, it makes sense to install the larger capacity pipe during any water mains replacement work.

Future-Proof Your Plumbing

Don't let a narrow pipe bottleneck your expensive new bathroom. Contact Ardent Utilities to discuss upgrading your supply.