If the water pressure regulator is not adjusted properly, you could have either too much, or too little pressure in your faucet or shower. With the right tools, you will be able to adjust the water pressure regulator by yourself instead of calling in the plumber.
Turn the adjustment screw counterclockwise to lower the pressure or clockwise to raise the pressure. Only go one full revolution at a time and get a new pounds per square inch (PSI) reading with your pressure gauge. Once you've reached your desired pressure level, tighten the lock nut on the pressure regulator.
In some cases, your pressure regulator is set too low and reduces the water pressure too much. The factory setting on a pressure regulator is normally between 45 to 55 psi. However, you may need pressure regulation between 40 and 70 psi to have proper water pressure throughout your home.
Adjust the Pressure-Reducing Valve
Protruding from the top of the valve is a threaded bolt. To raise pressure, loosen the bolt's locking nut, then turn the bolt clockwise. Use the pressure gauge to determine when you reach a water pressure around 50 PSI. Then, tighten the locknut to secure the valve.
Water Pressure Readings
Normal water pressure is generally between 40 and 60 PSI. Most homeowners prefer something right in the middle around 50 PSI. Once you measure the water pressure in your house, you can adjust it to a setting that is ideal for all family members and household uses.
Some of the first signs of a failing pressure regulator are a leaking water heater or commode. The water coming from a faucet may also exit with such force that splashing or water “hammering” may occur.
Normal psi for a home pipe system is between 30 and 80 psi. While you don't want the psi to be too low, it violates code to be above 80. Instead, you should aim for a psi that's between 60 and 70.
If the municipal water or well-water flow is the problem, hire a licensed plumbing contractor to install a water-pressure booster pump. These powerful, electric pumps target incoming pressure and raise it to the proper level.
Expensive Water Bills: If your water bills seem a lot higher than expected, you're using more water than usual. This can be a sign that your pressure is too high. Clanging Pipes: As high-pressure water moves through your plumbing, it doesn't have enough room to move evenly.
If the water pressure regulator is not adjusted properly, you could have either too much, or too little pressure in your faucet or shower. With the right tools, you will be able to adjust the water pressure regulator by yourself instead of calling in the plumber.
How long will a Water Pressure Reducing Valve last? The life expectancy of a water pressure regulator is most commonly in the range of 10 to 15 years. However, you may see a regulator malfunction at three years and one still properly functioning at 20 years old if regularly maintained.
Residential water pressure tends to range between 45 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch). Anything below 40 psi is considered low and anything below 30 psi is considered too low; the minimum pressure required by most codes is 20 psi. Pressures above 80 psi are too high.
Temperature changes – As the temperature increases in your plumbing system, water will expand and pressure will increase. This can occur as water is heated by the water heater, especially if it has a defective expansion tank or pressure relief valve.
Loosen the lock nut on the pressure reducing valve with a wrench and back it off by unscrewing it. Fit a socket wrench over the adjustment nut on the top of the valve. Turn the nut counterclockwise to reduce the pressure downstream from the valve and clockwise to increase it.
For most houses, 80 psi (pounds per square inch) is about right. If the water pressure is over 100 psi, that's too much. This increase in pressure is usually the fault of the municipal water company, which sets the pressure higher in order to accommodate fire hydrants and tall commercial buildings.
Water pressure regulator replacement: $250 to $1,000. Pipe section replacement: $500 to $4,000.
If you're experiencing low pressure in a specific area, check for clogging or corrosion that could be slowing water flow. Issues with seals and connections can impact the water pressure coming out of the faucet, so it is important to not only inspect the faucet and fixture themselves but the connections as well.
The maximum recommended water pressure for homes is 80 psi; any pressurization exceeding this amount will result in thousands of wasted gallons of water each month.
(Normal is 60 psi and very few areas are below 40 psi) The pressure of the streams will drop under these extreme conditions, of course, but the stream integrity is preserved. This photo shows the stream integrity of our Perfect shower head (old style).
The ideal water pressure for a house will be somewhere in the range of about 45 to 65 psi. Anything higher than 80 psi can cause damage, and anything much lower than 45 psi may result in issues when you use your shower, toilet, dishwasher and other water-consuming appliances.
The price of pressure reducing valves starts at around $50. You can expect to pay around $350 for a professional plumber to install a new pressure reducing valve.
These mineral deposits accumulate inside of the valve body, leading to lower-than-intended home water pressure. In most cases, a plumber can resolve this issue by disassembling and cleaning out your regulator valve. Soaking the valve in a calcium and lime remover loosens up and dissolves unwanted mineral deposits.
The easiest way to know if a pressure regulator works correctly is to install a pressure gauge on each side of the regulator. You can measure the inlet pressure with a pressure gauge above the regulator, and the outlet pressure with a gauge below the regulator, as shown in the image below.