Over time, high water pressure wears on your plumbing system and leads to: Leaking Pipes: High water pressure continuously puts too much force on your pipes. Eventually, your home's pipes will likely wear down until they can no longer hold back the water.
It can cause your pipes to break and crack more easily. Ultimately, water leaks can cause waste and damage.
High Pressure
Excessive water pressure can cause stress on your plumbing leading to leaks and burst pipes. If you hear banging from your pipes (known as a water hammer) this is a sure sign of high water pressure. It may mean that the water pressure from your supplier to your house is too high.
Be Sure To Have The Right Water Pressure
The right water pressure should be less than 60 pounds per square inch (PSI). If your water pressure goes above that, then it is too high and it might cause damage to your plumbing fixtures and piping systems.
Most residential plumbing systems are designed to handle 40 to 60 PSI of pressure, with 80 PSI being the typical maximum and anything over 100 PSI being possibly detrimental to plumbing components.
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. Some water companies even set the water pressure above 150 psi!
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.
If your water pressure is under 40 psi, it's considered low. A psi between 20-30 is considered very low, and under the minimum water pressure required by most building codes. On the other side of the spectrum, water pressure above 80 psi is considered too high.
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.
Consider calling a professional if the water pressure reading goes above 80 psi.
The optimal water pressure for most home water pipes is 40 to 45 psi. At the most, your water pressure should never exceed 60 psi. If it does, your water pipes are vulnerable to bursting.
The best way to reduce a home's water pressure is to use a pressure regulating valve, or PRV. A PRV attaches right to your pipe. A professional technician can install it, and then you can easily change your plumbing's water pressure to the correct psi.
Water heaters are particularly susceptible to breaking with high water pressure and the warming spring months. This is due to thermal expansion. A water heater that is too full due to high water pressure and with no expansion tank can break at the seam when the water inside gets hot.
One of the main giveaways of high house water pressure is noise. Banging sounds coming from the pipes usually indicate a problem with pressure, and these noises tend to be very noticeable when the water pressure is too high.
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.
Pressures above 80 psi are too high. Whereas low water pressure is more of a nuisance than a serious problem (some fixtures, like washing machines, have minimum pressure requirements), high water pressure carries with it a significantly increased risk of damage to pipes, joints, fixtures and seals.
Typically, water pressure regulators cost about $50 to $100 on average1, though you could end up paying up to $2001 depending on the size of incoming water line.
Your area's water needs may have changed, causing the increase in pressure. Your water pressure regulator may be broken. They're designed to control the water pressure in individual houses, but just like any piece of equipment it won't last forever.
Now, if the gauge shows that the entire house has low water pressure, then try adjusting the pressure-reducing valve. Look on the main supply pipe near your water meter for a conical valve that has a bolt sticking out of the cone. To raise pressure, turn the bolt clockwise after loosening its locknut.
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.
It means center tread wear, an uncomfortable ride, and increased risk for a blowout. Note that a few PSI over your recommended tire pressure generally won't put you in the danger zone.
As previously stated, plumbing codes dictate a maximum pressure of 80 psi to any plumbing fixture. Minimum pressures depend on the fixture or service type.
According to statistics, water pressure above 80 psi (pounds per square inch) causes the failure of water fixtures. The most common signs are spitting or leaking faucets, especially if it's out of the cold tap.
Many toilets really do leak only at night; that's because people use much less water during these hours and in many municipal water systems, the water pressure rises considerably during this time.