High Water Bills: Physical problems aren't the only issues caused by high water pressure. If your pressure is too high, you could also see an increase in your water bills.
High water pressure might feel nice when you're taking a refreshing shower, but if it is too high, it can have harmful consequences. Your water bill will be higher than it otherwise would, ironically drying out your wallet. Even more importantly, it could do serious damage to your plumbing system.
Let's look at it this way: when you use a typical faucet at a regular water pressure of 50 PSI, then you're using about 30 gallons of water per minute. However, an increase of just 10 PSI bumps your water usage to 36 gallons of water per 10 minutes of use.
The easiest way to identify if your water is high pressure is by simple observation – if it seems like water is coming out of your sink at excessive (or higher than normal) pressure, it's worth checking into. Another potential indicator is if you hear banging somewhere in your pipes (also known as a water hammer).
If your water usage is unchanged, your city hasn't implemented a rate hike, and you have a high water bill with no visible leaks, the problem may be that you have an issue with your water meter. This isn't a common problem, but it's also not unheard of. To test your water meter, turn off your water.
An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a leak or change in water use. Some common causes of high water bills include: A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed, most common. A dripping faucet; a faucet drip can waster 20 gallons or more of water a day.
Soggy spots on the lawn or damp patches in your basement that weren't previously present. Water bubbling up through the ground or pooling around the foundation of your home. Cracked pavement, bulges on walkways or driveways. Faint hissing or bubbling sounds in the walls.
If your pressure is higher or lower, then you'll need to install, repair, or adjust your pressure regulator to comply. Adjusting your regulator is easy, as long as it's working properly. Simply tighten the screw down clockwise to increase pressure and counter-clockwise to decrease pressure.
The most accurate method is to buy a pressure gauge from your local hardware store and hook it up to a hose faucet. Check the pressure when all other faucets and water-using appliances are turned off to get a baseline reading. In general, you want the household plumbing to provide between 30 and 80 psi.
Water pressure that's too high can cause plumbing issues and wear out expensive appliances. Use this guide to learn more about the problems caused by high water pressure and how you can help keep your home's water pressure at a safe level.
Reducing the pressure from 100 lbs. to 50 lbs.will result in a savings of approximately 1/3 because 1/3 less water flows at this lower pressure. Remember, there is more "push" behind the water at 100 lbs. than at 50 lbs. and most of this water is wasted.
The total water costs to professionally power wash your home is between 20 and 40 cents from your municipal water.
High water pressure can damage fittings and seals over time, leading to a persistent drip. One way to remedy this issue is to have a pressure regulator installed. A pressure regulator will ensure you have the necessary pressure for a good shower without it being so high as to cause damage.
Overall, the team found that showers with both high pressure and timers used on average about 17 litres of water, whereas those with low pressure and no timer used nearly 61 litres per shower. “A smart timer helped reduce water consumption by up to 53% with middling water pressures,” the team wrote.
A quick and easy way to increase water pressure is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve, which can be found in your home, usually close to your water meter. If your pressure gauge reading was low, make slight adjustments to your regulator.
The ideal water pressure level is between 50-70 PSI.
If your water pressure goes above 70 PSI (even occasionally), you should install a pressure regulator to your main water line.
They will perform a thorough inspection of the meter to identify the source of the problem. Once identified, the plumber can replace the damaged parts or repair any malfunctioning components, such as the water meter valve, which will ultimately restore the water pressure.
If, on the other hand, your home's water pressure is high, this can cause many problems such as burst pipes, leaks, or rattling pipes. These issues are likely to increase the amount of water your family is using, which will affect your water bill.
A sudden increase can be due to a broken pressure regulator or a change in the municipal water supply. Additionally, temperature changes or a burst pipe could cause sudden spikes. If your water pressure increases unexpectedly, it's essential to investigate as soon as possible.
Sand or gravel areas in the bottom of valleys will often be home to groundwater. These layers can be covered by clay or silt, so it's prudent to check these areas thoroughly. Natural springs usually indicate groundwater is nearby. A spring that flows year-round will likely reveal a productive aquifer.
Thermal imaging cameras, or heat scanners', can be used to help find hidden leaks in hot water pipes under floorboards, concrete and behind walls. Thermography cameras can help identify problem areas that the naked eye cannot detect, revealing hidden water leaks that are otherwise out of sight.
But, to give you an idea of how wide the range of cost could be, on average, a simple minor leak repair could be as low as $650.00 but the cost could go up to $5000.00 or more if there are multiple or problematic leaks under concrete slabs.