When the water pressure in your home is too high, more of it will be wasted while you are washing the dishes or taking a shower. A water pressure reducing valve will cut down on wasted water and save you some money on your monthly bills.
1. A Water Regulator Valve May Be Needed to Save Water. If the water pressure level coming into your home from the city exceeds 80 psi, you need a water pressure regulator. Reducing the system pressure 10 to 20 psi can save thousands of gallons a year in the typical home.
Put simply, while it may not happen immediately, water flowing at a rate in excess of that necessary to fulfill routine fixture or appliance demands can become damaging, wasteful, and reduce the life expectancy of equipment in the system.
Testing your water pressure PSI (pounds per square inch) is the best way to determine if you need a water pressure regulator to avoid plumbing problems. A PSI between 50 and 70 is ideal. You're in the danger zone if you're hitting 80, and you may even be in code violation at that level.
Ultimately, such pressure can damage water-using appliances and may even lead to leaks and the problem known as water hammer. Fortunately, you can keep your water pressure within a safe range by installing a pressure regulator valve on your main water line.
PRV placement
Installing them to the mains supply after the main shut off valve will accurately control the system pressure. PRVs will also control the flow rate of the water running through the system – this protects fittings and appliances from experiencing blowouts of water at a fast rate at any outlet.
Do All Homes Have a Water Pressure Regulator? No, and in some cases, you may not need one. Certain municipal supplies regulate their water pressure safely, but if that pressure runs above 80 psi, you'll want to protect your plumbing system by installing one.
Water pressure is measured in psi, or pounds per square inch, and represents the force at which water enters your home from the water main. 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.
Pressure-reducing valves are used when maintaining consistent levels of pressure throughout an entire system is necessary, while pressure-relief valves are used when it's essential that extreme overpressure conditions be prevented from occurring within the system.
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.
A pressure reducing valve protects your pipe and your plumbing fitting from bursting due to high water pressure. High water pressure can put stress on your pipes, causing them to break or damage the plumbing fitting leading to leaks.
How Well Do You Know Your PRV (Pressure Reducing Valve)? Building codes typically require PRVs in houses, although older homes sometimes don't have them. Most commonly, your PRV is installed near the main shutoff in your home.
The pressure reducing valve may be used for water hammer protection under properly defined conditions. The water hammer events are so fast that the relief of pressure by this means requires very special rapid response valves designed for the particular system.
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.
PRVs are effectively multi-functional - by lowering outlet pressure and flow rate, they also help reduce excessive water consumption and plumbing noise.
First, pressure regulation and backflow prevention are two separate processes that work together to protect against cross-contamination of the water supply. Regulator valves are installed in conjunction with backflow equipment to maintain consistent water pressure levels throughout the piping.
How do I know if I have a PRV? If you know where your water shut off valve is located, you can look for your PRV. It is typically within a few feet of this shutoff and it looks like a bell.
A PRV is a Pressure Reducing Valve that is commonly placed on water distribution systems and within individual homes, multi-family homes and businesses. There are two types of water pressure reducing valves, direct acting and pilot operated. Both use globe or angle style bodies.
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.
A broken water pressure regulator can cause high pressure. Trapped air can increase water pressure in pipes. Your showerhead's restrictor valve may have malfunctioned. If you hear a banging in your pipes, something called “water hammer,” you could have high water pressure.
Shower Heads - The optimal water pressure for a shower head is between 40-60 PSI. Below 40 PSI the flow of water may be weak and unsatisfying, while over 60 PSI it may be uncomfortable or even painful.
Ways to increase water pressure in your shower
Clean your showerhead. Remove the water restrictor. Replace your shower hose. Check if your water shut-off valve is fully open.
Water hammer is usually caused in high pressure (e.g. mains pressure) water systems either when a tap is turned off quickly, or by fast-acting solenoid valves, which suddenly stop the water moving through the pipes and sets up a shock wave through the water, causing the pipes to vibrate and 'shudder'.
Pressure spikes due to water hammer can exceed 5 to 10 times the normal working pressure. This force from water pressure depends on two key factors: flow rate of the fluid, and the length of time over which the flow is stopped.
If you hear a banging or knocking noise coming from the sink or from the pipes in the wall when you start running cold water, this most likely indicates that the cause is high water pressure. What you're hearing is the sound of the pipes striking walls or other pipes as water rushes through them too quickly.