To reduce high pressure in a home, you'll need a Pressure Reducing Valve ( PRV ). In fact, these are often required by code for pressures beyond 80 psi . These devices do exactly what they say, reducing pressures of up to 400 psi down to a reasonable level of your choosing (most are factory set at 45 psi).
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.
Normal water pressure range
In general, residential water pressure ranges between 45-80 psi (pounds per square inch). If your water pressure is under 40 psi, it's considered low.
Install a pressure-reducing valve
Installing a pressure-reducing valve can regulate and decrease the incoming water pressure to a safe and optimal level for your home. A PRV valve can lower water pressure coming into the home if the municipal water supply has a high pressure exceeding 80 PSI.
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 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.
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.
Adjust the Pressure
The regulator will have a screw or bolt and a locking nut system. Loosen the locking nut with a wrench and using quarter-turn increments, use a screwdriver to turn the screw counter-clockwise (to the left) to decrease water pressure, and clockwise (to the right) to increase water pressure.
If you discover your tires are overinflated, don't panic. First and foremost, check for any excessive wear or damage. If you find any, it may be best to replace them to ensure your vehicle's safety. If they still appear to be in good shape, it's quite easy to remove the excess air.
If you have high water pressure, try regulating that pressure by closing your stop tap ever so slightly. How to find & operate your stop tap.
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.
The Mechanics of Flushing
The standard toilet relies on gravity and water pressure from the tank to flush away the water in the bowl. Unfortunately, this pressure can weaken with natural wear and tear. If your toilet lacks sufficient water pressure when flushing, you've come to the right place!
Your home's water pressure typically ranges between 40 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch). Water pressure below 40 psi is considered low, and water pressure above 80 psi is considered too high. Having the water pressure set too high, over 80 psi, can lead to broken water pipes and costly bills.
Hot weather and changes in water volume from your water heater can also cause higher-than-normal water pressure. The best way to reduce a home's water pressure is to use a pressure regulating valve, or PRV.
If multiple people in the homeowner's neighborhood are experiencing problems with their water pressure, this is likely a sign of a problem with the water supplier. In this situation, homeowners should contact their water supplier to find out if the supplier is aware of a problem impacting the homeowner's neighborhood.
However, when low water pressure originates from an issue specific to your home, such as a water pipe or your pressure regulator fails, plumbing repairs can correct the problem. Some issues are solved with simple troubleshooting on your own around the home. These are: High Water Demand.
High water pressure can cut the lifespan of your appliances, causing you to replace them more often. Additionally, you'll experience more leaking faucets around the home, like in the kitchen sink, a toilet running, or the shower spitting water out even if you haven't taken one recently.