The primary way to fix high water pressure is by installing a water pressure regulator. If you already have one, you will need to adjust it or replace it.
Low location – If your home is in a low spot or at the bottom of a hill, the water pressure may naturally increase with gravity as it approaches your home. Temperature changes – As the temperature increases in your plumbing system, water will expand and pressure will increase.
Water companies should make sure that high water pressure does not cause damage to a customer's property if the customer's fittings meet normal standards. If you have a problem with water pressure, speak to your water company first.
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.
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.
When the water pressure is too high, the hoses and internal components of your appliances are exposed to conditions that can lead to excessive wear or a complete failure. Not only does this increase the risk that the appliance may fail prematurely it may also void the warranty.
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.
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 often homeowners complain about low pressure; however, having high pressure can result in expensive damage. The pressure level can vary, but 60 PSI (pounds per square inch) is recommended for most residential homes. Water pressure should not be higher than 80 PSI.
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.
Choking off your supply by closing down the inlet valve flow area will only reduce pressure downstream of the valve as long as you have flow through the pipes (that's Bernoulli for you). The second you stop flow the pressure downstream will equalize to the same pressure as upstream of your valve.
Another reason your pressure might be low is due to a shared pipeline. Whether you're sharing your pipes with one neighbor or many more, this can cause a significant loss of pressure. Unfortunately, ripping up the entire network to make a dedicated pipeline to your house is cost-prohibitive.
Excessive pressure can cause your toilet to leak around the base as the wax seal is damaged, or cause it to run constantly if the ball valve will not properly seal. Leaking shower heads and faucets are another common result of high water pressure.
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.
The ideal water pressure for an average-sized house is 10-15 litres per minute. Any less than 10 litres per minute and you have low water pressure. Any higher than 15 litres per minute and your water pressure is too high and could be causing damage to your pipes. In this case, call a plumber to come and fix things.
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.
Shut off the cold water at the faucet behind the washing machine, and then disconnect the hose from the faucet. (Be careful as it will be full of water.) Screw the pressure gauge onto the faucet, and then open the faucet all the way to test the pressure.
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.
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.
Is My Water Pressure Too High? The signs are well known: Banging pipes, running toilets, dripping faucets, and running out of hot water very quickly all indicate that the pressure is too high in your system. Test your system with a water pressure gauge, available at any home store for around $10.
Standard home water pressure is designated as 80 psi, but when higher pressures are required to provide water for other facilities and services (often in the 100-110 psi range, but sometimes as high as 150 psi), this pressure can reach levels hazardous to your plumbing.
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.
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.
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.
Check the water pressure regulator.
In situations where your neighbors have good pressure but you don't, the culprit may be a water pressure reducing valve. A previous owner may have had a regulator installed to limit the force of water diverted from the municipal supply line.