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.
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.
If the pressure of the water entering your house is 100 psi or above, it can damage the plumbing.
Leaking Fixtures and Burst Hoses
This may even create a pinhole leak, which appears only when the damage to your walls or ceiling has been done. According to statistics, water pressure above 80 psi (pounds per square inch) causes the failure of water fixtures.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The technical description in CSA Z180. 1 defines it as: Low Pressure is 15 psi to 2216psi (manufacture's rating), and High Pressure is 2216psi and above.
Check the Pressure
Typical home water pressure ranges from 40–50 psi and generally should not exceed 60 psi. Most standard pressure regulators have a maximum adjustment of up to 75 psi.
Adjust the Pressure-Reducing Valve
Protruding from the top of the valve is a threaded bolt. To raise pressure, loosen the bolt's locking nut, then turn the bolt clockwise. Use the pressure gauge to determine when you reach a water pressure around 50 PSI. Then, tighten the locknut to secure the valve.
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.
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 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.
If left untreated, high water pressure can lead to the following plumbing issues: The decreased lifespan of appliances such as your dishwasher and water heater. An increase in energy bills due to increase in amount of water that requires heating. Extensive damage to pipe joints.
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.
Find the spigot closest to your source of water. Make sure all the taps and other water uses are turned off in your house. Now turn on the spigot and see how long it takes to fill the bucket. Dividing the number 60 by the time to fill the bucket will give you the gallons per minute number.
Some of the first signs of a failing pressure regulator are a leaking water heater or commode. The water coming from a faucet may also exit with such force that splashing or water “hammering” may occur.
As you descend, water pressure increases, and the volume of air in your body decreases. This can cause problems such as sinus pain or a ruptured eardrum. As you ascend, water pressure decreases, and the air in your lungs expands. This can make the air sacs in your lungs rupture and make it hard for you to breathe.
The flow of water from your faucet is determined by water pressure. The more water that is being forced through a pipe, the more pressure there will naturally be. Through any pipe size, higher water pressure will cause greater water flow.