While 50 to 70 pounds per square inch (psi) is the ideal range, most plumbing fixtures are designed to work with water pressure up to 75 psi. Anything higher than this can damage your pipes and fixtures. Call a Seattle plumber right away if you spot any of these signs of high water pressure in your house.
If it's above 80 psi, you probably need to lower your water pressure.
Anything over 80 psi is considered too high and could damage your plumbing system. On the other end of the spectrum, anything below 40 psi is considered low pressure, and anything below 30 psi is considered too low.
It's important to maintain your home's water pressure within an acceptable range. The ideal water pressure ranges between 40 and 80 pounds per square inch, with the recommended home water pressure at 60 psi.
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.
The result is a strained system and prematurely failing parts. While 50 to 70 pounds per square inch (psi) is the ideal range, most plumbing fixtures are designed to work with water pressure up to 75 psi. Anything higher than this can damage your pipes and fixtures.
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 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.
The water pressure in your house measures how fast water travels through your pipes and out of your faucets. Normally, the standing residential house has a water pressure of around 80 PSI (pounds per square inch). Anything above 80 PSI is considered too high and can cause serious damage to your pipes and equipment.
Normal water pressure range
If your water pressure is under 40 psi, it's considered low. A psi between 20-30 is considered very low, and under the minimum water pressure required by most building codes. On the other side of the spectrum, water pressure above 80 psi is considered too high.
The higher the psi, the more force the water is putting on your pipes. The ideal water pressure range for most homes is between 60 and 70 psi. If your water pressure is 80 psi or higher, you're likely going to run into some serious plumbing problems.
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.
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.
This causes damage to essential water pipe joints, fixture heads, and valves. In addition to the failure of such fixtures, high water pressure can lead to pipes bursting when they cannot contain the water.
With high water pressure flowing and stopping in your pipes, it can cause long-term damage like small leaks. Might not sound too bad, but these leaks can lead to structural damage and even pipe bursts. It can damage your hot water heater.
Maintaining water pressure between 40–60 psi is recommended for well water systems. It's important to periodically test the water pressure to ensure it falls within this range and detect any issues early on.
This is a serious concern—water pressure that's too high is difficult to contain, and could leak to plumbing leaks, worn seals, and damaged fixtures. It could even shorten the lifespan of your appliances that depend on a water connection like your washing machine, ice maker, dishwasher, and more.
Normal water pressure is generally between 40 and 60 PSI. Most homeowners prefer something right in the middle around 50 PSI.
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 pressure reaches levels of 100 PSI or above, it usually indicates an issue within the water network, rather than something within the home. Get in touch with a representative from your water supplier to discuss the problem, and they'll be able to advise you on what they can do to fix the pressure.
Indoor water pressure typically falls between 45 and 65 psi, considered safe and efficient for any household plumbing system. Maintaining water pressure within this recommended range helps safeguard against potential damage to pipes, fixtures, and appliances.
Remove the valve cap from the stem on the tire to expose the metal pin. If you have an air pressure tool, the back is equipped with a small piece specifically designed for releasing air pressure. Press down firmly on the pin of the valve using this tool, or another similar item, to release air.
The required type of PRVs can cost anywhere from $90-$200 and can be purchased at a big box store. A plumber will charge anywhere from $200-$800 for materials and labor but a homeowner with a moderate level of maintenance knowledge might be able to switch out their PRV. Don't water utilities like WCID No.
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.