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.
What Happens if Your Water Pressure Is Too High? Water streaming through your pipes at high pressure can damage the integrity of your pipes, leading them to erode more quickly. High water pressure can even instantly destroy pipes in your house.
If it's above 80 psi, you probably need to lower your water pressure.
Many appliances are only rated to handle incoming water pressure up to 80 psi. Constant pressure above that level can cause supply lines to appliances to fail prematurely and burst.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pressure Reducing Valve
In accordance with Uniform Plumbing Codes, property owners and/or customers are responsible for installing and maintaining their own individual PRV devices whenever static water pressure exceeds 80 PSI .
Pressure above 80 pounds per square inch (psi) is considered high water pressure. Plumbing fixtures are designed, produced, and tested to perform best with water pressure under 80 psi. Optimal water pressure is 50-80 psi.
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.
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.
Banging or Clanging Noises in Pipes
This is a sign that the pressure in your pipes is already extremely high, and the shuddering is your pipes adapting to the pressure increasing when you turn off the water. This also means that you could find yourself dealing with plumbing leaks within a short period of time.
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.
For a standard PRV replacement, expect to pay around $400 to $800. This includes the new valve, plumber fees, permit charges, and any additional materials or labor.
PRV's can be purchased at a home improvement or plumbing supply store and can be installed as a do-it-yourself project or by a qualified plumbing contractor. 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.
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.
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.
To find leaks, a low pressure (30-50 PSI) air test is just as effective as high pressure (150 PSI) water test. This is because the viscosity and surface tension of water is greater than that of air. For example, the viscosity of water is about 89 times greater than the viscosity of 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.