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.
How Much Water Pressure Should a House Have? 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.
Residential water pressure tends to range between 45 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch). Anything below 40 psi is considered low and anything below 30 psi is considered too low; the minimum pressure required by most codes is 20 psi. Pressures above 80 psi are too high.
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 most houses, 80 psi (pounds per square inch) is about right. 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.
The ideal water pressure for a house will be somewhere in the range of about 45 to 65 psi. Anything higher than 80 psi can cause damage, and anything much lower than 45 psi may result in issues when you use your shower, toilet, dishwasher and other water-consuming appliances.
A water pressure reading will tell you exactly how forceful your water is in PSI (pounds per square inch). Normal water pressure is generally between 40 and 60 PSI. Most homeowners prefer something right in the middle around 50 PSI.
Open your main water valve.
Your house has a main water valve, usually located near the meter; the valve controls the flow of water into your home's pipes. Find the valve and check to see if it's completely open. Opening a half-shut valve is one of the quickest ways for increasing home water pressure.
When the water pressure reading reaches 30 psi or lower, you definitely experience water pressure issues in the home. Low water pressure creates the issue of not having enough water supply to comfortably or thoroughly perform tasks, like showering or washing dishes.
Typical home water pressure should be between 40 and 50 psi, so if the dial reads less than 40 psi, you have low water pressure.
If it's above 80 psi, you probably need to lower your water pressure. There are several less scientific ways to see if you have high water pressure as well. You might have high water pressure if you notice: Expensive Water Bills: If your water bills seem a lot higher than expected, you're using more water than usual.
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.
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.
Pressure is normally higher late at night when very little water is being used and most people's taps are closed. In the morning, when everyone is running taps – or on a hot evening when many people are using garden hoses and sprinklers – the pressure in our water mains may be lower.
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.
Shower Heads - The optimal water pressure for a shower head is between 40-60 PSI. Below 40 PSI the flow of water may be weak and unsatisfying, while over 60 PSI it may be uncomfortable or even painful.
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.
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.
According to statistics, water pressure above 80 psi (pounds per square inch) causes the failure of water fixtures. The most common signs are spitting or leaking faucets, especially if it's out of the cold tap.