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.
Simply go to one bathroom, and turn on all faucets/showers. Once all the fixtures are on, flush the toilet to see if the water drops pressure from the sinks or shower heads. If water pressure drops while the toilet is filling up, there might be an issue. You should complete this process for all rooms that have water.
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.
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.
A toilet will normally use about 2.2 to 5.0 GPM, a shower from 2.5 to 5.0 GPM, a bathtub from 4.0 to 8.0 GPM, a bathroom or kitchen faucet from 2.5 to 3.0 GPM, a dishwasher from 2.0 to 3.0 GPM, and a washing machine from 4.0 to 5.0 GPM.
Testing water pressure is quick and easy, and all you need is a simple and inexpensive pressure gauge. Some homes even have dedicated gauges hooked up somewhere in the water line so homeowners can check the water pressure quickly and easily with just a glance.
Place the measuring jug under the tap. Then, turn the tap on full. Time how long it will take for the jug to fill up. If it takes more than 6 seconds to fill it up, then the water pressure is low.
312.5. 1 Water Supply Working Pressure Test
When permitted by the manufacturer of the piping, fittings, and solvent cement (if part of the plumbing system), an air test of not less than 50 psi (344 kPa) shall be performed to prove the system air-tight. This pressure shall be held for at least 15 minutes.
5 gpm (two fixtures running simultaneously at 2.5 gpm) is a good estimate of peak demand, for the typical household. Water wells that reliably yield 5 gpm should be able to meet peak and daily needs for most residences.
The average American shower uses approximately 15.8 gallons (59.8 liters) and lasts for 7.8 minutes at an average flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute (7.9 lpm).
A toilet will normally use about 2-3 gallons per minute (gpm), a shower from 1.5 to 3.0 gpm, a bathroom or kitchen faucet from 2-3 gpm, a dishwasher from 2-4 gpm, and a washing machine from 3-5 gpm. When you start running more than one fixture (sink/dishwasher/toilet/etc.)
Another way to increase GPM is to turn up the water pressure. This can be done by adjusting the pressure valve on your pressure washer. Be sure not to increase the pressure too much, as this could damage the machine.
If the pressure is 35-60psi, that is enough pressure and flow to allow most plumbing fixtures to work properly, unless there is a restriction within the system obstructing the flow from what it should be.
Both 30/50 and 40/60 switches are suitable for basic residential wells, including jet, submersible, and reciprocating pumps. That said, 30/50 switches are better suited for smaller residences, while 40/60 switches are equipped to serve larger homes.
Check for a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) mounted on your water main. Most come set from the factory for 50 psi, but you can adjust them up or down by turning a screw on top. PRVs can also go bad after 10 to 20 years. So if yours is old, it might be time to replace it.
However, when low water pressure originates from an issue specific to your home, such as a water pipe or your pressure regulator fails, plumbing repairs can correct the problem.
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.
It may be caused by debris such as dirt, sand, solidified oil and grease, food particles, or foreign objects. Pollutants can block pipes if they back up due to fractures in the water main. Mineral buildup clogs pipes over time and causes the water pressure to go down, as there's less space for water to travel through.
Partially Closed Valve
One of the most common issues that can lead to low water pressure problems is that the water is being obstructed by one or more partially closed shutoff valves. Typically, a home will have one main shutoff valve located inside the house.