High pressure taps and showers are 1.0bar and above low pressure are usually 0.3bar and below, strangley enough there is the grey area of between 0.3bar and 1.0bar which is ignored by most manufacturers and suppliers, we will call this medium pressure for the purpose of this article.
A low pressure kitchen tap is able to work with water pressures of 0.5 bar or less. All kitchen taps have a minimum water pressure which is required for them to work correctly, so if you have low levels of water pressure in your home, you'll need a low pressure tap.
Water systems which operate at 1.0 bar pressure (10 m of drop) or greater are considered high pressure systems. Those with a pressure less than 1.0 bar are considered low pressure. When you're ready to choose a tap or shower, you'll find the water pressure it's suitable for will be clearly labelled.
Water pressure is measured in 'bar', and generally speaking, anything 0.3 bar or below requires a low water pressure tap or shower, and anything at 1.0 bar or above requires a high water pressure tap or shower.
A flow rate of less than 10 litres per minute is normally considered low, so you will more than likely have low water pressure too.
Best Practice Level
Kitchen taps Flow rates of between 4 to 6 litres/minute with all mixers having a clear indication of hot and cold with hot tap or lever position to the left. Flow rates of less than 4 litres/minute are not recommended for kitchen taps.
BAR is a metric unit and is most commonly used in weather forecasting to measure atmospheric pressure. I BAR is equal to 14.50 pounds per square inch and is another method used to determine air pressure in tyres, particularly in countries that use the metric system.
How much water per minute does a faucet use? The average flow rate for faucets is between 1.0 gpm and 2.2 gpm. In the US, the maximum flow rate for kitchen and bathroom faucets is 2.2 gpm at 60 psi. In more environmentally regulated areas, the maximum flow rates are further restricted.
The standard pressure for residential homes ranges between 300 and 500 kPa (approximately 43–72 psi). This ensures an adequate supply to all outlets without overburdening pipes or fixtures. While higher pressures may feel better in the shower, they can also damage pipes, fittings, and appliances over time.
The typical inlet water pressure to a standard size home is usually between 40 to 45 pressure-per-square-inch (psi). For a standard household, it should never exceed 60 psi— that's why many plumbers automatically set your pressure regulator to 50 psi.
Federal efficiency standards require kitchen faucets to have a maximum flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) or less at 60 pounds per square inch (psi) of water pressure.
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.
Check Your Aerator
If you have especially hard water, aerators become clogged with hard water buildup, a common cause of low water pressure in kitchen fixtures. Clean your aerator for a quick and easy DIY fix. Remove the aerator from the faucet using pliers and a towel (to prevent scratching). Some twist off.
In the United States, conventional kitchen and bathroom faucets must not use more than 2.2 gpm. Faucets that meet energy efficiency standards for WaterSense mustn't use more than 1.5 gpm, a 32% decrease in flow rate over the federal requirement.
All taps and showers are rated with a minimum required pressure rating, which will usually be between 0.1 and three bar. Anything below one bar is considered low pressure. By law, your water supplier must be able to supply a statutory minimum of 1 bar of normal mains water pressure to your home.
Normal water pressure range
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. A psi between 20-30 is considered very low, and under the minimum water pressure required by most building codes.
At sea level, the boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit).
If you find a measure that is between 10 and 15 litres per minute, that's not bad but can be improved, while a flow above 15 litres per minute is good. Armed with this information on your water pressure, you can check the specifications of the tap you intend to buy and make sure it is a good match.
Federal standards mandate that all lavatory (bathroom/restroom) and kitchen faucets and faucet aerators manufactured and sold in the United States after January 1, 1994, must use no more than 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm).
To start the test, put the jug under the tap and turn it on. After exactly 6 seconds turn the tap off again. Multiplying the amount of water in the jug in litres (e.g. 0.4 litres) by 10. This will give you your flow rate in litres per minute (e.g. 0.4 litres x 10 = 4 litres per minute).
The exact recommended pressure level will vary depending on the boiler manufacturer, but generally, anywhere between 1.0 and 2.0 bar is ideal. The boiler pressure level will rise when heating a home or providing hot water. However, it should still stay below the upper-pressure limit of 3 bar.
So, what is the proper water pressure level? For residential plumbing, it's best to be within a range of from 3 to 4 Bar . Plumbing fixtures for home use are designed to withstand a maximum pressure of 5.5 Bar, so at 5.5 Bar and above, you risk damaging your fixtures.