Why would I have high water pressure?
Homeowners have to be mindful that the city adjusts their water main pressure depending on their neighborhood. As communities grow and new infrastructure goes up, more people gain access to the same old piping systems, so it is inevitable for the pressure to drop with so many different outlets. Instead of spending money to re-plumb neighborhoods, the classic solution to this issue is to simply turn up the pressure at the water main that supplies that plumbing network. While this ensures that everyone has adequate pressure as a whole, it can result in uneven water pressures depending on each individual home’s distance from the main. This can lead to fluctuations in pressure based on neighborhood use, sudden increases in pressure, or a constant level of high or low water pressure.
Over time, this can cause subsequent damage.
In this case, you may not know that your regulator has failed until it’s too late.
How Do I Know If My Water Pressure Is Too High?
Wondering how to diagnose if your home has fallen victim to irregular water pressure? There are some common signs you can watch out for.
The following are just some of the symptoms you could be experiencing as a result:
Are your faucets leaking or dripping even after you had the washers replaced?
Do you notice that your toilets are running even when not in use?
Are you hearing strange banging noises coming from your pipes?
Have you taken some cold showers recently?
Are your appliances making as much noise as your children?
Unfortunately, high water pressure is commonly caused by something outside of your control.
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What Steps You Would Need To Take:
The best way to address the issue is to have a regulator for regulating water pressure. It will keep the max flow under 75 psi.
To reduce the excess stress on your plumbing, you can have a water pressure regulator installed in your home. This device allows you to set a maximum PSI for water that enters your pipes.
It’s a good idea to check the water pressure in your home a few times a year, or if you notice any changes or issues that could be explained by incorrect pressure.
If you have any questions about your water pressure or related plumbing issues, don’t hesitate to call My Georgia Plumber, Inc. at (770)592-0081. We have a team of licensed plumbers ready to help in any way we can.
How to reduce water pressure
The good news about irregular water pressure is that it is relatively easy to fix! This will maintain a set level of incoming pressure, regardless of the PSI at your water main.
Even if you are currently not experiencing any problems it is important to keep an eye on what is flowing through your pipes. Testing your system with a water pressure gauge ($10 from a hardware store) will give you peace of mind and allow you to make money-saving preemptive changes. Simply attach the gauge to a faucet closest to your water meter and slowly open up that faucet. To ensure an accurate reading you’ll need to make sure all other appliances (water machines, showers, refrigerators with ice makers) are off and closed.
Many local plumbing codes require that your pressure be between 40-80 PSI. 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. Remember to make small adjustments at a time and continually check the pressure for accurate and safe results.
Regardless of the fixture you use, it is important to treat your home like your own body and regularly perform checkups to make sure that your plumbing is holding up. Checking your water pressure every now and then will help keep your home dry and safe!
