Good water pressure is something most homeowners take for granted. There’s nothing worse than coming home from a hard day at work, looking forward to a nice shower, only to be met by trickling water due to low pressure. On the other hand, excessively high pressure can be a source of great stress and frustration. From joints to supply lines to faucets, damage can occur throughout the plumbing system; high pressure will also keep your water bill higher than it should be.
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. 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 – not to mention increased water waste.
To reduce high pressure in a home, you’ll need a Pressure Relief Valve. In fact, these are often required by code for pressures beyond 80 psi. These devices do exactly what they say, reducing pressures of up to 400 psi down to a reasonable level of your choosing (most are factory set at 45 psi).
If you feel like the water pressure is not where it should be, it is always best to reach out a licensed plumber for further evaluation and assistance. As always we hope this helps and look forward to working with you again soon 🙂