What Is Your Home’s Water Pressure?
Dealing with water pressure issues can be a real pain in the neck. No matter if your shower has become a mere drizzle or your garden hose lacks its usual power, understanding and maintaining your home’s water pressure is necessary for getting things flowing again. Thankfully, evaluating your water pressure is a simple task that doesn’t require special training. Learn the simple process of testing your water pressure at home, how to understand the results and what a professional can do to address any problems you find.
Why Is It a Good Idea to Check Your Home’s Water Pressure?
Knowing your home’s water pressure ensures a satisfying shower, but more importantly, it protects your plumbing system from damage. Much like the way you consistently check the oil in your car, examining your water pressure a couple of times a year can prevent bigger problems down the road.
After all, low water pressure is irritating, but high water pressure can really damage your plumbing system, including pipe connections, water heaters and appliances. The possibility of blowouts in flexible lines, like those connecting to your washing machine and dishwasher, increases with high water pressure, potentially resulting in leaks and extensive water damage. Testing your water pressure and acting on the results can prevent these issues.
Tools You’ll Need to Test Water Pressure at Home
To start out, you need a common and low-cost tool called a pressure gauge. These are often available at hardware or home improvement retailers. When choosing a gauge, look for one with female hose threads (to easily attach to an outdoor faucet or hose bib), a rubber gasket for a tight seal and the potential to measure as many as 300 pounds per square inch (psi).
Detailed Guide to Testing Water Pressure
With a pressure gauge in hand, you’re set to determine that water pressure. Just use these steps:
1. Preparation: First, ensure that all water outlets in your household are switched off. Make sure you check the following: faucets, showerheads, dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerator ice makers and sprinkler systems. Any water usage throughout testing may impact your readings and give a false impression of low pressure.
2. Connect the pressure gauge: Attach the gauge to an outside faucet or hose bib. If your water is derived from a municipal source, connect it to the faucet closest to the water meter to ensure the most accurate reading. For homes that use a well system, affix it to a hose bib in the vicinity of the well’s pressure tank.
3. Measure the pressure: Tighten the gauge by hand and open the faucet all the way. Now, look at the readout to find the pressure. A suitable reading runs from 45 to 55 psi. If your reading is below 40 psi or above 80 psi, it’s time to seek assistance.
Addressing Water Pressure Problems
Here are things you can do to fix high or low water pressure:
- High pressure: Put a water pressure regulator on your water main. This tool ensures a maximum flow of 75 psi. Even if you already have a regulator, it’s a good idea to check the pressure regularly, as regulators can fail without showing any signs.
- Low pressure: First, look over any current pressure regulators, which should be set to approximately 50 psi. Adjusting the screw on top should improve flow. If a pressure regulator isn’t the culprit, the problem might be with the municipal water provider. In instances like this, setting up a water pressure booster may help.
- Normal pressure: If your pressure falls in the ideal range, no further action is needed. Just don’t forget to test your water pressure periodically to ensure it continues to be within this range.
When to Call an Expert for Water Pressure Problems in the U.S.
If you’re not sure about testing the water pressure in your own home, or if you’ve identified an issue that needs professional evaluation, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. Our talented plumbers can help you test your water pressure, diagnose what’s wrong and check to be sure that no fixtures have been negatively affected by high pressure. We can also assist with installing a pressure regulator or booster if the situation requires. Thanks to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust us to make the correct fix the first time around. The next time you have water pressure problems or other plumbing challenges in the U.S., call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to schedule an appointment. We’re here for you!