High water pressure can feel great when you take a shower. However, excessive home water pressure can damage pipes, fixtures, and appliances if it exceeds 60 psi.
Checking and fixing high water pressure in your home is not difficult. It is worth doing because it can save money on water bills, plumbing repairs, and premature replacement of appliances.
In addition, there are handy devices you can invest in to protect against unsafe water pressure and other plumbing problems, such as a water pressure gauge and the Flo by Moen water monitoring and shutoff system. Read on for all the details.
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Signs of Excessive Home Water Pressure
Low pressure is usually easy to detect when you shower or turn on a garden hose and the water flow is underpowered. However, excessively high pressure can be harder to notice until it causes expensive damage and major inconvenience.
Fortunately, there are signs you can watch for to alert you to this problem before things get out of hand.
If the pressure in your home water system is too high, you are likely to notice the following signs.
Leaking Faucets
When the pressure is too high in plumbing pipes, one of the first signs you might notice is leaky faucets and faucets that start leaking again shortly after you fix them. These leaks happen because the excess pressure quickly wears out the washers inside the faucet.
So if you have recently repaired faucet leaks and soon after noticing more leaking, this can be a sign that the water pressure is excessive.
Erratic Spray from Faucets
Another indicator of high water pressure is when water sprays erratically from a faucet, especially one that has an aerator.
For example, if you turn on the kitchen faucet and a strong jet of water sprays out to the side of the normal flow, or the water flow sputters and spurts when you open the valve, this can be an indicator of excess pressure in the pipes.
Water Hammer Noises
Water hammer is when plumbing pipes make noises. It’s caused by a fast flow of water suddenly stopping, for example, when someone shuts off a faucet, or a washing machine finishes filling. The powerful force of the water flow is suddenly interrupted, causing the pipes to groan and shake.
Water hammer noises are a serious sign that something is not right with the plumbing system, and often the problem is the water pressure being too high.
Signs of Excessive Home Water Pressure
Low pressure is usually easy to detect when you shower or turn on a garden hose and the water flow is underpowered. However, excessively high pressure can be harder to notice until it causes expensive damage and major inconvenience.
Fortunately, there are signs you can watch for to alert you to this problem before things get out of hand.
If the pressure in your home water system is too high, you are likely to notice the following signs.
Leaking Faucets
When the pressure is too high in plumbing pipes, one of the first signs you might notice is leaky faucets and faucets that start leaking again shortly after you fix them. These leaks happen because the excess pressure quickly wears out the washers inside the faucet.
So if you have recently repaired faucet leaks and soon after noticing more leaking, this can be a sign that the water pressure is excessive.
Erratic Spray from Faucets
Another indicator of high water pressure is when water sprays erratically from a faucet, especially one that has an aerator.
For example, if you turn on the kitchen faucet and a strong jet of water sprays out to the side of the normal flow, or the water flow sputters and spurts when you open the valve, this can be an indicator of excess pressure in the pipes.
Water Hammer Noises
Water hammer is when plumbing pipes make noises. It’s caused by a fast flow of water suddenly stopping, for example, when someone shuts off a faucet, or a washing machine finishes filling. The powerful force of the water flow is suddenly interrupted, causing the pipes to groan and shake.
Water hammer noises are a serious sign that something is not right with the plumbing system, and often the problem is the water pressure being too high.
Leaking Appliance Supply Hose Connections
Another sign of excess pressure in plumbing pipes is leaking around water inlet hoses attached to appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, toilets, and water heaters. If the pressure is excessive, the water’s force can push through the gasket where the hose attaches to the appliance, causing it to drip, even if the fitting is tightened securely.
Reduced Appliance Lifespan
If you bought a new dishwasher, water heater, or washing machine recently and now it needs to be replaced, the problem could be that the water pressure is excessive and has damaged components in the device.
Problems Caused by High Pressure
When there is too much pressure in plumbing pipes, several serious problems will likely happen over time.
Damage to Plumbing Pipes
One of the most expensive and complicated problems of excess pressure is damage to plumbing pipes. This type of damage can include pinhole leaks in pipes, leaks at threaded pipe connections resulting in water damage to floors and walls, and pipes or inlet hoses that blow out and fail.
Expensive Replacement of Appliances
As mentioned above, excessive water pressure can rapidly reduce the lifespan of a new dishwasher, water heater, or washing machine. However, with the cost of these appliances being so high, the last thing you need is to replace appliances every couple of years because of high water pressure.
High Water Bills and Wasted Water
When the pressure is too high, every time you turn on a faucet, use a dishwasher, or do the laundry, more water flows than necessary. High pressure can quickly add lots of money to your water bill.
In addition to high water bills, excess water pressure is a waste of water, contributing to water shortages during times of drought.
Causes of High Home Water Pressure
You might be wondering what causes excess pressure in home plumbing systems.
Often, the fault lies with the local water company. For example, if your area is hilly, the water supply company might keep the pressure high so it flows adequately for customers at higher elevations in your town.
Another possible cause is if your home is near a fire hydrant that requires exceptionally high-pressure levels to power firehoses in the event of a fire in your neighborhood.
While these two causes are not something you can control, another possible cause is that the house does not have a pressure regulator valve (PRV) or has a defective one. If this is the problem, you can often fix the problem by installing or replacing this valve where the main water line enters the house.
Some houses built before approximately 2002 do not have PRVs because building codes did not require them before that time. This type of valve is adjustable, and if your house has one, or if you install one on a home that lacks it, you can adjust the valve to reduce the water pressure.
We’ll discuss how to do that later. But, first, it’s crucial to determine if the pressure is excessive, which is easy to do with one small piece of equipment.
Checking the Water Pressure at Home
You can quickly check the pressure reading of your plumbing system by investing in a water pressure gauge. This handy tool lets you accurately read the home water pressure in a few minutes.
Look for a gauge with threads that fit onto a regular faucet with a pressure range of approximately 0 to 150 psi. These devices cost about $20 to $50 and getting a higher quality one assures you of an accurate reading.
Once you have a water pressure gauge, find the faucet closest to the main water line entering the house. This will probably be a garden faucet near the main water shutoff. Ensure all the water is turned off in the house and garden and that no one in the house flushes a toilet, takes a shower, or turns on any other water while you take the reading.
Attach the pressure gauge to the faucet, then turn on the water full blast. Wait a few minutes, then look at the gauge and note the reading.
It’s good to leave the gauge on the faucet for a day or two and check it several times to see if the pressure fluctuates and reaches an excessive level.
Home water pressure should stay between 40 and 60 psi. If the highest reading is slightly higher, say 65 psi, this is probably not a problem. However, readings over 70 psi are likely to cause problems in appliances and pipes over time. Readings above 80 psi indicate a severe issue that warrants fixing.
What to Do if the Home Water Pressure is Too High
If you find that the pressure is above 80 psi, there are several solutions.
First, check if your home is equipped with a pressure regulator valve (PRV). This type of valve is typically installed just beyond the main water shutoff valve where the water line enters the house.
If your home has a pressure PRV, the first step is adjusting it to reduce the pressure. Your local water company might be able to do this for you, or you can do it yourself with a wrench to loosen the lock nut and another wrench or screwdriver to turn the adjustment screw or bolt.
First, make sure there is no water running in the house. Then loosen the lock nut at the bottom of the adjustment stem on top of the valve and slowly turn the adjustment screw counter-clockwise one-quarter turn to reduce the pressure.
Tighten the lock nut and recheck the pressure on the gauge. If it’s still too high, adjust the PRV again, going one quarter turn each time. When the pressure is correctly adjusted, be sure to tighten the lock nut.
Replacing or Installing a Pressure Regulator Valve
If your home does not have a PRV, installing one can quickly solve the problem of excessive water pressure. This job involves cutting and threading pipes, so only take it on if you have the proper tools and experience. If not, contact a licensed plumber to take care of it for you.
PRVs also wear out after 10 to 15 years. So if your home is older and has a pressure valve that won’t adjust to the correct pressure, it’s time to replace the valve.
Replacing a PRV is simpler than installing one on a line that does not have one to start. However, you need large pipe wrenches to do the job and should only do it if you have prior plumbing experience. If not, contact a plumber to replace the valve for you.
Protecting Fixtures and Appliances from Excess Pressure
Another thing you can do to protect fixtures and appliances from high water pressure is install stainless steel supply lines to replace plastic lines.
Upgrading the supply lines to stainless steel won’t reduce the high water pressure. However, if the pressure is only slightly too high, installing stainless steel supply lines does give you added insurance that a supply line won’t easily burst, leading to possible water damage to floors and floor coverings.
Replacing supply lines is straightforward and only takes a few tools like an adjustable wrench and possibly a basin wrench if some of the connections are in tight spots.
If you replace supply lines, you might want to consider also replacing the small shutoff valve for the fixture at the same time. This is because these valves often do not shut off completely after you turn them back on, leading to a leak. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to turn off the water main while you replace a supply shutoff valve.
How a Water Monitoring Device Can Help with High Home Water Pressure
Another option for preventing a plumbing disaster from high water pressure is installing a water monitor and shutoff device like the Flo by Moen Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff.
This small monitoring device is installed on the water main after the shutoff valve and PRV. The device requires a 120-volt power source, and it then connects to your smartphone using an app.
After installation, the Flo by Moen learns the water usage patterns in your home over a week or two of setup time. It then alerts you if it detects any abnormal flow rates from a broken pipe or leaking appliance.
You can also use the Flo by Moen device to get real-time usage reports for the whole house and even individual fixtures like toilets and showers. This feature gives you maximum control over water usage in your home, and it can save you tons of money by quickly alerting you about a leak or pipe breakage.
The Flo by Moen device also automatically shuts off the water main supply if there is excessive water flow or the home water pressure gets too high.
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