What is your water pressure ?
By David M. Haught CHI
Most homeowners on a public water system don’t think about water pressure, unless it is low. But having water pressure that is too high can cause more problems than low pressure. Water pressure over 80 psi is considered excessive and will wear out the washers on your plumbing fixtures and solenoid valves in your dish and clothes washers.
To test your water pressure you can contact your water company or you may want to do it yourself. Most home improvement centers will have a water pressure gauge (approximately $10-12) they easily connect to an exterior hose bib. Ideal water pressure is between 45 and 60 psi. If your pressure is over 80 psi you can adjust the pressure by installing a pressure regulator.
If your pressure is below 40 psi, the water flow in the shower will greatly decrease when water is used in another location in the home. Low pressure can be caused by many factors. It can be caused by the lack of pressure delivered by the water company, the size of the pipes in your home, or the material used to make the pipe.
An easy way to determine the delivery pressure is to contact your water company or ask your neighbors if you may check and compare their water pressure. If theirs is normal and yours is low, further investigation is warranted.
Next, check your water service entrance line, the pipe size should be at least ¾ inch and one inch is even better. While there, check the material the entrance lines are made of. If your pipes are galvanized steel, the problem could be corrosion closing the interior diameter of the pipe. Galvanized steel pipe will be found in older homes and corrode from the inside out. This may require replacement of the water lines with copper, CPVC or other non-corrosive pipe.
If your pipes are the right size and type, and you discover the water pressure delivered to your home is low, the water pressure may be boosted by your water company. If this is not possible, you can improve the pressure in your home by installing a water pressure booster system.
