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High Water Pressure: The Good, Bad and Ugly

In contrast to trying to shower with a mere drip from the shower head, high water pressure must be good, right? Not so fast! Anta's master plumber says that high water pressure is a leading cause of wasted water, leaks, and pipe damage. In this post, we discuss how you can detect, prevent, and fix high water pressure.

Symptoms of (too) high water pressure include:

● multiple leaks
● intermittent leaks

Usually, excessive water pressure is caused by the municipal supplier. They set high water pressure to quickly deliver water to tall or high elevation properties and to fire hydrants. Very often, the pressure exceeds 100 and even 150 psi, which is much higher than the recommended maximum pressure for residential properties.

Hardware and plumbing supplies stores sell cheap water pressure gauges that attach to any hose bib. You could also buy a more advanced meter with adjustable needles that will record pressure ranges when you are not watching.

Install a Water Pressure Regulator


Your home should have a regulator that reduces the pressure of the municipal water supply to a safe level. It should be placed near the meter rather than just at the entrance of your property in order to protect the supply line and the rest of the plumbing system. By regulating the water pressure, you will be able to eliminate misting, thus saving both water and money.

If you do have a water pressure regulator installed already, and still have excessive water pressure, it is possible that the device is malfunctioning. Mechanical devices do fail eventually, so it would be a good idea to test the pressure and see whether it is time to install a new regulator.

Another Reason for Excessive Water Pressure?


Thermal expansion is another possible cause of unusually high water pressure in your home's plumbing system. Most of the time, your plumbing system is is a closed container under pressure. When the water heater heats your water, it expands, causing increased pressure.

What can be done about it? Installing a thermal expansion tank in your home's plumbing system could help manage the pressure fluctuations and volume changes that might otherwise cause system failure or damage.

High Water Pressure and Hammering

Another sign of excessive water pressure is water hammering. Water is a dynamic liquid with mass, and when it is stopped suddenly, it causes the hammering effect. Water hammering increases the force of the water over the static pressure.

When the water hammers in your fixtures, pipes, and joints, it causes the parts to be damaged by the repeated force of the water. This results in broken valves that leak, and broken pipe joints.

Solutions to Excessively High Water Pressure

If your home's water pressure is too high, there are two things you could do:

● Install a water pressure regulator

● Install a thermal expansion tank

Due to the nature of these installations, and the City regulations, it is important to call a qualified plumber to do it for you. Get in touch with Anta Plumbing to discuss your options before the high water pressure results in plumbing system damages.

What do you think?

Written by Anta

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