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Plumbing Problems
Hard spray, banging pipes, or hoses that burst can all point to pressure that is too high. Here is how to check it and what to do next.
Short answer: Water pressure is too high when it reads above about 80 psi on a gauge, and that is hard on pipes, hoses, and appliances.
Strong pressure feels good in the shower, so many people never suspect it. The clues are usually somewhere else in the house.
None of these proves the pressure is too high. They are reasons to measure it.
A water pressure gauge threads onto an outdoor hose faucet. It costs little at a hardware store, and the reading takes a few minutes.
The plumbing code says that when pressure inside a home is above 80 psi, a pressure reducing valve is needed to bring it down to 80 psi or less. So 80 psi is the line plumbers watch. If your gauge reads over it, or swings far higher at night, tell Ryan the number when you call.
Got a gauge reading?
Text Ryan a photo of the dial and a note on whether you have city water or a well. He is a licensed Master Plumber and answers his own phone, day or night.
Where your water comes from changes what is wrong and who fixes it.
Pressure comes from the utility. The mountains matter here. Water pressure builds as you go downhill, so a house low on a slope can see much higher pressure than one at the top. If your pressure is over the code limit, a pressure reducing valve (PRV) on the main line should be bringing it down. It is a bell-shaped brass valve, often right after the main shut-off.
Two things happen with PRVs. They wear out, and they fail. A worn one can let full street pressure through. A different failure can choke the flow and give you low pressure instead, which our low water pressure page explains. If you have no PRV at all and your pressure is above 80 psi, adding one is the usual fix. A water heater on a closed system also needs a way to handle thermal expansion, and the water heater expansion tank post explains why.
There is no street pressure. Your well pump and a pressure switch set the pressure, and a pressure tank smooths it out. The pump turns on at a low number, called cut-in, and shuts off at a high number, called cut-out. If your gauge reads well above the cut-out your system is supposed to have, the switch may be set too high, worn, or reading wrong.
Do not adjust a well pressure switch if you are not sure. Turn off the power at the breaker first, since the switch carries line voltage. Setting the cut-out higher than the switch, pump, and tank are made for can damage pipes and fittings. A tank that holds the wrong amount of air makes pressure swing as well. That is a different problem, and well pump short cycling covers it. For the tank itself, see well pressure tank service.
On city water, the fix is usually a new or adjusted pressure reducing valve, sometimes with an expansion tank so the water heater has somewhere for hot water to expand. On a well, the fix is usually at the pressure switch, the gauge, or the tank. Ryan installs well pumps and well pressure tanks. Send him your gauge reading and a photo of what is on the main line or the well tank. He can look at it, tell you what he found, and give you the price before any work starts. The estimate is free, with no trip fee.
The main valve and fittings in a mountain home can sit in a crawlspace or a basement closet. Tell him where yours is and he will plan for it.
"Ryan was knowledgeable, courteous, and took the time to explain the issue and the best solution. What impressed me the most was their honesty and fair pricing, no hidden fees or unnecessary upsells. It's clear that The Village Plumber truly cares about their customers."
The plumbing code says a pressure reducing valve is needed when pressure inside a building is above 80 psi. If your gauge reads over that, it is worth having a plumber look at it. A gauge on an outdoor hose faucet takes a few minutes to read.
Yes. High pressure is hard on pipes, fittings, washing machine and supply hoses, and appliances, and it can cause leaks and banging in the lines. Catching it early is cheaper than replacing a burst hose or a worn-out fixture.
It sits on the main water line and lowers incoming pressure to a safer level before it reaches your fixtures. It can wear out over time. When it fails, you may see pressure that is too high or too low.
Look at the gauge and the pressure switch settings. The pump should shut off at the cut-out pressure the system was set up for. If it does not, or the gauge reads far above it, call a plumber. Turn off the power at the breaker before you touch the switch.
No. Estimates are free, with no trip fee and no diagnostic fee. You know the price before any work starts, and the work is backed by a warranty. The terms are given in writing at the estimate.
Call or text. Text is often fastest up here. Free estimate, no trip fee, no diagnostic fee.