If you’re asking yourself “what should my house water pressure be?” then you should know that for every household in the United States, the appropriate water pressure needs to be between 35 and 80 PSI (pounds per square inch). Municipal water supply systems utilize water pressure regulators to deliver water to house holes between 50 and 70 PSI.
Why Do You Have To Check Your House’s Water Pressure?
Any changes in the water pressure could result in a number of frustrating issues. For instance, if you’re dealing with high water pressure, it could put in men strain on every plumbing line and fixture and can also result in blowouts in washing machine hoses or flex lines, potentially resulting in your house getting flooded.
That’s why testing the water pressure is crucial for every homeowner out there especially if you have a pressure regulator or a pressure reducing valve (PRV) on the main water supply. This needs to be done a few times a year to ensure your house is receiving optimal water supply. The only question is “how to check water pressure”?
If you want to learn how to adjust a pressure-reducing valve, check out this source right here.
Here’s everything you need to do to measure water pressure:
Buy a PSI-Measuring Pressure Gauge
One way on how to check the water pressure in a house is to purchase a PSI-measuring pressure gauge. You can get one from the local hardware store and then have it hooked to a hose faucet. You’ll need to turn all other water-using appliances and faucets to get a baseline reading. The typical household pressure reading should be somewhere between 35 and 80 PSI, as we said earlier.
Find the Main Water Supply
Now go to the main water supply which is a plastic or metal pipe that pumps water into your house. There you’ll need to also see where there’s a big water meter attached to that supply as well. This meter is what measures the amount of water you use. In case you’re confused, you can find the main water supply somewhere in the basement, the garage, or right next to the water heater system.
Attach Pressure Gauge to The Spigot
The next thing to do is to attach the pressure gauge to the spigot, which should be threaded right by the main water supply. The spigot either has a lever or a valve right next to it. The pressure gauge’s end needs to be screwed to the threaded side by having it fit over the threads and then have it turned clockwise. You need to take the readings from the spigot that’s the closest, the farthest, as well as from a washing machine connection.
Alternate Option #1: Screw Gauge Into Outdoor Hose Bib
If not the main water supply, then look for an outdoor hose bib, which should be outside your house. Once you have found the bib, screw the gauge right onto it. After screwing it in, you feel the inner rubber gasket’s pull. You should have no trouble tightening it up, but in case you do, you can make use of some pliers.
Alternate Option #2: Screw Pressure Gauge toThe First Floor’S Faucet
If you don’t have the main water supply or hose bib, then you can test the water pressure by attaching the gauge to a faucet somewhere on the first floor of your house. The reason why you need to attach it on the first floor is that the pressure gets lower once it goes through the pipes and the readings will be less accurate compared to testing the spigot that’s right next to the main water supply.
Get the Readings
The gauge’s needle should be pointing to the number that shows your household’s water pressure in PSI. You need to write the readings down in a piece of paper. Once you have your reading, unscrew the gauge. But when you do this, be sure that the spigot is off or else the water will gush out.
Addressing Low And High Water Pressure
Once you have the reading, you need to determine whether the water pressure is low, high, or right in the middle.
- High Water Pressure: if the pressure readings are too high, you need to install a water pressure regulator on the main water supply to ensure you get a maximum flow of no more than 75 PSI. Even if you have one, you’ll still need to test your house’s water pressure as pressure regulators can give out without any telling signs.
- Low Water Pressure: if the water pressure is low, then you need to have the water pressure regulator inspected, provided if there is one in the first place. This setting should be set to no less than 50 PSI, but you can also improve the flow by adjusting the screw on the top side. To take care of this issue, you need to install a water pressure booster so that the water flow improves every time somebody turns on the faucet.
- Optimal Water Pressure: if the pressure was right in the middle, then there’s nothing for you to fix. You can store the pressure gauge away until the next time you need to test the pressure in the following few months.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve told you about how to check water pressure in house, we’re very certain that you’ll be more cautious and proactive and taking care of your issues. Just remember that if you’re going to install a water pressure regulator or water pressure booster to manage the flow of your water, you don’t need to call in the professionals for the job.
