High levels of water pressure can result in significant plumbing problems throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s a device that can help you avoid damaging your pipes, fixtures, and appliances. It’s called a water pressure regulator. These regulators work by limiting the amount of pressure behind the water entering your house. This lowers the strain that water pressure puts on your plumbing system and eliminates the risk of damage to your fixtures and appliances.
Water Pressure Regulators
A water pressure regulator lowers the amount of pressure of your incoming water. It’s basically a valve that gives you control over that pressure, which helps you eliminate the risk of problems with your plumbing system. We install this device on your home’s main water line. Usually, this is near where the main source of water enters your home. It’s essential if you have a high-pressure municipal water supply or fluctuating water pressure.
High water pressure can eventually damage your faucets, valves, pipes, appliances, and plumbing fittings. A water pressure regulator protects your plumbing system by reducing stress in these areas. It also lowers your risk of leaks. Once all this protection is put in place, you’ll notice that your water pressure is steady.
Your water pressure regulator will have a screw on top that allows for adjustments. Inside this device, there’s a variable spring diaphragm that widens or narrows automatically according to the water pressure entering your home. This is what gives you the control you need when dealing with high pressure.
What Is High Water Pressure?
Most plumbing fixtures will easily handle water pressure of around 50 pounds per square inch (PSI). Many municipal water supplies can spike as high as 150 to 200 PSI. When this happens frequently, it adds stress to plumbing joints, faucets, and fixtures. As a result, you may have joints that fail, faucets that leak, or fixtures that break down.
How Do I Know If I Need a Water Pressure Regulator?
We can do a water pressure test to determine how high the pressure coming from your main line is. If your pressure is within the range of 40 to 60 PSI, it’s safe for your plumbing system. If it’s 80 PSI or higher, it’s a good idea to have us install a regulator to alleviate stress on your fixtures, pipes, and fittings.
How Long Will a Water Pressure Regulator Last?
The average water pressure regulator will last 4 to 12 years if you have a healthy plumbing system. Most manufacturers suggest a replacement every five years to avoid any potential damage from high water pressure.
You should start thinking about replacing your water pressure regulator if you notice certain signs occurring. You may begin having inconsistent and fluctuating water pressure. You might even notice high water pressure in one area of your home and low water pressure in others. Leaking pipes and strange hammering sounds are also indicators that your water pressure regulator is nearing the end of its lifespan.
You’re not alone when it comes to deciding to replace your existing water pressure regulator. We can test your water pressure annually. If there’s a problem and the adjustment screw doesn’t have any effect on the pressure, we’ll recommend a replacement.
Types of Water Pressure Regulators
When it comes to choosing a water pressure regulator, there are many options. The one you pick will depend on your specific needs, such as the PSI of the water pressure entering your home. We will help you determine which type is perfect for you, but it helps to understand the differences among them.
Bell-Style Regulators
Bell-style regulators are economical and the most common for residential use. The housing has a bell shape that holds the regulator’s components. This includes the diaphragm, valve, and spring. This type of regulator handles incoming pressure up to 300 PSI. It’s capable of lowering it to 50 to 60 PSI.
Globe-Style Regulators
Globe-style regulators have a sphere shape. The internal parts have a different arrangement than the bell-style ones. These regulators are usually heavy-duty and can handle up to 500 PSI. These are good options for commercial settings.
Duo/Twin Regulators
Duo/twin regulators are a combination of two regulators in one device. One regulator isn’t always able to handle extremely high-water pressure. This setup allows the regulator to handle up to 1,000 PSI by lowering the pressure through two stages.
Heated Regulators
Heated regulators are for colder climates where freezing is an issue. These regulators have a thermostat that turns on a heating element to keep the internal parts from freezing and causing them to malfunction.
What to Expect During the Installation
When we arrive at your home to install your water pressure regulator, our plumbers will locate your existing water line and find the best place to install your regulator. We’ll have to shut your water off during the installation process to prevent flooding. We’ll then thread the new regulator into your water line. We’ll ensure the alignment is correct and use thread sealant to keep it from leaking. We’ll secure and tighten all connections without overtightening, which can cause damage.
Before leaving, we test for leaks and adjust the pressure setting on your new water pressure regulator with a pressure gauge. Once these steps are complete, we turn your water back on and check the water flow and pressure throughout your home. Our final inspection ensures that the installation is a complete success.
The Benefits of Water Pressure Regulators
Once your water pressure regulator is in place, you’ll be able to enjoy several benefits. The first thing you’ll notice is that your showers will be more relaxing. You might even be able to save on your water consumption. Having the ability to adjust your incoming water pressure can result in saving up to thousands of gallons of water. As a result, you might notice a lower monthly water bill.
Regulators further save you money by prolonging the lifespan of your appliances. By lowering the water pressure, you’re relieving the stress on your appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher. That high water pressure can also cause hairline cracks in your pipes. Over time, those cracks get bigger, which results in major repairs and replacements.
Cal’s Plumbing is a family-run business providing legendary service to the residents of Tucson, AZ since 1948. We provide residential and commercial plumbing assistance with old-fashioned quality, value, and customer care. In addition to water pressure regulator installation, we offer kitchen and bathroom plumbing services. This includes backflow prevention, prepping, and water leak detection. When it comes to keeping your drains healthy, you can count on our team for cleaning, repair, replacement, and installation. We even take care of your home’s septic tank and sump pump needs. If you need a water heater, we offer traditional and tankless models, and we have a variety of water treatment solutions such as conditioners, softeners, filtration, and purification.
Call Cal’s Plumbing in Tucson today for more information on all our professional plumbing services.
