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Water
pressure.
Too much or too little
By: Patrick Mahoney
Owner/Operator
of SHERLOCK HOME INSPECTOR
I recently bought a home in
Columbia, South Carolina, and my home inspector said that the water
pressure was too high, and should be set to between 40 and 80 PSI.
Why is this so?
A.
The plumbing in your home is designed to function with water
pressure between 40 and 80 pounds per square inch (PSI). If the pressure is too low, the water flow in the toilets,
faucets and other fixtures will be weak, and if you are running your
washing machine and trying to take a shower at the same time, you may not
have enough pressure.
On the other hand, if the pressure is too high it could cause leaks
in the system, and in an extreme case could burst a pipe or fixture.
This is especially true in older homes with pipes that may not be
in the best condition. I once
inspected a house that had a water pressure of 100 PSI, and the owner told
me that his garden hoses were always blowing apart.
A water pressure of 60 PSI is usually just right for most houses.
If your local water supplier will not or cannot adjust the pressure
to your home, a plumber can install a pressure regulator between the meter
and the house.
Article: Water Pressure. Too Much or
too little. by Patrick Mahoney Ó 2004 |
