Generally speaking, low water pressure tends to frustrate us a lot quicker than high water pressure… especially in the shower! However, high water pressure can have a huge negative impact on your house’s plumbing system if left unresolved.
So if you suspect that your house’s water pressure is too high – perhaps your water pressure starts off high and then quickly drops, for example – it’s crucial that you fix it before it leads to bigger (and costlier!) problems.
So what are the tell-tale signs of high water pressure in your house, and how do you fix high water pressure?
#1 – Are your pipes making banging or clanging noises?
If you’ve gotten used to hearing violent noises from the pipes inside the walls and shuddering under your feet, this could be the symptom of extremely high water pressure running through your pipes. Needless to say, this leads to leaks and pipe deterioration over time, as your pipes are constantly struggling to contain water at high pressure.
Pay attention to the pipes when you turn the taps off in the faucet, shower or kitchen sink. Is it immediately followed by banging and clanging noises? If so, it’s crucial that you get in touch with a licensed plumber as soon as possible.
#2 – Are you having issues with your washing machine or dishwasher?
Older models that have washed their share of dishes over the years might have corroded or deteriorated over time. This often occurs in the tub itself, where detergents and other chemicals have worn away the surface and a hole has developed.
Dishwasher water then leaks through this hole and pools underneath your dishwasher. If this is the case, your best bet is to replace the entire dishwasher – repairing the dishwasher tub itself is a costly exercise, and an old dishwasher is likely to present you with new issues in the near future anyway.
#3 – Does your hot water run out quickly?
If you find that you’re running out of hot water every time you take a shower or fill the sink with hot water for washing dishes etc., this could be because your water heater can’t keep up with the amount of water being fed into it. This causes the water to run through the heater faster than it can be heated up, and so the water goes cold.
Imagine an assembly line where the conveyor belt moves faster than the time it takes for the workers to do their job… that’s essentially what’s happening in your water heater! Just like your appliances, this process will rapidly deteriorate your water heater, causing leaks and costly replacements.
#4 – Do your water bills seem suspiciously steep?
We’d say “don’t blame the water company” but actually, the most common reason for high water pressure in your house tends to be that your local water supplier is raising the pressure themselves. Why would they do this? It’s usually because there are high-rise apartments or other tall buildings in the area, or suburbs that sit on top of tall hills, which means the water needs to be pumped harder to reach these heights.
The problem with this is that high pressure means more water coming from the tap, so the amount of water that’s consumed just by quickly washing your hands, for example, increases. This means more water consumed, and higher bills. If you find that your bills are unnecessarily high, this is a potential sign that the water pressure is too high in your house.
#5 – Are your faucets constantly leaking?
This one is easy to identify. If you find that your faucets are dripping non-stop, or spraying water out in every direction when you turn the tap on, it’s probably due to high water pressure. The same applies to your shower head, and also if your toilet seems to keep running or even flushing all on its own. Running toilets are usually the result of a faulty fill valve, which is one of the first components to deteriorate when water pressure is too high.
How to fix high water pressure
If any of the symptoms listed above are setting off alarm bells in your head, the first step is to diagnose the problem. Water pressure gauges are inexpensive, and available in most hardware or homewares stores.
Simply attach the gauge to any male threaded faucet in your house – the kitchen sink, bathroom basin, bathtub, or even your hose bib, for example. Ideally, your home plumbing system’s water pressure should sit somewhere between 40 and 60psi. Anything above 80psi is in urgent need of adjustment to prevent damage.
This is where a water pressure regulator comes in. A water pressure regulator is a valve that you install to the pipe from the water meter, at the point where it enters your house. If your plumbing system already has a water pressure regulator installed, you can simply adjust it and the problem should be resolved. However, if the problem is that your water pressure regulator is failing to do its job, you’ll need to repair or replace it.
Similarly, if your home doesn’t have a water pressure regulator at all, you’ll need to install one. Either way, these jobs are best reserved for a fully qualified and highly experienced plumbing professional.
Is your house’s water pressure too high? Call a plumbing professional today
At Plumbform, we provide Brisbane households and businesses with efficient 24/7 plumbing services that you can rely on. From blocked drains and leak detection to gas plumbing, roofing/guttering, emergency plumbing services and more; we can assist with all your plumbing needs without fuss or delay.
For assistance with regulating your house’s high water pressure, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
