Water Damage and Water Pressure
Water pressure within your home has an impact on the
longevity of your appliances, valves, and supply lines. If water pressure
is found to be too high it can shorten the working life of your equipment and
lead to unexpected water damage incidents. The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)
designates that water be delivered to homes for domestic use between 50 to 70
psi. Valves (angle stops), appliances, and supply lines are designed and
manufactured to withstand up to 80 pounds per square inch. In most places in
California your water district delivers water to water pressure regulators which
regulate it to between 50 and 70 psi. The components of the water pressure
regulator which reduce water pressure are composed of metal and rubber.
Eventually, those one or more of those components will fail. A failure in
the water pressure regulator leads to increased water pressure to the home.
Naturally, this puts a strain on your appliances, valves, and hoses that were
not designed to withstand such intense pressure. If you do not check regularly,
this excessive water pressure might cause a break in the valves or lines.
One way for a homeowner to check the water pressure is by using a water pressure
test gauge. Just connect the gauge to one of your outdoor faucets then turn on
the water to check the water pressure. It should be noted that some outdoor
faucets are unregulated. However, if the pipe connected to the faucet
comes out of the wall, most likely that faucet is a regulated one. If you were
wondering the cost to replace a water pressure regulator, including parts and
labor; it should cost much less than a homeowner’s standard deductible of $1000
or even $500 and is worth doing when you find a defective water pressure
regulator. Reducing the strain on plumbing fixtures increases their service life
and is well worth doing as preventative mentainance.
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