Is your water pressure too high?

While all modern homes are designed with balanced plumbing systems, it is essential to be aware of the dangers of water pressure that is too high. Too much water pressure can lead to burst pipes and water damage, but it can also affect warranties on household appliances.

Even if you employ the most reliable plumbers in Melbourne, wear and tear can lead to leaks in the very best systems. Precision Electrical and Plumbing recommends that homeowners check their water pressure regularly. You can also install devices like water pressure regulators to protect your home’s plumbing system, pipe joints and hot water heater.

You can usually identify high water pressure problems from leaks in plumbing pipework. For instance, you might hear dripping pipe water at night, or the water in your toilet system may run even when the toilet is not in use. Sometimes, you may even hear water hammer, and your water bills may skyrocket.

In any case, if excessive pressure is ignored, the situation will gradually worsen. If left untreated, you may have many plumbing problems, including pipe damage, leaks, excessive water usage, and much more.

However, high water pressure and any plumbing issues aren’t always easy to fix, so let’s look at how we can solve your water pressure problem.

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Understanding High Water Pressure

One of the best ways to check the water pressure inside your home is to invest in a water pressure test gauge. This tool is readily available in your local home improvement stores and is a no-brainer. Simply fasten the device to your drain connection or a faucet. In case you read anything under 69 psi, leave it as it is for at least 48 hours to check if the pressure increases.

Water pressure is the strength of water flow in your pipes, measured in kilopascals (kPa) or PSI (pounds per inch). This pressure – or force – determines the water flow you get out of your taps. If the pressure is too high, your tap, toilets, plumbing pipes, washing machines, and shower will not work correctly. Plus, it is a lot of unnecessarily wasted water.

Municipalities provide water for houses to meet Australian Standards, and the pressure should be 500 kPa.

But the water supply is considerably higher, usually between 800 and 1,000 kPa, so it can be used for fire hydrants, multi-storey buildings, and cluster housing where there are many homes. Plumbers tap into the water mains via a communication pipe and install smaller-diameter pipework to deliver water to domestic dwellings. This ensures your water pressure doesn’t rise above the mandated 500 kPa.

Be warned that even when the pressure is set to standard, at night, it often increases because fewer people are using water in the area. This explains why leakages often happen overnight.

High water pressure can also be caused by thermal expansion when water is heated.

Steps to Take to Control High Water Pressure

The water pressure in your home must stay within the optimal operating range.

Precision Electrical and Plumbing will install a pressure reduction valve at the water meter to control the pressure if it is too high. Pressure-limiting valves will also ensure that the pressure from the municipal water supply is reduced in keeping with the standards.

Ideally, a PLV should be positioned at the water meter to protect the entire supply line into the house and garden. The standards require valves that either limit or reduce pressure to be located where it is easy to get to the valve for maintenance or replace it if it wears out.

Still Too High? Call A Plumber!

Qualified and registered plumbers in Melbourne will be familiar with the standards and requirements of Victoria. You can also speak to your local plumber about installing a water pressure regulator for your plumbing system if you are still experiencing excessive water pressure.

Remember when you look for plumbers in Melbourne to ensure that they are licensed and insured. And, for the most reliable and efficient plumbers in Melbourne, give us a call today!