Signs Your Home’s Water Pressure Is Too High
We all love the satisfying feeling of a shower with the ideal temperature and water pressure. What’s better than feeling like you started your day off at the spa? But if water pressure is too high, it can cause issues with your plumbing.
If you don’t know the common signs of excess pressure, it can create other more damaging issues, raise your water bills, and cause unnecessary inconvenience for you and your family.
Are you noticing any of the issues below in your home? Luckily, top-notch plumbing services in Barrington can resolve any of your home’s water pressure issues.
What Is the Ideal Water Pressure for My Home?
To recognize when your water pressure is too high, you first need to understand the ideal water pressure range. Ideal water pressure depends on various factors, including the age of your home and your preferences.
However, the standard acceptable range of psi (pound-force per square inch) is 40 to 60 psi. Water pressure that stays at higher levels for too long can cause more severe issues.
What Are Some Common Signs of Excess Water Pressure?
As previously mentioned, water pressure that is too high for too long will cause additional problems. Recognizing these issues will allow you to address excess water pressure early enough to spare your home and wallet more frustration than necessary.
Water Hammer or Banging Pipes
One of the earliest signs of too-high water pressure is “water hammer,” more commonly known as banging pipes. Technically known as hydraulic shock, banging pipes occur when water flow changes direction in your home’s plumbing system harshly or quickly due to increased water pressure.
Usually caused by water pressure issues in your water line – the pipe that brings water into your home from the main residential line – banging pipes cause loud sounds when you use faucets or showers.
What’s worse than the noise is the impact banging pipes can have on your plumbing system. If left unchecked, hydraulic shock can cause the joints in your pipes to loosen or leak, leading to the next issue involved in high water pressure: leaking pipes.
Leaking Pipes
Another common issue resulting from excess water pressure is leaking pipes. Damage from extra water pressure and banging pipes can cause pinhole leaks or loosened joints in your home’s plumbing system, leading to wasted water. Worse, this water often accumulates unseen in roofs, walls, and even floors, only becoming noticeable when mold builds up or rot causes a nasty smell in your home.
If you observe these signs, call plumbing services right away to stop the water damage.
Damaged Household Appliances
Just as increased water pressure can damage your home’s plumbing system, it can also affect household appliances. If you notice your dishwasher or washing machine is unusually loud, high water pressure could be the culprit.
Aside from the nuisance of excessive noise, the excess water pressure can damage the mechanisms of your appliance. Even worse, many appliance warranties have void clauses for water damage issues. If you notice a leak or unusual noise with your dishwasher, washing machine, or similar appliances, act fast to resolve these water pressure issues.
For the same reasons, water pressure that’s too high can shorten the life of your water heater. Making sure your water pressure is set to the appropriate level will prevent you from having to replace your appliances too soon.
Increasing Utility Bills
No one likes increasing expenses, and excess water pressure will cause your utility bills to skyrocket. If you notice a sudden increase in your monthly payments or find that you’re paying far more for your utilities than neighbors with similar-sized homes, water pressure could be to blame.
Simply put, higher water pressure levels use more water per minute. Furthermore, leaking pipes resulting from excess water pressure might be contributing to increasingly expensive bills while also wasting water.
Leaking Faucets
Leaking faucets are another issue caused by high water pressure. Luckily, it’s pretty apparent when your faucet is leaking. You might notice a constant drip when you try to turn it off or even a spurting or spraying when you turn on your tap.
Persistently leaking faucets may require a costly replacement or repair of your faucet. Fortunately, ensuring your water pressure isn’t too high can prevent this problem.
Constantly Running Toilet
High water pressure can even harm the mechanisms of your toilet. When water pressure runs in excess for too long, it can cause your toilet’s fill valve to break more quickly than expected. A broken fill valve might result in your toilet flushing on its own or even running when you’re not using it.
How Can I Assess Water Pressure Levels?
If you notice any of the issues mentioned above, you might wonder how you can tell whether your water pressure levels are too high.
To check your home’s water pressure and learn when to call a plumber, head to a local hardware store and purchase a water pressure gauge. These simple devices attach to an exterior faucet on your water heater and provide a reading on the water pressure in your home.
Remember that the device’s initial assessment might fall within acceptable levels, so leave it on for a few days to see if it exceeds 60 psi. If so, it’s time to call a professional.
After 2002, new laws required that every new home have a water pressure regulator or pressure reduction valve. If your home was built after 2002, it likely has this device. Even so, it’s important to remember that these mechanisms have a lifespan of seven to 12 years, so it might be time to get yours checked.
If your water pressure is too high, it can lead to higher utility bills, a shorter lifespan for appliances, and more. Fortunately, Advantage Plumbing & Sewer Co. is here to help you address any of your home’s water pressure or plumbing issues. Call (847) 716-2261 to get a quote and find out what our plumbing professionals can do for you!
