The truth about water pressure at homes. Water pressure is somewhat subjective. What one person thinks is adequate, may be a trickle to another person. This can be problematic for a home inspector who is supposed to tell the client if the pressure is satisfactory or not. Almost all of us will try to make a judgement by performing a multi-flow test -- running more than one fixture at a time. Sometimes it is obvious that the pressure is whimpy, with just one faucet or tub running. So, what can one do? Well, you can take a reading with a professional instrument, a pressure gauge. Normal pressure is 40 to 80 PSI. Here is one potential snag: Most inspectors find it easiest, and less chance of getting water inside the home, to attach the pressure gauge to an outside hosebibb. Not often, but sometimes, the hosebibb is plumbed in before a pressure reducing valve and, in that case, the high reading is not accurate for the rest of the house. When that happens the inspector should try to get a gander at the supply pipe arrangement in the basement or crawl space, to see where the hosebibb is attached. Failing that, with experience an inspector kind of knows what high pressure looks like and gets a clue that way. Now, almost everyone recognizes really low pressure. The problem with going solely by readings is that issue of pressure being subjective. I have a rental and the tenant thinks 70 PSI is not much pressure. At inspections I have had clients who were thrilled with the pressure when it was in the low 40's. So what is wrong with having too much pressure? Wouldn't that make everyone happy? The problem is that, when pressure is over 80 PSI, it may void warranties and can damage devices such as water heaters and dishwashers. How is a pressure problem, either way, resolved? It may be as simple as installing or adjusting a pressure regulator or adjusting a pump. Or it might entail putting in a new service line. I was thinking, a basic water pressure gauge is about $9.00 and might be a good tool for a hands-on realtor. I know a number of agents who carry basic circuit testers to see if the wiring looks reasonable at a quick glance. The water pressure gauge would be another handy device, in a similar vein. If the pressure is too high a plumber can put in a regulator, if it is too low, well that too can be figured out before the buyer's inspector arrives and cites a problem.
Too low Way too high
Thanks for looking
Steven L. Smith
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