Although it may come as a surprise, high water pressure isn’t always a good thing. Generally, people will assume there is a problem with their plumbing system if the water pressure is low and there isn’t enough power coming from the water system. Whilst to an extent this shows that the system may not be performing to its best ability or be in the best condition it can be, sometimes when your water pressure is too high and intense, this can actually cause harm to the plumbing system. 

We wanted to share a little bit more insight into how high water pressure can be damaging along with ways you can prevent damage from occurring. 

 

How do you know when your water pressure is too high?

Whilst we might enjoy a powerful shower, or strong running water from our taps, it is important to know when this becomes unusual and indicates that the water pressure is in fact too high. There are a few major signs to look out for, and some of these may include noisy or banging pipes, leaking faucets, and running out of hot water fast. If you are experiencing any of these things, it may be an indication that your water pressure is too high and that you should get it looked at by a plumber. 

Furthermore, you could get a water pressure gauge which tells you exactly what the water pressure is. To test it, you attach the gauge to the end of one of your faucets. You will find that there is a building code in your area which tells you what the PSI should be. If the number of your PSI is significantly above this when you carry out the test, you should contact a professional plumber for help. 

 

How high water pressure can be harmful

When the water pressure in your system is too high, it can overwhelm and cause damage to the plumbing system. It puts a lot of stress onto your water appliances which often results in them breaking. This can also reduce the overall lifespan of your appliances and have an impact on the way that they function and perform. Therefore, this is something you need to avoid as the consequences can be both costly and inconvenient. 

Furthermore, when your water pressure is too high, this has a direct impact on your water bills. High water pressure means you will have a lot more water flowing through the system, which also results in a lot of water going to waste. This can make your water bills soar and also be harmful to the environment. 

 

What you can do to regulate your water pressure…

Because high water pressure can have such damaging consequences to your plumbing system, you should be mindful of changes and unusual signs and always call out a plumber when you become suspicious of anything different. Though we advise leaving most things in the capable hands of a professional plumber, there are things you can do to keep your water pressure regulated and ensure that it doesn’t fall too high or low. 

You can get a water pressure reducing valve to attach to your water pipes which enables you to control the pressure and bring it down if it becomes too high. This is also referred to as a water pressure regulator due to the nature of what the valve is designed to do. It should be installed straight after the water meter enters your house. 

However, this does not always work. If your water pressure gets too high and does not reduce, or if you notice any of the problem indications that we mentioned above, we always advise that you call a plumber to come out and assess the situation. They will be able to determine what the water pressure is and take action to fix this and reduce risk of any damage to your plumbing system or water appliances. 

If you would like us to come and assess your water pressure, simply get in touch with us via our contact page and we will be more than happy to help!

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