A Building Disaster: The Dangers of High Water Pressure

There are only a few things better than stepping into a well pressurized shower in the morning. Unfortunately, that same pressure that completely revitalizes you may be a building disaster for the plumbing in your house. For as good as people think high water pressure is, it is actually a huge disaster waiting to happen.

How High Water Pressure Effects Your Home

According to many plumbing codes, the maximum water pressure of a residence should be no higher than 80 psi with some saying that it should in actuality be no higher than 60 psi. Unfortunately, so many more municipal water supplies run water at 100 to 150 psi. It might be wonderful for a time, especially if you are living in a new building, but it causes your plumbing to wear and break down at an exponential rate. After having to endure high water pressure for an extended period, here are some plumbing problems that can manifest:

• Noisy or spitting pipes when turning on a faucet
• Leaking faucets
• Running toilets
• Septic drain field flooding
• Increased water heating costs
• Higher water bills
• Decreased lifespan of water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers
• Water heater explosions

While those problems range from negligible to disastrous, they all will eventually cost you when you have to have someone come to fix the problem.

How to Deal with High Water Pressure

Even if your water does come from the city at an excessively high pressure, dealing with it actually isn’t that complicated. The typical fix is to install a water pressure relief valve, or PRV. The PRV itself is particularly affordable unless you own a home with a more complex plumbing system. However, it is typically not something that you want to install yourself. To make sure it is done right the first time, it is best to call in a professional.

For those in the Columbia, Missouri area, Brian Wear Plumbing is the professional you need. Whether it is efficiently installing a PRV or fixing the damage that was the result of long-term high water pressure, contact us today.