How High Water Pressure Affects Plumbing
You might enjoy having high water pressure when taking a shower, but the truth is, it’s hurting your plumbing. To keep your home safe from expensive repairs, it’s important to educate yourself on the effects of high pressure.
Pipes
High water pressure leads to constant stress on pipes, often causing pinhole leaks or burst pipes. When the pressure builds up and suddenly stops, it can lead to water hammer. You’ll hear a loud banging noise as the rushing water slams against closed valves. The hammering is not only annoying because of the noise, but it also weakens pipe joints, valves and connections. Installing water-hammer arrestors at quick-closing fixtures (like washers and ice makers) helps tame those pressure spikes.
Water Heater
High pressure impacts the water heater by wearing down internal seals and speeding up corrosion. The tank itself may start to leak or burst if you don’t get the pressure issue fixed. The relief valves may constantly open or leak, wasting both water and energy.
Fixtures
All of your fixtures experience unnecessary wear when they have to deal with high water pressure. Showerheads sometimes leak because of the excess force. Faucets may develop loose seals or washers, causing constant dripping and water waste.
Washing Machine
Washing machines work at their best when they have controlled water flow. High pressure can damage the inlet valves while also bursting hoses. A hose failure due to excess pressure may turn into flooding and expensive water destruction.
Dishwashers
Like washing machines, dishwashers need steady water pressure to effectively clean. Too much force behind the water does much more than damage inlet valves. The spray arms can break or become misaligned, which may cause spots and residue on dishes. A misaligned arm can even chip or crack dishes if it strikes them during the cycle.
Refrigerators With Ice Makers or Water Dispensers
Having a refrigerator with an ice maker or water dispenser makes life very convenient. But excess pressure will only lead to problems, like leaks and drips. Small fittings on the water line are especially vulnerable to the stress of constant pressure. If the force becomes strong enough, it can crack the ice maker.
Toilets
Your toilets probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of high water pressure issues. But these fixtures, just like all of your plumbing, need controlled water to function correctly. High pressure overwhelms the fill valves; this is why the toilet may constantly run or fail to refill properly. Other internal parts like the flapper or flush valve may wear out faster as well.
Water Filters & Reverse Osmosis Systems
Excess pressure harms the sensitive parts, like the membranes and housings, in these water-cleaning devices. When this happens, they can’t filter properly. You might notice cloudy water or strange tastes until you get the pressure problem fixed.
Irrigation & Outdoor Fixtures
High water pressure affects outdoor plumbing just as much as it does indoor pipes, fixtures and appliances. For sprinkler systems, it can break the heads, resulting in uneven watering and wasted water. For garden hoses, the high pressure may contribute to bulging or bursting.
What Causes High Water Pressure?
In Indianapolis, IN, aging pipes, municipal supply issues and faulty pressure regulators are the biggest factors behind water pressure problems. If you live in an older neighborhood, the pressure may fluctuate because of the outdated infrastructure. Nearby construction or fire hydrant use can affect pressure by diverting large amounts of water. Other potential causes include mineral buildup, hidden leaks and seasonal demand changes.
Is Your Home Vulnerable to Water Pressure Issues?
There are several factors that can make a home more likely to experience water pressure issues. Here are some of the top contributors:
- Old corroded interior piping
- Recently remodeled plumbing system
- Multiple high-flow fixtures installed
- Malfunctioning household shut-off valve
- Clogged water filtration equipment
- Improperly sized supply lines
How to Test Water Pressure?
You can test your water pressure yourself or have a plumber do it for you. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to safely test the pressure:
- Shut off all fixtures
- Attach gauge to spigot
- Turn faucet completely open
- Read pressure on gauge
- Compare to safe range
The safe range for water pressure in Indianapolis homes is 40 to 80 psi. At this pressure, all of the fixtures and appliances can perform efficiently. Most homes feel best around 50–60 psi; anything over 80 psi is typically over the code limit and needs correction.
Common Fixes for High Water Pressure
Now that you know how high water pressure affects your plumbing and how to test it, it’s time to take action. The longer you put off repairs, the worse the damage will become to your plumbing system. Here’s a look at the different ways our plumbers can address excessive water pressure issues.
Install a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)
A pressure-reducing valve has the specific job of reducing water pressure as it flows into the home. A plumber can adjust it to your preferred setting, ranging from 40 to 80 psi. The device connects straight to the main water line and provides long-term protection.
Adjust the Pressure Regulator
If your home has a pressure regulator installed, it can shift and become misaligned over time. The water pressure will fluctuate when this happens. We’ll adjust or realign the device so that everything works smoothly.
Replace Worn or Faulty Regulators
Pressure regulators normally last about 10 to 15 years before they need a replacement. In homes that deal with hard water or sediment, the regulator may wear out even faster. Sometimes, simply replacing a worn-out spring or diaphragm will solve the problem. But other times, when the entire unit is failing, we’ll do a full upgrade.
Check and Repair Thermal Expansion Tanks
Adding a thermal expansion tank to the water heater is a good idea when you have a closed plumbing system. The tank will absorb excess pressure so the water heater doesn’t suffer harm. If the expansion tank fails, though, it could worsen pressure problems. One of our plumbers can inspect the tank to see whether it needs a replacement.
Inspect for Closed or Blocked Valves
In some cases, high water pressure doesn’t have anything to do with the city supply or your regulator. Partially closed or blocked valves on sinks, toilets or washing machines can cause poor flow and contribute to banging/pressure spikes. We’ll realign or replace them so that fixtures run evenly.
Schedule Annual Plumbing Inspections
Booking a yearly checkup for your plumbing is the best way to avoid pressure problems. We’ll inspect each water line, valve and fixture to make sure everything functions as it should year-round.
Here’s a closer look at how annual plumbing inspections decrease water pressure issues:
- Check main water line
- Inspect pressure regulator
- Test all shut-off valves
- Examine water heater tank
- Look for pipe leaks
- Assess faucet aerators
- Check toilet fill valves
- Update worn components
Call the Experts
Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling brings many years of expertise to your door when we do plumbing repairs or inspections. We’re an all-in-one provider of drain cleaning, leak repairs, septic tank service and more. We’ll make sure your whole plumbing system performs efficiently throughout each season.
Call Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling today to book expert plumbing inspections in Indianapolis.
