Optimum House Water Pressure

[Plumbcatastrophe]

This is nuts. Used to have 80-100 PSI so I added PRV with factory setting at 50. Read about that at the outside taps. I just put in the expansion tank for water heater. Now pressure is at 40. Is this going to be a problem for my sprinklers in spring. Should I monkey with the PRV and boost the pressure. What does everyone find a good pressure to be?

[Bob NH]

If everything is closed when you are setting the regulator it is sometimes hard to get a reliable setting.

Do you have a gauge on the house side of the regulator? Open a faucet to let a little flow through and increase the pressure to 55 or 60 psi.

[Plumbcatastrophe]

The best I can do is hooke it to the outside hose bib. I'll follow your tip, hook it to the bib, open a faucet inside, and then adjust the PRV. How's that?

[Bob NH]

That's fine if the hose bib is on the regulated side of the regulator. Don't open the faucet all the way. You just need a gallon per minute or so.

If your hose bib is on the inlet side of the regulator, do you have a washing machine connection?

[Gary Swart]

Is there any practical way to separate the outside water supply from the inside? It would require a backflow valve in the outside line, but your pressure would be as high as the city main. I say practical not possible, because anything is possible given time and money.