Optimal PSI for house water

Users who are viewing this thread

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
I noticed that my water supply from the street has a peasure reducing fitting on it. The preasure is currently set to 25 PSI and it has a range from 25-75 PSI. I am looking to install an RODI system, which requires water preasure of at least 50 PSI.

I have a couple of questions about this:
1) i have an old house with old plumbing. How much of a risk is it to increase the PSI to 50 or 60?
2) Is there an optimal PSI to set it to? Is it better off at this lower number (and I'll need a pump ofr the RODI) or is a higher preasure better?
3) The preasure gage has been on the pipe for years. Do they go bad? Should i replace the gage before increasing the preasure to make sure its reading correctly?

I'm thinking that this is also the reason that we don't allways get great water preasure in the shower upstairs, and that it takes forever for our washing machine and dishwasher to fill.

Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Last edited:

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,602
Reaction score
1,038
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
My customers would NEVER be satisfied with anything less than 60 to 75 psi at the house. How long does it take you to fill a glass of water at that abysmal pressure? If the plumbing cannot handle at least 60 psi, then it will not be long before you have problems at 25 psi.
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
I would agree with your customers. The preasure is ridiculous.

Filling a glass of water takes way to long. I fill 5 gallon buckets for my fish tank. it takes forever.

Do I replace the preasure gage to conferm that its correct, or should I just start increasing the preasure?

When I increase the preasure, do I do it all at once, or should I do it slowly over a couple of days?
 

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Messages
32,770
Reaction score
1,190
Points
113
Location
New England
Buy yourself a new gauge to check the one installed. You shouldn't need to ramp the pressure, you should be able to just go there. Keep in mind that if you have a weak valve or seal, it may start to leak, but that should be obvious and it should just go down the drain while you look around. IF something let go, you'd hear the flow while you were adjusting things. With the PRV, you should have an expansion tank. This (depending on the type) will often have a bladder. That bladder needs to have its air charge increased to the same value as the pressure you are making the water. You can only adjust that pressure when the water pressure is off (i.e., the supply closed and a valve open to relieve any pressure in the line).

The increased flow might dislodge any accumulated crud in the lines, and you may need to clean showerheads, faucet aerators, etc. out from the crud.
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
I don't have an expansion tank. My valve looks like the Watts Water Pressure Reducing Valve Series 25AUB-Z3 3/4" (0069717). I tried to include a link but it gets ****** out.

The adjustment is just a screw that you srew in to increase the preasure. I have a similar (smaller) device on my boiler which works the same way.

I was under the impression that expansion tanks are used when there is hot water is involved to prevent the preasure from increasing as the water heats. That would not be the case here.

Is there a bladded that may be hidden somewhere, or am I still at just increasing the preasure?
 
Last edited:

Shacko

Master Plumber-Gas Fitter
Messages
559
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Rosedale, Md
"I was under the impression that expansion tanks are used when there is hot water is involved to prevent the preasure from increasing as the water heats. That would not be the case here."

You have a water heater don't you? expansion tanks will keep your T+P valve from leaking when the heater is on; you always need them when you have a PRV in your system and when the municipal system has a check valve in it. :(
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
This explains alot. I do not currently have a expansion tank on my system, but the preasure release valve on my water tank does leak from time to time.

I'm not sure if there is a check valve between me and the city. I will have to check.

Do I need to add an expansion tank to the system prior to increasing the PSI?

This project seems like its growing.
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
How long do these valves last? I turned the adjustment screw in and the preasure did not increase.

The valve looks like it has been thre for a while. Is there a way to test it?
 

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Messages
32,770
Reaction score
1,190
Points
113
Location
New England
The PRV IS a check valve in itself, so yes, when you have one, you need an expansion tank. A PRV can last anywhere from days to many years. How old is yours?
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
nfortunatly, I have no way of knowing. We have been in the house for 6 years and it predates us. The gentelman living here prior to us was here for for 60 years. If I had to guess, I would say at least 10 possibly longer. Its a watts u5b if you happen to know when they stopped making it. they now are making the u5bz3.

Regardless, it does not seem to work. When I titen the adjustment, the preasure does not increase.

I picked up a new preasure gage and will try it out.

Where do I put the expansion tank? can it go anywhere on the system?
 

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Messages
32,770
Reaction score
1,190
Points
113
Location
New England
the expansion tank should go anywhere on the COLD side of your water system and ideally after the shutoff to the WH so if that ran, the expansion tank would still be able to absorb the expanding water caused by the heating. There are diagrams and siziing calculators on the www.watts.com site. You don't want it on the hot side, because it jsut won't last that long. The PRV essentially blocks flow back towards the supply (some have a high-pressure bypass), so after refilling the WH with cold water, once it gets heated and expands, the pressure rises and it has to go somewhere. This could be through a weak valve, or if they all can handle it, out the PRV safety device on the WH. Another common failure point is the supply hoses to things like the Washing machine, faucets, toilets, and icemakers. The PRV trips at 150#, and since water doesn't compress, it doesn't take much expansion to reach that point. Your copper water lines don't stretch much...the water will win. Thus, the expansion tank was invented to solve the problem. Keeping the water pressure within normal limits lengthens the life of all of your plumbing stuff.
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,602
Reaction score
1,038
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
You could have low pressure because your PRV has gone bad, in which case it may not adjust, or be erratic when you do adjust it. IF there is a hose faucet by the PRV, which is often the case, then get a pressure gauge which screws onto it, and then adjust the PRV while watching the gauge.
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
I am now the proud new owner of a new valve.

I have a tee just past the valve that I will be connecting a new preasure gage to.

It looks like it shoul be an easy job, but nothing is ever as easy as it should be.
 

Gary Swart

In the Trades
Messages
8,101
Reaction score
84
Points
48
Location
Yakima, WA
That was a good idea to put the gauge in the tee. When you get an expansion tank, the tank is air charged with a bicycle air pump. I has a Schrader valve just like a tire. The pressure in the tank should match the PRV setting. Be careful when charging the tank, it doesn't take much air volume, and if you are not checking the pressure frequently, you can rupture the bladder in the tank.
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
I installed the new valve. Took less time than I figured, and only ran into one poblem. Not bad.

The valve seems to be factory preset at 40PSI rather than the 50PSI they claimed. Should this concern me? I'm thinking that as long as the preasure increases when I tighten the screw, i shouldn't worry about it.
 

Basement_Lurker

One who lurks
Messages
664
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Victoria, BC
How old is the plumbing in your house? And what type of potable piping is it?

As long as the piping system is fairly good, I shoot for a setting of 75PSI. If you piping is old and you don't want to risk problems, you should probably stick with a nice and safe setting of 50PSI.

If it were me, I wouldn't have gone with the installation of the pressure gauge; it's something you will never look at again and it's just another likely leak point in the future...a risk that's not worth taking since external pressure valves that hook up to a hose bib connection are so readily available. But that's just my opinion. Congrats on the replacement of your PRV!
 

Shluffer

Member
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Connecticut
The plumbing is by no means new. I plan on going with 50 PSI, possibly 60. It is a mix of copper and brass (depending on which line). Eventualy I would like to rerun all of it, but I just don't have the time at present.

I plan on replacing the gage with a cap after I'm done adjusting the preasure.

from your answer I take it you wouldn't worry about the fact that it came set wrong? My leaning is not to care, but I'm nervouse for some reason.
 

Basement_Lurker

One who lurks
Messages
664
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Victoria, BC
Nah, I wouldn't worry at all about what the morons at the factory set your valve at. It's just an initial setting anyways...the thing was made to be adjustable! I would verify the working range of your valve before you do anything though.
 

SteveW

DIY Senior Member
Messages
1,282
Reaction score
22
Points
38
Location
Omaha, NE
I like the idea of having a pressure gauge readily accessible. When I put in my expansion tank, I also put in a boiler drain just for the purpose of screwing a pressure gauge to the hose threads. No problem with leaking - I just close the boiler valve when I'm not actually checking the pressure.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks