Everything About Water PRV

How many times have you said to yourself, "I need my water pressure wasn't so significant?" Probably never. No one wants to have a low-pressure shower. Taking steps to decrease water stress is probably the last thing on your mind as a homeowner.
However, sometimes the water coming into our houses will be under so much strain it places our plumbing systems at enormous risk. Leaks, floods, and busted appliances may result from excessive water pressure.
High water stress also shortens the life span of your home's full water system -- out of pipes and water heaters to both grills and showerheads. The main point is that having too much pressure will inevitably cost you more money.
However, you can avoid costly repairs and damages from controlling the pressure inside your home using a PRV (pressure reducing valve).
Inside this guide, you'll find out how stress reducing valves operate and why they're such a significant part of your plumbing system.
Pressure reducing valves are devices that operate directly to slow down the pressure of water flowing in your dwelling. They're installed on the main water next to the valve that is closed. Water out of the water main goes into the valve on a single side. As the water moves through the valve, it has to pass through a diaphragm and spring that trigger resistance and lowers the pressure to the desired level as the water leaves the valve throughout the opposite side.
The brilliance of pressure reducing valves is they're set to modulate your own water flow to a specific pressure. That means if there is a sudden spike in your region's municipal water pressure, the spring and diaphragm in the valve will tighten and you'll still have a constant amount of pressure in your house.
Some municipal water heaters pump water in extremely substantial pressures -- sometimes well over 100 psi. Local water businesses often scatter the pressure to deliver water into hard-to-reach places like high-rise buildings or high-elevation neighborhoods.
But water pressure over 80 psi can cause significant wear and tear to your pipes, fixtures, and appliances as time passes.

Homes built after the 1980's normally had a PRV installed today. They don't last forever, however. When you have a pressure reducing valve that's over ten years old, then you might want to check into replacing it.

Why Pressure Matters?

The water prv manufacturer has make every single fixture, pipe, and toaster into your home was constructed to withstand a particular amount of water stress, typically between 60-80 psi. Granite heads, toilets, taps, and appliances, water heaters, and pipe joints can all begin to wear down and malfunction if they're constantly subjected to elevated pressures.

The main point? High stress is pricey. Not only do you need to be worried about replacing fixtures and appliances more frequently, but you also face the chance of small leaks forming hard-to-detect areas. Those tiny leaks may cause structural water damage and also a black mold.

On the other hand, you might get a surprising, massive leak in case a pipe bursts or your washing machine hose rips available. Imagine something like this happening shortly after you leave for work or while you're off for the weekend.

Putting aside catastrophic events, using high water pressure is simply generally expensive. Consistently large water pressure means more water is used for each day, water-related function in your house. Every shower you require and every toilet flush is having more water than required, inflating your water bill and also damaging the environment.

Have a look at how getting high water pressure affects different areas in the home:

Water Heaters

When water heats up, it expands. A water heater functioning under ordinary conditions is designed to manage this expansion. Most water heaters even have an expansion tank, which takes on the burden of expanding water through heating.

But if your water pressure is too high, there may be too much water from the tank. Once that water starts warming up and expanding and there is nowhere left for this to proceed -- I'm positive you can imagine what happens next.

You can get a leak, or even worse, a burst water tank. A burst water tank in your basement can mean thousands of dollars in water damage repairs, as well as the cost of replacing the busted tank.

The most vulnerable place in these appliances would be the ducts. Too much pressure may cause these hoses to crack and unexpectedly become separated by the machine, resulting in leaks and floods.

High water pressure also puts extra wear and tear to your washing machine and dishwasher. Even if you're lucky enough not to have a hose, your appliances are not likely to last as long if they are under constant strain. Most water-using home appliances are constructed to withstand water pressures no higher than 80 psi.

Toilets and Fixtures

The same as your own appliances, your bathrooms, and other plumbing fittings are all made to manage pressures of about 80 psi.

High water pressure may cause your bathroom to run constantly, resulting in tens of thousands of wasted water over the course of a year. Additionally, it may damage the flushing components in your container.

Fixtures like faucets and showerheads may begin leaking when under a certain quantity of pressure. That is because the cartridges within these fixtures were not built to handle high levels of water pressure. Leaking, spitting, and banging sounds (water hammer) if you turn off the fittings are symptoms of water stress.

Pipes are good about letting us know if our water pressure is too high. Ever see a loud banging sound in your plumbing when you closed off the tap? That sound is known as a water hammer, and it's the noise of fast-moving water coming to a sudden stop in your pipes. Under more moderate pressure, the water hammer is non-existent.

The continuous strain of high pressure running through your plumbing is particularly hard on your own pipe joints. You might get a tiny leak in your pipe which goes undetected for a very long time. These little, invisible leaks are actually quite harmful, compromising the structural integrity of your home and encouraging the increase of toxic black mold.

Conclusion

Much like having a healthy blood pressure is essential to your health, obtaining a typical water pressure is vital to maintaining healthy plumbing in your dwelling. Left unchecked, high water pressure will wear out virtually everything that comes into contact with your plumbing system.