Dealing With Water Pressure Problems
Low water pressure can be a major inconvenience, making simple tasks like washing your hands, doing dishes, or even showering a struggle. On the other hand, high water pressure can lead to a variety of serious issues, including significant damage to your home’s pipes.
A water pressure booster can greatly help if your water pressure is too low, while a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) can effectively lower excessively high water pressure, solving many potential problems. If you’re interested in a water pressure booster installation in Asheville, NC, or the surrounding area, or if you’re seeking help with a pressure-reducing valve installation, reach out to the team at My Plumbers LLC. We are a residential plumbing company that works directly with homeowners for your convenience. Call 828-708-7107 to get things started.
Ways You Can Manage Your Water Pressure
Understanding the different tools available to manage your home’s water pressure is key to preventing problems and ensuring a comfortable, efficient plumbing system. Whether you’re battling pressure that’s too high or too low, there’s a specialized solution designed to bring balance to your water flow. Here’s a look at the most common ways we help homeowners like you regulate their water pressure:
Pressure-Reducing Valve (PRV)
A pressure-reducing valve (PRV) is your go-to solution for high water pressure. Installed on your main water line where it enters your home, the PRV acts as a guardian, taking the often-excessive pressure from the municipal supply and automatically lowering it to a consistent, safe level – typically between 50 and 80 PSI. This protects your entire plumbing system, including pipes, fixtures, and appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, from premature wear and tear, leaks, and noisy “water hammer” effects caused by sudden pressure changes. It’s a regulator that ensures your home’s internal pressure remains steady and safe.
Pressure-Release Valve
Often confused with a pressure-reducing valve, a pressure-release valve (also known as a relief valve, or T&P valve on water heaters) serves a very different, critical safety function. Unlike a PRV that regulates overall house pressure, a pressure-release valve is designed to automatically open and release water (or steam) only when pressure in a closed system, such as your water heater, becomes dangerously high. Its sole purpose is to prevent catastrophic failure, such as a tank rupture or explosion, by safely venting excess pressure. It’s a vital, life-saving safety device, not a device to adjust your home’s general water pressure.
Pressure Boosters
If your main complaint is low water pressure—leading to weak showers, slow-filling appliances, or a trickle when multiple fixtures are in use—a pressure booster is the answer. This device is essentially a pump that takes your existing low water pressure and amplifies it, pushing water through your pipes with greater force. A pressure booster can significantly improve water flow to all areas of your home, ensuring strong, consistent pressure for all your daily needs, even during peak usage times. It’s the ideal solution for homes where the incoming water supply simply isn’t robust enough.
Pressure-Reducing Valves and Thermal Expansion Tanks
Many homeowners in this area experience issues with an unusually high rate of water pressure. Signs that you may have high water pressure include:
- Your water bill is unusually high with no other explanation.
- You hear loud banging noises when you turn on the water.
- Your hot water runs out quickly, and the problem isn’t your water heater.
- Your pipes or fixtures have been damaged.
If you suspect you have high water pressure, it’s crucial to have it checked out by a plumbing professional to prevent the numerous problems it can cause. A pressure-reducing valve (PRV) works by automatically lowering and regulating high incoming water pressure from the municipal supply to a safe and consistent level throughout your home.
Additional devices that can help manage water pressure and protect your system include thermal expansion tanks. These tanks absorb the increased water volume created when water is heated, preventing pressure buildup in your water heater and plumbing system. Our team of residential plumbers can work with you to decide which is the best option for your home.
Get in Touch With Our Team
Are you ready to learn more about water pressure booster installation in Asheville, NC, or the surrounding area? If so, we’re ready to speak with you. Our full range of residential plumbing services also includes leak detection and repair along with water heater repair services and much more. Call 828-708-7107 to get in touch with our team, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.
