When your water pressure is set to a higher psi than it should be, you can enjoy strong showers and feel like you are really getting a good rinse which for most people is a pleasure. But that high pressure can come at a price that you may not be aware of.

Is 100 PSI Water Pressure Too High?

Yes, the recommended water pressure in a home is 55 psi. Anything over 80 psi is considered unsafe. The kind of problems that high water pressure can cause includes…

  • you could be spending up to twice as much on your water bill
  • the extra pressure can put an excessive amount of stress on your plumbing system which could cause damage to your pipes and force you to repair or replace them
  • high water pressure can decrease the life span of your appliances that use water (dishwasher, washing machine, water heater, etc.)

So, knowing the damage that having your water pressure set too high can cause – you may now want to know how to fix this.

How To Test Your Home’s Water Pressure

The first thing to do is to test your water pressure.

  • You should know that the recommended water pressure in a home is 55 PSI; the Georgia Plumbing Code lists the maximum safe allowable pressure at 80 PSI in any building.
  • Purchase a pressure gauge at your local hardware store or online.
  • Go to an outside faucet and attach the pressure gauge to the faucet.
  • Make sure the needle of the pressure gauge is at 0.
  • Turn on the faucet and see where the needle goes up to. It should be no lower than 45 psi (pounds per square inch) and no higher than 80 psi.
  • Repeat this process with several (or all) the faucets in your home.

How Do You Fix High Water Pressure?

The next step now is to fix the problem. In order to do that you need to identify what is causing it?

  • If you are on city water, we recommend you contact one or two of your neighbors to find out if they are having the same problem. If they are, then the issue may be something that is happening at your local water company.
  • If the high water pressure lasts for a short while (a few seconds) then the problem may be due to your expansion tank.
  • But if the water pressure remains high the entire time the water is running, then there may be a problem with your water pressure regulator.

We do recommend that you have a professional plumber come in to assess the situation, locate the problem and then correct what has gone wrong.

If you have any questions about your water pressure or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.