“Having high water pressure is great, right?”

Not always! If your water pressure is too high (above 75psi), it could be detrimental to your plumbing system. Everything from faucets, showers, and toilets to washing machines and dishwashers can be damaged by excessive water pressure, thus, greatly reducing their lifespan.

A basic understanding of the common causes of high water pressure and what that means for your plumbing system is essential, so that you can know when it’s time to reach out to a professional.

Read on to find out!

Common Causes

The water pressure in your home is typically regulated by a device called a pressure reducing valve (PRV). This valve takes the incoming city pressure and reduces it to a level that is safe for use in your home, making sure that your taps and appliances aren’t on the receiving end of pressures beyond their capacity. 

Many people have never heard of or seen a PRV, but it is one of the most vital safety components in your entire plumbing system and has been installed in nearly every home—in Victoria and beyond—for decades. Using a malfunctioning water pressure regulator (or not having one at all) could leave you scratching your head at the mounting costs of plumbing repairs. 

Some of the possible signs of high water pressure in your home are:

• Faucets that are leaking from the handles: We are all familiar with this problem at one time or another. Regardless of how well our fixtures have been tightened, some water seems to want to leak out of the edges. The culprit? High-pressure water trying to force its way out.
• Toilets that don’t stop filling or are very slow to fill: This issue can sometimes be caused by higher pressure in the pipes. Aside from causing wear and damage, the sound of your toilet refilling for far longer than it should can be a nuisance, especially at night!
• Difficulty regulating shower temperature or difficult to use shower handles: It’s not just that you have old fittings (although this can also be a cause). Your shower temperature’s inconsistency, alternating between what feels like freezing and boiling, can also be caused by high pressure coming in from the “cold” water pipe.
• Banging or rumbling heard in the water pipes: Also known as water hammer, it commonly occurs when closing valves in your home. The high-pressure water flowing from the valve outlet makes a banging sound when the tap is suddenly turned off.

The list of damages caused by high water pressure is long and costly (and nobody wants that), so be sure to have the issues checked by a professional plumber on every visit! 

How a Professional can Help

When you’ve eliminated the potential causes of your plumbing issues yourself, it’s time to call in a professional plumbing service. They’ll be well equipped to identify the source of the issue. For an experienced plumber, your phone call won’t be the first time that they’ve come across this scenario. 

Having a professional look over your pipes will also ensure that you don’t make the situation worse by attempting an inadequate quick-fix DIY job. You shouldn’t try fixing the issue yourself unless you really know what you’re doing and what the root cause of your problem is. 

Once a diagnostic has been done, and high-pressure has been identified as the issue, your serviceman will take the appropriate measures, repairing or replacing your PRV or addressing the root cause.

We’re Here to Help!

At Wade Roberts Plumbing, we pride ourselves on years of experience serving the Victoria, BC, area. We provide a high-quality service at competitive rates, and our technicians are certified and qualified to tackle any problem, big or small.

We are also equipped to assist you in your residential or commercial plumbing needs—even in short-notice emergencies.

So why hesitate? Call us today at 250-883-7545 or fill out our online contact form.