Our plumbers in Calgary, have noticed that some neighbourhoods such as Evergreen and Evanston are currently experiencing high water pressure.
If your home is affected by High Water Pressure and the problem is left untreated, it can cause issues throughout your home.
Why is high water pressure an issue?
If you experience high water pressure within your home, it can negatively affect your appliances and plumbing fixtures. Just as high blood pressure can be detrimental to your health, high water pressure applies unwanted stress on the entire plumbing system within your home.
As the pressure builds, it can cause leaks within your plumbing system which also can lead to higher water bills. The high pressured water entering your appliances such as washing machines and hot water heaters put unwanted stress on the systems, this can cause part failures and shorten the lifespan of the items within your home.
What causes High Water Pressure?
Unfortunately, the causes of high water pressure are usually outside your control.
The most common cause of high water pressure is from the water provided by your local provider. If your home is situated in an area with a lot of hills or apartment buildings, your utility provider may supply water at a high pressure to make sure that water is able to reach all the customers within your area.
How do I find out about the pressure within my home?
Fortunately, there are a couple of things that you can do. Check your faucets for leaks and whether the water entering your sinks is coming out with excessive pressure or spitting.
Listen – Do you hear any noises coming from the plumbing pipes within your home? If so, this could be indicative of high water pressure. Also is your toilet constantly running?
Appliances – Have you noticed any short life spans in regard to your household appliances such as washing machines, dishwasher and water heater.
Finally, you can buy a water pressure test gauge from most home stores in Calgary. The gauge can give you the PSI (pounds per square inch) reading of the water. We recommend that the PSI should be at or below 80 PSI.
Fixing High Water Pressure
It is advisable to call the City at 311. This will allow them to carry out their own investigation into the pressure issues at your home.
Once you have spoken to the city, and if they are unable to resolve the issues, then we recommend that you call Instant Plumbing & Heating at 403-338-1172 for advice. It may be recommended that you install a pressure reducing valve or a pressure regulator on your main water line that will slow the flow of water entering your home.
Speak to one of our qualified water specialists who can help diagnose and provide advice on how to proceed to resolve the issues.
2 thoughts on “Is high water pressure causing plumbing issues in your home?”
Hi,
Do I need to install a water pressure controller near the main faucet? I live in the Altadore area, and the house is 50 years old. Thanks.
City water pressure can fluctuate without warning. Especially if you are on the same line as a fire hydrant. These must be provided with a minimum of 100psi.
The plumbing code states that on water lines where the pressure tests are above 79.9psi, a pressure-reducing valve shall be installed.
It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure that their home is protected from pressure spikes and long-term pressurization which can lead to accelerated wear and tear on fixtures, fittings and pipework.
If you have concerns that you may be experiencing pressure issues, you can have one of our journeymen test your water pressure and make recommendations based on their findings.