How to Test Water Pressure at Home
As part of the pipeline maintenance checklist, it is a good idea to test the water pressure in the house twice a year. To test the water pressure quickly and easily, all you need is a simple and cheap pressure gauge. Some houses even have a special meter hung somewhere on the water pipe, so the homeowner can quickly and easily check the water pressure at a glance.
Why Test Your Home’s Water Pressure?
Having too much water pressure can be hard on all plumbing lines and fixtures, and can even cause blowouts in flex lines or washing machine hoses, which in turn can flood the house. Even if your home has a pressure regulator or pressure reducing valve (PRV) on the main water supply system, it is best to test the water pressure. It may not be obvious when the regulator fails. Before high pressure damage the pipeline, testing the water pressure will find the problem in advance.
If you find that the water pressure is low, call your water supplier or utility company and ask if anyone has come out to investigate the issue. In some cases, the water supplier owns the house PRV (pressure reducing valve) and can easily adjust it.
What You’ll Need？
Tools: Pressure gauge, tongue-and-groove pliers (As needed)
4 Steps to Test the Water Pressure at Home
1. Choose the Testing Location
If your water comes from a city or municipal water company, choose an outdoor faucet that is closest to the main water supply pipe (underground) at home. If you get your water from a well, use a faucet or fixture that is close to the well’s pressure tank. If the faucet or water supply pipe of the faucet is the largest in the house, you can get the most accurate reading because it is not reduced like the plumbing in the bathroom. This size is likely to be 3/4-inch, which is preferable, but it may be 1/2 inch.
2. Check for Running Water
In order to get an accurate reading when testing the water pressure, please make sure water isn’t being used anywhere inside or outside the house. Turn off the washing machine, sprinkler, refrigerator with ice maker and dishwasher. When testing pressure with a pressure gauge, you are measuring static water pressure. If water flows anywhere in your piping system, it may cause the reading to fall erroneously.
3. Install Pressure Gauge
If there is a hose connection on the faucet, please remove the hose from the faucet. Do not use hoses for testing. Screw the pressure gauge onto the faucet. There will be a rubber gasket inside the pressure gauge, you should be able to simply tighten the pressure gauge by hand and get a good seal. But if this joint leaks a little during the test, use tongue-and-groove pliers or an adjustable wrench to tighten it a little. A good seal is necessary for accurate readings.
Use a pressure gauge, which reads psi (pounds per square inch) and has an internally threaded hose, so it can be screwed onto a hose bib or washing machine bib faucet.
4. Check Pressure
Turn the faucet all the way, then read the pressure on the gauge’s dial. Typical household water pressure ranges from 40 to 50 psi, and generally does not exceed 60 psi. Most standard pressure regulators have a maximum regulating pressure of 75 psi, so if the reading on the pressure gauge exceeds 75 psi, then you know that the pressure regulator is not working properly and must be repaired or replaced. If you do not currently have a pressure regulator installed, and the water pressure reading exceeds 60 psi, please consult a plumber to install the regulator.
Test on the Washing Machine
Another place to test the water pressure is the cold water supply tap of the washing machine. Turn off the cold water on the faucet behind the washing machine, and then insert the hose on the faucet (be careful because it will fill with water). Screw the pressure gauge on the faucet, and then keep the faucet open to test the pressure