Failure of a water pressure regulator.
edwardh1
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
What is the failure sympton?
My adult son has a 4 year old house near greenville SC and when I visit and turn on the kitchen sink the water pressure is higher for 1 or 2 sec than drops off to a lower steady value?
he has a water pressure regulator (thats what I think it is) under the house on the inlet line- a small squarish one.
Is it leaking past when off?, thus raising the water pressure? or is that normal. my house does not have one so I have no experience.
Replies
Many have a filter screen in them. Perhaps it needs cleaning?
Could be a long run of small supply line. With no demand (the faucets off) the pressure will be what it is regualted to. With a demand (a faucet turned on) it starts off fine but the long run/small supply can't keep up with the pressure/flow demand so the pressure bleeds off.
Just an idea.
edit to add: is the water valve at the meter turned all the way on?
Edited 8/22/2006 8:59 pm ET by john7g
This can also be cause by water expanding in the water heater. Generally, if there's either a pressure regulator or a backflow valve on the line coming into the house, there should be an expansion tank installed. The expansion tank is generally something that looks like a small version of the propane tank for an outdoor grill -- maybe 1-2 gallon capacity -- attached to the cold water line.
You can get a pressure gauge from any real plumbing supply place. They even come already made up with hose fittings, maybe $10 - 20. Or you can put one together yourself.
Check at a hose bib that you know to be downstream of the regulator, and if there is a bib, ahead of the regulator. The supply from the utility may be something around 50 - 150 PSI. The regulator should drop it to about 50 - 70.
Another thing to do is listen to the regulator with water both on and off. At most there should be a very quiet running water hiss sound. Any regular vibration or musical notes mean something's wrong.
-- J.S.