Plumbers - need some help with water flow

[kenmac]

I pipe most houses so that the front outside spigot is on line pressure.. I then install the regulator for everything else..
You should find the water pressure gauge at home depot,, lowes has them as well..
It would be great if you could check line pressure from the meter.. You may have to cut the supply line remove your regulator and check city pressure there..

 

[EddieWalker]

Since PVC doesn't plug up or have any inherent flow issues, I would check the spicket itself. I've seen the gasket get twisted inside of them and slow down water flow. I've seen small rocks in there too!!!!

 

[SPYDERLK]

Since PVC doesn't plug up or have any inherent flow issues, I would check the spicket itself. I've seen the gasket get twisted inside of them and slow down water flow. I've seen small rocks in there too!!!!

,,,,Yes!

 

[ultrarunner]

I had a gate valve that wouldn't shut off...

Opened things up and found a rock...

 

[Code54]

I found a gauge today at our local home depot so I started paying around. I opened the pressure regulator up about 3 full turns of the bolt (it was closed a good bit a Wilkins Model 70) and tested the PSI outside. Got 44PSI max, seemed to normally hover about 42 to 43 PSI. Does the adjustment on a pressure regulator stop when it is fully open or does the bolt pop out and you get an unintended shower? I didn't have a chance to drain the house lines to pull the pressure regulator apart yet to clean it as my wife was doing some stuff and was going to need water and I didn't want to chance having a leak that takes a while to fix. Looks like it is the type that the bell just unscrews off to clean. Thinking tomorrow is a holiday and I am off so that would be a good time to mess with that.
The outside spigot is a 12" freeze proof unit so I am not sure how to take it apart but can do some checking.
I was wondering if the water company can tell me what the meter output pressure is? Seems that would also help with figuring out how to get better flow or pressure (It has been this bad since we bought the house 9 years ago but we just got used to it and now I need more water for my pressure washing jobs I am trying to get around it.)
I also checked my GPM again after messing with the pressure regulator (turning it up) and again got 3.3GPM, same as before.
I been looking pretty hard at those pressure tanks, seems that maybe a good option as it will give a little extra pressure as well as make up some GPM if I am running short.
Thanks again for all the help and info.

 

[EddieWalker]

At 44 pounds, you are definitely on the low side of things. 60 is just about perfect. But 44 is still decent. Your water pressure is good enough to give you a lot more volume then you are getting. I would not mess with adding anything to your system until you took apart, or replaced that freeze proof spigot that appears to be plugged up.

 

[Code54]

Thanks Eddie. I was wondering if the freeze proof spigots are lower flow than normal spigots - may have to research that!!

 

[cat fever]

I found a gauge today at our local home depot so I started paying around. I opened the pressure regulator up about 3 full turns of the bolt (it was closed a good bit a Wilkins Model 70) and tested the PSI outside. Got 44PSI max, seemed to normally hover about 42 to 43 PSI. Does the adjustment on a pressure regulator stop when it is fully open or does the bolt pop out and you get an unintended shower? I didn't have a chance to drain the house lines to pull the pressure regulator apart yet to clean it as my wife was doing some stuff and was going to need water and I didn't want to chance having a leak that takes a while to fix. Looks like it is the type that the bell just unscrews off to clean. Thinking tomorrow is a holiday and I am off so that would be a good time to mess with that.
The outside spigot is a 12" freeze proof unit so I am not sure how to take it apart but can do some checking.
I was wondering if the water company can tell me what the meter output pressure is? Seems that would also help with figuring out how to get better flow or pressure (It has been this bad since we bought the house 9 years ago but we just got used to it and now I need more water for my pressure washing jobs I am trying to get around it.)
I also checked my GPM again after messing with the pressure regulator (turning it up) and again got 3.3GPM, same as before.
I been looking pretty hard at those pressure tanks, seems that maybe a good option as it will give a little extra pressure as well as make up some GPM if I am running short.
Thanks again for all the help and info.

Are you sure turning the screw out increases pressure? The "Watts" I dealt with was the opposite. See post #14

 

[Code54]

Thanks Cat fever - I actually ran it all the way in and tried it, then backed it out a bunch and tried it - seemed to get the exact same result - kind of thinking my incoming pressure must be about 45 pounds. Tomorrow I will pull the screen and check it out! Funny, but i hope it is really dirty! That way I can clean it and maybe get better flow.

 

[kenmac]

Thanks Eddie. I was wondering if the freeze proof spigots are lower flow than normal spigots - may have to research that!!

That would be a no. Unless it's special,, they flow the same as a normal spigot... 60-65# is about the max you want on your fixtures.That's why Most of plumb the front spigot with line pressure. If all you have coming in is 45# ,that maybe all the water company is applying to the main... They aren't likely to increase pressure for you..Increasing pressure on an old water main would cause too many problems for them