County Water Pressure Too High

[JRobyn]

I strongly agree with just adding your own that YOU can control as you desire. Not too expensive and is REALLY cheap insurance considering the potential for damage.

I have about 80-90 psi out at the road where I tie to the county, but the house is 100 ft in elevation BELOW that, so I have 100-120 psi too. My main line is 2" slip-joint PVC that is the regular stuff that the county uses for mains, so I figure it can handle it (rated for maybe 250-300?). But I have a buried regulator in the valve box out where the yard line to the house ties in set at about 50-60 psi and a second one just inside the house set at about 40-45 psi. I sleep better, especially if I am away for a few days and forget to shut off the house main.

 

[Argonne]

I agree on installing your own reducer, but I would put it close to the house and put a bypass around it, and a tee in the feed from the county. The bypass would give you the option to cut the regulator out of the circuit in case it breaks or if things change and it becomes undesirable. The tee would give you the option of using the high pressure source in the future if some need develops that could benefit from it. There are many times in my life when I could only dream of 100+ psi water pressure on tap.

 

[Pettrix]

So what is IDEAL pressure?

Is it 60psi?

Anything above 100 psi would scare me since it could blow out some connections, especially plastic ones.

I have a VFD so I set the water pressure at 65 psi. The controller allows me to go as high as 120 psi but I would never do that.

 

[ray66v]

Even at 60 psi, you can have issues with toilets running, and water heater pop off's dripping.

I usually set pressure reducing valves at 45 psi. But, you could try 50 or 60, to see if you have any problems.

I have two water towers a 1/2 mile behind me, and 45 psi is all rural water out here puts on their lines.

 

[Stimw]

I have a well and I use 45-55 pressure switches on my pumps and have GREAT pressure from a hose in the yard.
When I was RV-ing I used a regulator on the supply hose to the motor home (small brass fitting with hose in-out threads) because you never knew supply pressure at RV parks.

 

[coolreinfarm]

If you install a pressure regulator in the main water line make sure you install a expansion tank on your water heater, I think you said your on city water so a prv will act as a check valve an not allow expansion back to the mains. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Watts 3/4 in. Brass MPT x FTP Pressure Reducing Valve-3/4 LFN45BM1-U - The Home Depot

 

[Billrog]

Every town and every home I've lived in has had a pressure reducing valve. Rural homes on wells I've never seen any. My own water system now gravity fed is well over 100# so I have a reducing valve but I by passed the out side taps so the sprinklers will have good range. Can't remember for sure but think I have mine set at 65# never had a problem yet.

 

[ultrarunner]

We grew up with 160 to 180 psi in a area with hills.

Never noticed a problem until the new toilet was installed... the plastic fill valves exploded... the old solid brass ones were fine.

So after 25 years I installed a pressure regulator from the supply house... a good one that cost about $80 with discount.

Water set to 60 and planned a irrigation system...

A couple of months back water department did a neighborhood upgrade... installed a huge pressure reducer to 65 psi... so now my reducer is redundant.

By the way... installed mine in the basement for house only... outside was still the 160 to 180 and made it great for washing down the drive...

Now it is all 65 psi...

 

[gwstang]

When you do add the pressure regulator, go ahead and install a backflow prevention also. Cheap insurance for when and if a water line breaks out in the water system. Keeps your water line from draining. Hot water heater will burn up the elements without any in the tank. I had to add a new regulator on my line about 3 months ago. The old one gave out and busted the bottom out of it. It's not hard to do and the people at lowe's or hardware store will be able to help you. The backflow device is just a tube with a flap to keep water from flowing back out. Good luck. Oh, one thing you might do is ask the water crew if one of them would like to make a little money on a Saturday and take care of the problem for you.