Bad water pressure regulator questions & answers.

This article series explains how to diagnose and fix or replace a bad water pressure regulator.

Water Pressure Regulator or Pressure Reducing Valve Diagnosis & Repair FAQs

These questions & answers about troubleshooting & fixing or adjusting defective or mis-adjusted or leaky water pressure regulators were posted originally at WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR BAD - be sure to see the outline of problems and fixes given there.

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On 2018-04-04 by (mod) - every time we turn on hot or cold water for the sink or tub it comes out a little brown

Bill,

After an initial flushout following soldering copper pipes I would not expect flux remains to continue to stain the water. Is it possible that other debris is accumulating in the valve and flushing out when you first turn on the water?

Double check with Cash Acme: CASH ACME USA
BUSINESS OFFICES
Phone: 1-877-700-4242
Fax: 1-877-700-4280
Mon – Fri: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

2300 Defoor Hills Rd. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
or
CASH ACME CANADA
BUSINESS OFFICES
Phone: 1-888-820-0120
Fax: 1-905-265-2775
Mon – Fri: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

74 Alex Avenue
Vaughan, Ontario L4L 5X1

On 2018-04-04 by Bill

I installed CASH ACME EB-75 1/2 INCH pressure regulator valves in both hot and cold copper lines as close as I could to our large bathtub in order to reduce water noise since the bathtub faucets are large and I believe are rated at about 11 gpm. They are located between in front of one bathroom sink and the tub. It has definitely reduced the sound level.

My problem is now every time we turn on hot or cold water for the sink or tub it comes out a little brown or rusty for a few seconds until the line clears by the valve. I did have to sweat in fittings for the valves.

I used NOKORODE brand flux and STAY-BRITE SOLDER. I did not have to heat up the valves since they were FPT on both ends.

All my fittings are copper, male adapters and unions. Someone told me it may be the flux washing out of the line.

But now it has been over a week which mean quite a few baths and a lot of sink use. This brown water still shows up. It starts clear for a second until the water sitting at the valve moves up to the faucet then goes light brown for just a second and goes clear again. I am just baffled as to what is causing this.

On 2017-11-29 by (mod) - r incoming water main is leaking at the regulator

I can't guess in detail from your note Kelz but it sound as if your incoming water main is leaking at the regulator. That can be caused by surges in water pressure or by WATER HAMMER (search inspectApedia.com for that phrase for details)

In any case you'd want to turn off the water main and call your plumber for repair.

On 2017-11-29 by kelz

came home today to basement level laundry room floor was cover in water right then I hunt the leak first thing I check the hot/cold water hoses for the washer as I just got a new one. It's nice.

Nope! then I notice the wall under the stairway is wet and now I can hear water spraying the water press. reg. on my main water inlet line is spraying water out of the back. Huh? What? WT? anyone know what could cause this?

On 2017-10-14 by (mod) - will a bad pressure regulator result in a high water bill?

Ted

If the pressure regulator is permitting higher water pressure than necessary then yes whenever you open a tap to run water you may be running more water (in lpm or gpm) than you need - thus wasting water and if water is metered, resulting in a higher water bill.

On 2017-10-14 by Ted

will a bad pressure regulator result in a high water bill

On 2017-10-08 by (mod) -

William

See the NO WATER PRESSURE diagnostic steps at https://inspectapedia.com/water/No_Water_Pressure.php

On 2017-10-08 by William

I'm not getting any to the house

On 2017-04-03 by (mod) -

Andy:

I'd first use the search box on any of our pages to find and check out our article on HOW TO MEASURE WATER PRESSURE.

If your water pressure is not being maintained within the range that your mixing tap on a basin expects to see, that could be a correct diagnosis of poor water temperature regulation.

On 2017-04-03 20:18:24.631265 by Andy

Would pressure reducing valve help when there is a mono block mixing tap on a basin. It will not mix properly, it is either hot or cold?

On 2017-03-23 22:19:49.906802 by (mod) -

Janet: what "valve outside" ?

I just can't guess.

On 2017-03-23 18:50:20.710692 by janet

water gushing from valve outside periodically is this normal?

On 2017-02-03 14:52:10.858485 by Jo: fluctuating pressure with new regulator

New water heater, new expansion tank , new water regulator: (after water heater and regulator went bad after many years) but now water pressure drops 5 to 10 pounds with one to two faucets in use in my home. (Occurs throughout home).

I ended up with a pinhole slab leak but pressure drops still occur after leak was repaired. Not related to water heater and expansion tank as Plummer tested with water heater off and also with disconnecting the hot water out line and connecting that line to the inlet side as recommended by water heater manufacturer.

This is the second regulator (same brand) put on my line recently as the first one completely failed. Is this also a bad regulator? I do not recall my older regulator varying like this with water use.

On 2016-10-17 11:23:34.860469 by Anonymous

very informative, thank you

Comment:

(Feb 13, 2012) Marko said:
Ya helped me again, good stuff

Question: water pressure regulator vs water hammer

(Nov 1, 2012) lori said:
I live in a condominium.

The outside building plumbing was worked on today and the water was shut off. When they turned the water back on I had very low water pressure to my downstairs bath tub hot and cold water faucets and low pressure in the upstairs bathroom tub faucet on the cold side. All the other faucets in th house had normal water pressure. What could cause this or a possible fix Thanks, Lori

(Jan 3, 2015) Ray Richardson said:
My house is 2 story.

We have water hammer not previously experienced prior to new W/heater install. Turning off water supply to heater eliminates hammer. I am told that pressure control valve probably is the culprit. Water still passing thru the valve so how come I don't get hammer when I bypass the water heater? Note : new set up has expansion tank atop heater. Call back to installer found no defect in installation. PCV was not discussed at that time 6 mos ago. They are coming back again 2nd time this week . I'm frustrated & confused. Thank You Ray

(Jan 3, 2015) Ray Richardson said:
If all I do is turn off water to heater shoulldnt hammer still be present if in fact the Watts pressure control valve is defective?

Reply:

If your water heater is an indirect fired unit with its own circulator, water hammer may indeed be the problem. In any event take a look at

WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE

...

Continue reading at WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 1: PUMP WON'T RUN, WON'T STOP, or CYCLES
• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 2: PUMP RUNS, WEAK or NO WATER PRESSURE
• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 3: PUMP RUNS, NO WATER or INSUFFICIENT WATER
• WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR
• WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT
• WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR BAD
• WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILURE FAQs
• WATER PRESSURE VARIATION CAUSES

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILURE FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

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