Bad Water Pressure Regulator / Pressure Reducer Diagnostic FAQs

Q&A on bad pressure regulators

After I installed a pressure regulator water comes out brown

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 2018-04-04 by Bill

Solution by (mod) -

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

Can a bad pressure regulator cause a high water bill?

Will a bad pressure regulator result in a high water bill - On 2017-10-14 by Ted

by (mod) - yes by using m ore water at sinks and tubs

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.

While some fixtures like a toilet have a fixed water volume per use, others like tubs, sinks, showers, are free flowing. Running at higher pressure means you will use more gallons per minute, so yes, that would increase your water bill.

But a "bad" water pressure regulator? If you mean a "bad setting" or a leak, yes, but otherwise - that question remains unclear.

Daniel

Water pressure doesn't change when I adjust the pressure regulator

I have just bought a house and had the water turned on. As a precaution, I checked the water pressure at an outside faucet at the point the water enters the house from the meter. My reading was 110 PSI. So I tried to adjust the pressure regulator valve.

I turned it both clockwise and counter clockwise and the reading of 110 PSI remained.the same. So I bought a new regulator that supposedly is preset to 50 PSI.

Put it on and check the pressure again. Still 110 PSI. Adjusted the valve both ways with no change in the pressure reading. So I bought a new test valve. Still got the same 110 PSI. I don't know what I am missing. On 2017-09-19 by Calvin

Reply by (mod)

Calvin: since you installed a new pressure regulator with a factory setting of 50 psi, if you're really reading 110 psi downstream from the regulator then I suspect that your gauge is bad. Is it possible that your pressure gauge is debris / sediment clogged?

Watch out: if building water pressure is really 110 psi that's risking serious plumbing leaks or even a burst pipe and water damage. - DF

Take a look at

• WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT - are you adjusting the regulator properly?
• WATER PRESSURE MEASUREMENT - try using an independent gauge
• WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY