High Water Pressure FAQs

Water pressure got really high - I let out some air - but it's high again!

The water pressure to my house got real high the pressure tank had to much pressure I let some air out and it worked fine for a few weeks and then got very high again high enough it was causing the pressure value on the hot water tank to kick off.

Would this be a bad pressure tank? On 2018-11-04 by James Harmon

by (mod) - Safety warning + letting AIR out of the water pressure tank does not fix excessive water pressure

Regrets, James but letting AIR out of the water pressure tank does not fix anything to do with excessive water pressure in a building.

Abnormally high water pressure on a pump and tank system is more likely due to a pressure control switch that is not turning the pump off at the proper CUT OUT pressure setting.

That could be due to a debris-clogged control switch.

Watch out: if water pressure exceeds the tank rated pressure the tank could burst, injuring anyone nearby.

Fix or replace the pressure control.

Pressure gauge says 164 psi but our actual water pressure is weak

First of all there is not much water, for I did the shake [the water tank] thing and it felt empty.

However I turned the faucet on where the water goes in to the tank and there was water there. The gauge said 164 lbs but there is no way that the water I was letting out was 164 lbs.

The pressure at the top of the tank is 28 lbs. I also found ants on the contact points of the water pressure control switch. I am thinking it is either the control switch or the pressure gauge or both but have no idea what to do next.

Can the switch just be cleaned up like points on an old truck or does it need to be replaced and why would the pressure gauge be saying 164 when it is obvious that it is not that high.

I contacted a well man on the 24th and he still have not gotten here and if there is a way for me to do it myself I am ready for it is getting old not to have water. Never miss the water until the (pipe) is dry. I chose to use pipe and not the other possibility.

My mother's water well has a submersible pump and a pressure tank.

Neither are very old I am thinking 8 years old. However there is no water, there is power to the well house.

The pressure tank pressure gauge says there is 160 lbs which does not make any since, since there is no water coming out. I turned on a faucet at the pressure tank just to see if there was water there.

There was but I am sure it was not 160 lbs of pressure. What do you think the problem?

The gauge? I can remember years ago when the old pressure tank was there that my father would say it was air locked and he would do something and everything would be fine.
Audie wilkins@gvec.net On 2016-07-30 by Audie Wilkins

by (mod) - Safety warning and then the best place to diagnose weak water pressure

Watch out: if your water pressure were really as high as the gauge says, your system is very dangerous, risking a burst pipes, leaks, and injury to anyone near a bursting pipe or water tank.

But if your pressure is actually too low or very weak, and guessing based on what your gauge reads, I suspect that your water pressure switch, pump, pipes, and gauge may all be sediment or debris clogged.

Before we start trying to fix anything, you'll want to read this article

WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

Do I need a pressure relief valve on my water system? Will the water heater's relief valve be enough?

Is it a good idea to have a water pressure relief valve in addition to pressure regulator?

Is the water heater pressure valve sufficient if pressure regulator goes out? Does water heater valve work on both hot and cold at faucets in house? On 2016-07-12 by Emily Wagner

Answer by (mod) - requirement for pressure relief valves on water tanks: municipal water system compared with private pump and well system

Emily,

Bottom line: a water pressure relief valve is in fact required (for safety) on any pressurized tank or vessel.

The concern is that sudden high water pressure can cause various plumbing components to break, burst, or leak - risking both flood and personal injury.

If your building is supplied with municipal water and your pressure is set by a water pressure regulator at the incoming water line, you would not have a water pressure tank and wouldn't need a pressure relief valve on the water line itself.

If your building is served by a private pump and well and pressure tank, then yes there should be a pressure relief valve at the water pressure tank - usually mounted on a Tee fitting at the bottom of the water tank.

Details are at WATER TANK PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

 

Is 90 psi water pressure too high

My water pressure coming into my house is 90psi Sometimes higher. Is this excessive? On 2016-08-22 y Ed Cooley

Answer by (mod) - yes

Yes, Ed. That pressure in a typical residential plumbing system risks leaks at fixtures whose controls aren't intended for high pressure.

Watch out: Worse if a water tank or pipe bursts while someone's nearby, beyond flooding the building someone could be hurt or even killed.

If your municipal supply pressure is high your house needs its own pressure regulator, possibly a two-stage regulator.

Is there a maximum city water pressure delivered to a home?

Is there a maximum pressure that cities can deliver water to a home? (June 24, 2011) Anonymous

Reply: leaks likely at pressures over 70 psi;

Municipal water pressure may be higher than a home's pipes can handle: that's why pressure regulators are required

There are recommended water pressure upper limits for within buildings, lest we have leaky faucets or worse. But municipal water pressure is permitted to be and in fact actually may be much higher in some areas.

That's why we install a water pressure regulator at the point of water service entry into the building. The pressure regulator can protect the building from excessive municipal water main water pressures.

Pressures over about 70 psi invite leaks.

High water pressure - 160 psi - and "leaky hot water tank" - leaky hot water cylinder

My hot water heater is leaking and the pressure valve is acting erratic, the needle is moving really fast sometimes and right now the needle is at 160. What should I do? (Sept 2, 2012) Carla

Reply:

Carla

Watch out: you are describing a dangerous condition risking a very serious, even fatal explosion of your water heater tank. We explain that hazard at BLEVE EXPLOSIONS 

Shut the water heater off, open hot water taps to release the current high pressure, and ask for help from a licensed plumber.