Do you know what the correct water pressure for your home is? If the answer is no, you’re not alone! Most of us don’t worry about the pressure level of our water unless it drops to a low point – when this happens, the water is slow, and you will struggle to shower, wash your dishes, and perform everyday tasks.
While no one wants low water pressure, what you may not be aware of is that high water pressure can also be dangerous and damaging to your home plumbing. How do you know if this is true in your home and what impact might this have? Read on to find out.
Do you have high water pressure?
It can be difficult to detect when water pressure is high, but there are some common signs that you should look out for. A leaking tap which is not loose, or which leaks only when other parts of the plumbing system are being used, might point to high water pressure. You may also notice that your plumbing is noisier than it should be – pipes that bang (known as a “water hammer”) and rattling (which indicates that pipes are moving when in use), can indicate that your water pressure is higher than it should be. You might also notice a toilet that runs more than it should, or water bursting from taps when they are turned on.
The cost of high water pressure
Perhaps the most notable and worrying sign of high water pressure is a spike in your water bills. This is because more water is used when water pressure is high. So even if you haven’t noticed any of the other issues, it is worth investigating your bills being higher than normal.
As well as costing you extra money and wasting water, there is more bad news about high water pressure!
The damage of high water pressure
If your home has high water pressure, appliances can begin to suffer increased damage. You might notice that your appliances are failing sooner than you expect – and this can include damage to your pipes themselves. High water pressure can cause them to crack and burst, leading to flood damage and the expense of pipe replacement.
How can you fix high water pressure?
Detecting high water pressure is an important component in fixing it. Having routine maintenance checks performed on your plumbing is a good way to ensure that your water pressure is correct – but you must catch it early! If you live somewhere where high water pressure is not within your control, you can still have a water pressure regulator installed to help ease the impact on your home.
If you think that you might be suffering from the impact of high water pressure, don’t wait to deal with it. A professional plumber can assess the situation and any damage, and make recommendations on how to best remedy your high water pressure. Get in touch with us if you are looking for a skilled professional plumber Hilton residents trust, so that high water pressure and other plumbing issues can be dealt with quickly.
