What Is A Water Pressure Regulator Valve?
A water pressure regulator valve, also called a water pressure regulator or PRV, is a small plumbing fixture installed on the main water line to your home. It effectively reduces the maximum water pressure flowing to your fixtures and appliances.
“Whaaat?”, you say. “Why would I want to do that?”, you are probably asking. Nobody enjoys taking showers under a dribble.
Believe it or not, there are several reasons you might want a water pressure regulator valve to reduce your water pressure. The good news is that a well-installed PRV should not result in wimpy showers or useless dishwashers -but could save you a ton of money and heartache.
I always check your home’s water pressure before I begin work. If the pressure is over 75 psi – I recommend installing a pressure regulator valve. The recommended water pressure is 60 psi to 75 psi. This will NOT result in wimpy showers. That happens under 40psi – and I can help fix that too.
Benefits Of A Water Pressure Regulator Valve
1. Prevent leaks in fixtures
High water pressure is not good for your pipes and fixtures. The excessive wear and tear can lead to hairline cracks that can develop into major issues over time. Often the first signs of damage caused by excessive water pressure is a simple leaky faucet.
2. Extend the Life of Appliances
Excessive water pressure can lead to more frequent repairs of appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, laundry machines and most modern refrigerators. These appliances often have multiple hoses, connections, washers, and valves inside them which are all strained when water pressure is too high.
3. Protection From Water Supply Variations
City water lines vary from street to street, some homes have higher water pressure than others even in the same neighborhood. Over time, this high water pressure can take its toll on the fixtures in your home. This can cause pipes or more commonly, washing machine supply hoses to burst (especially if you are away for a weekend in Tahoe). This is among the top causes of catastrophic water damage in the home.
4. Reduced Water Consumption
A water pressure regulator valve (PRV), can often reduce your total water consumption by 1/3 or more. In addition to the conservation benefits here in drought-prone California, you can reduce your water bill drastically. In Marin, we have a tiered fee water system that is designed to encourage conservation. The cost of high water usage is nearly 470% over baseline water costs. A pressure regulator can help you keep most of your water costs at the affordable baseline rates.
5. Reduced Waste Water
It stands to reason that the less water you use, the less goes down the drain and to the sewage treatment plant. The result is less strain on the system, less power to treat the sewage and less of a need to expand water treatment facilities. You will realize most of these savings in your water bill but some of it shows up in your taxes as well.
6. Money Savings
The cost savings could be substantial when you consider the combination of:
- Fewer minor fixture repairs (leaks etc)
- The water wasted due to minor leaks
- Fewer major appliance repairs
- Extending the life of major appliances
- Avoiding repairing damage caused by burst pipes and supply hoses
- Water conservation and avoiding the higher priced billing tiers
- Taxes and fees related to wastewater treatment
Why Choose Marin Plumbing For Your Water Pressure Regulator Valve?
I’m Brian Cooke, I started Marin Plumbing in 1991 and was a plumber for several years before that. When you call Marin Plumbing you will always get ME. That’s how I can guarantee top levels of service. There aren’t a lot of plumbers with over 33 years of experience. I offer the highest professional standards in terms of reliability, speed, cleanliness (both personal appearance and equipment), as well as a reputation for clear and thorough communication about your plumbing issues and the range of options for fixing them.
Could you benefit from a water pressure regulator valve? Call me to discuss if a PRV is right for you. If it is I can get it installed correctly, safely and guaranteed leak-free, call me at 415-883-1243 and let me make it easy and worry-free.