Pressure

Did you know?

The water pressure in your plumbing system is at least 65 psi. That's a lot of pressure just looking for a way out! 

Water pressure regulators control both the water pressure and the flow rate of the incoming water supply. A damaged or worn out pressure regulator can result in destructively high water pressure in your home. 



One question that people commonly ask us is, 'What causes that loud banging sound in my pipes?' This is a problem known among plumbers as "water hammer" and mostly occurs in pipes that are connected to the washing machine or the dishwasher. The cause of this loud banging is a little electromagnetic device called a solenoid valve, which is designed to shut very quickly.

Imagine a car on the highway going around 50mph suddenly slamming into an indestructible wall. Doesn't sound pretty does it? Likewise, in your pipes, 5-10 pounds of water rushing through the pipes to the washing machine are forced to a halt when the solenoid valve shuts. This causes a shift in the pipes themselves and that is the bang that you hear. A common solution to this is to install a vertical section of pipe near the valve so that the water can travel upwards and slow down first, therefore minimizing the strain on the pipe.

Use this checklist to determine if your home has dangerously high water pressure:
•Banging pipes 

•Excessive usage

•High water flow

•Leaking faucets

•Leaking hot water relief valves

•Leaking pipes in walls

•Leaking shower valves

•Leaking stops & supply lines

•Leaking toilet fill valves 

•Recurring leaks

•Surging water 

•Under-slab leaks

•Vibrating pipes 



You may not even notice these symptoms immediately. In fact, water pressure of any kind is inherently searching for an escape. By noticing the symptoms of system weaknesses, you can prevent a destructive flood in your home. Taking a few minutes to make repairs could save you days of headache and cleanup.

Rainforest Plumbing & Air offers preventative maintenance services. We would like to provide you with a free estimate. Give us a call today at (480) 615-7766 to schedule service!





Other plumbing topics you may be interested in:
Backflow | Diagnostics | Faucets | Hoe Bibbs | Leak Locating | Showers | Tubs | Toilets