Put Your Water Pressure to the Test!

There’s nothing worse than stepping into the shower after a hard day’s work, anxious to wash away all the day’s stresses and come out nice and fresh — only to turn that knob and have a tiny stream of water trickle out of the shower head. Yep, we think it’s safe to say that poor water pressure is the bane of every homeowner’s existence at one point or another.

We’ve been over the issues that poor water pressure can indicate many times before — clogs, leaks, etc. — but what we haven’t discussed, is how those signs are not always so easy to spot.

Generally speaking, your home’s water pressure should flow between 50 and 70 pounds per square inch (PSI). But, if you’re not able to eyeball your water pressure off the bat (which we’re willing to bet, plumbing experience or not, most of you cannot), we’ve got a simple way for you to put your water pressure to the test — all you need is a flow gauge from your local hardware store.

Once you’ve acquired a flow gauge, follow these simple steps:

  1. Locate the faucet or hose bib that you’d like to check and turn off the water supply. We recommend checking the pressure in multiple locations regularly, that way you can isolate any issues within the plumbing early on.
  2. Attached the pressure gauge to your faucet or hose bib you’d like to test. The gauge should screw on easily, but be sure to check the packaging instructions for your gauge model if you run into any issues.
  3. Turn the water supply back on, open the faucet or bib, and allow the pressure gauge to determine your water pressure. You’ll want to repeat this step a few times throughout the day/week to get the most accurate reading.

While low water pressure is obviously a nuisance, don’t forget that high water pressure can be just as bad. In fact, having too much water pressure can inevitably cause damage to your plumbing and fixtures, leaving you home susceptible to leaks and flooding.

If you live in Orange County, CA, and find that your water pressure is performing above or below par, or if you’d rather have a professional come determine your water pressure for you, we suggest giving Barker and Sons Plumbing & Rooter a call at 714-630-8766 or contact us online. Our expert plumbers will be able to determine the right course of action to get both your plumbing and your water pressure back on track!