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Posted by z on November 1, 2007, 10:32 am
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> > > Per an earlier discussion, I have been trying to ensure that I will
> > > not have a future problem with T&P valves in my house... bought a
> > > pressure gauge at the Despot last night on my way home from work
> > > (there's a rant in there, but not pertinent) hooked it up, system
> > > pressure is about 68-70 PSI falling to 60 PSI with a faucet open and
> > > momentarily spiking to maybe 78 PSI. This is measured in the
> > > basement, at about the level of the T&P valves. I left the gauge
> > > connected overnight and the hot water heater went through at least two
> > > cycles and the telltale did not rise.
>
> > > Everything I've read says that pressure should be regulated to 60 PSI
> > > or less, I am guessing since I did not experience a rise in pressure
> > > when the water heater cycled that I don't have a BFP on the main water
> > > line (actually, the weird thing is I don't even know if I have a
> > > meter, I can't see one unless it is buried underground) so "by the
> > > book" I should install a pressure reducer set for 60 PSI but since a
> > > pressure reducer would also act as a BFP I would then need to add an
> > > expansion tank as well.
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> > > Question is, is this really necessary or is 70 PSI OK? I'm not
> > > looking to spend a lot of money on plumbing but if the high pressure
> > > could potentially cause an issue I guess I should take care of it.
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> > > thanks,
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> > > nate
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> > > PS - the Home Despot rant. Found a Watts brand "test gauge" at the
> > > Despot on my way home from work (pressure gauge with telltale, screwed
> > > into a female garden hose fitting) bought it, took it home, found that
> > > the telltale was bent so that it didn't catch the gauge needle. Went
> > > to a different Despot near my house, they didn't have a gauge to
> > > exchange it. Drove back the other direction to go to the original
> > > store, told the guy I wanted to exchange the gauge, well either he
> > > didn't speak English well enough to understand or just didn't know
> > > that you could do a straight exchange, so he refunded my money and I
> > > had to buy another one, meaning I had to stand in line again for 20
> > > minutes to check out... grr... probably wasted a good two hours on
> > > this whole exercise. And then I had to run out again to get matches
> > > (see my other post from this morning) so I didn't even get home until
> > > close to 9 PM. I'm really starting to get sick of plumbing stuff.
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> > The general rule is that 60 psi is the recommnded high point for
> > residences. Above that 'can' cause premature wear on fixtures,
> > particularly appliance valves. That is probably a very consevative
> > view.
> > I doubt that your 70 is going to do so.
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> > Your meter (if you have one) is probably buried out at the curb line.
> > If so, you will find a cover approximately flush with the ground.
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> > Harry K
>
> I did call local water authority and they confirmed that meter is
> buried below a cover in the front yard and that I have no BFP or
> pressure reducer (at least installed by them.) So it sounds like I'll
> just keep an eye on it (possibly mount gauge permanently near one of
> the water heaters so I can see if it ever gets above 80 PSI) and not
> worry about it too much.
>
> I do need to rebuild one toilet but other than that I have no problems
> evident that could conceivably be caused by high pressure (reason for
> initial inquiry was old T&P valve was occasionally tripping, but it is
> rated at 150 PSI and apparently pressure never goes above 80, so it
> seems like simply a bad valve - new valve hasn't tripped at all in a
> week and a half, and water heater is set hotter than ever) is one
> toilet that has a bad fill valve that needs to be replaced, other than
> that no issues. I can deal with that...
>
> I suppose one possible factor in the old T&P valve's early demise is
> that apparently the house's plumbing had been left full of water for
> probably the entire duration of the previous owner's residence -
> something like 18 years - and all of the little expansion pipes had
> lost their air. I have noticed a marked decrease in water hammer
> since I drained the system down and refilled it. Possibly related?
>
> nate- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
My house has a pressure regulator, and I notice that the front outside
faucet is plumbed before the regulator, to get the high pressure,
while the back outside faucet is plumbed into the regulated side, and
I have to say the extra presure for the lawn sprinkler is quite an
improvement. In fact, i'm thinking of rerouting some tubing from the
back faucet to the unregulated side.
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