[daluu]

I bought my house 4 years ago, it had a water pressure reducer by the main shutoff valve and inspector found water pressure to be high 85-90 psi.

I had the reducer replaced and it was at 60 psi when I last checked long time back. Following up on some pipe leak outdoors, I decided to check on water pressure again, and now it's 90 psi.

So my questions are:

* How often should one check water pressure to ensure the regulator is working well? Would it be like checking our car tires? Monthly or I guess at least annually here.

* How often does a water pressure reducer require adjustment? I wonder if 4 years is reasonable or too soon.

* What brand water pressure reducers are best to get, or it doesn't really matter? Just asking in case I need to buy a new one again (if/where adjusting not helping). The current one, I just got off Home Depot, forget the brand.

 

[daluu]

Also, I just rechecked water pressure again (to confirm high psi), and now it's at 60 psi, the gauge was still attached to the hose bib in the backyard (with water turned off at the bib and gauge back to 0 before retesting).

This same setup tested 90 psi earlier before I wrote this forum post. Why the change from 90-60 now? I don't get it. Is it because testing earlier reduced the pressure, or because I kept the gauge attached to bib when I should have removed it earlier before retesting?

 

[jmon]

Also, I just rechecked water pressure again (to confirm high psi), and now it's at 60 psi, the gauge was still attached to the hose bib in the backyard (with water turned off at the bib and gauge back to 0 before retesting).

This same setup tested 90 psi earlier before I wrote this forum post. Why the change from 90-60 now? I don't get it. Is it because testing earlier reduced the pressure, or because I kept the gauge attached to bib when I should have removed it earlier before retesting?

What you are experiencing is expansion when the water is heated up. As soon as you turn on a faucet is goes back to 60psi. Sounds like your water pressure reducing valve is working fine.

Is there an expansion tank on the water heater? That would help.

 

[daluu]

I have no idea if water heater has expansion tank. Also the previous homeowner wrapped the heater in insulation so that might make it harder to observe. How to check if it has one? This expansion affects cold water faucets?

 

[jmon]

So my questions are:

* How often should one check water pressure to ensure the regulator is working well? Would it be like checking our car tires? Monthly or I guess at least annually here.

Imo, at least annually. Depending on your water quality, there is a screen at the inlet part of your prv that should be cleaned and checked for debris.

* How often does a water pressure reducer require adjustment? I wonder if 4 years is reasonable or too soon.

Imo, not that often. They can over time require an adjustment.

* What brand water pressure reducers are best to get, or it doesn't really matter? Just asking in case I need to buy a new one again (if/where adjusting not helping). The current one, I just got off Home Depot, forget the brand.

Imo, the type that have unions on both ends for easy 5 minute swap out in the future.

 

[jmon]

I have no idea if water heater has expansion tank. Also the previous homeowner wrapped the heater in insulation so that might make it harder to observe. How to check if it has one? This expansion affects cold water faucets?

The expansion tank would look something like these; They are placed on the incoming water line to water heater and set to your incoming water pressure around 55-60psi if it has a bladder type. If bladderless they need to be drained occasionally. Has nothing to do with the faucets.

Its purpose is to give the water that expands when heated a place to go until a faucet is opened. Especially in a closed loop system. With a pressure reducing valve installed you have a closed loop system. Water can't go back out and pressure builds up.

 

[daluu]

Then I don't have one of those expansion tanks. How big are they typically? I'll consider adding one when I need to replace the water heater.

 

[jmon]

Depends on size of water heater. Less than 50 gallons the small two gallon should be fine. Above that use the 4 or 5 gallon.

There is a chart for proper sizing ill upload it when i get a chance.