Ask the plumber: Checking water pressure an easy DIY project

Q. My plumber has done our work for years and recently installed a new faucet for us. We love the faucet and he did a great job on the install. Then he checked our water pressure with some kind of tool and said our house pressure was on the borderline of being “too high.” He recommended that we think about having a couple of controls installed to protect our plumbing fixtures from excessive stress from the high water pressure. The job will be a bit of money, and before we call him back my wife wants me to “double check” the water pressure myself to confirm this. Is there an easy way for me to check our water pressure?

A: I receive a lot of questions about water pressure. So let’s start off by reminding everyone that in most areas, water pressure higher than 80 pounds per square inch is usually too high for residential use. Check local codes for water-pressure limits and required controls.

If your plumber finds that your pressure is high, he or she may recommend that a pressure-reducer valve (PRV) be installed to cut down the home’s water pressure to acceptable limits. A thermal expansion tank may also be part of the installation. A thermal expansion tank can give the hot water generated from the water heater a place to expand. This can protect your plumbing system from additional pressure surges.

It usually is pretty easy to check the water pressure in your home yourself. Go to a plumbing-supply store and buy a domestic water-pressure test gauge.

Make sure the gauge has easy-to-read information, and a simple garden-hose-type connection that you can install directly onto an outside (sillcock) faucet. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for operating the gauge. But, basically, here’s what to do: When the plumbing fixtures in your home are not in use, if you turn on the sillcock with the gauge installed, you should get your water-pressure reading. The really good news is that these test gauges usually cost less than $20.

Ÿ Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.

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