Had a nightmare week of callbacks until I started double-checking pressure regulators

Last month in Austin I had three callbacks in four days on the same repipe job because the water hammer was still happening after I left. Turns out the street pressure was spiking over 100 psi and my cheap regulator couldn't handle it. Anyone else ever miss something that basic and end up eating into your whole weekend?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris_jones897d ago

Man that's a rough one but honestly (okay not starting with that) - you're so right about stuff being way higher pressure than you'd ever guess. I had almost the same thing happen with a toilet fill valve that kept blowing out its little rubber seal every few months. Drove me nuts until I finally put a gauge on it and saw 120 psi coming through the house line. The street pressure in my neighborhood goes up and down like crazy depending on time of day, especially during summer when they're pumping extra for irrigation. Now I basically won't touch a repipe or fixture swap without slapping a gauge on the hose bib first, it only takes two minutes and saves you from eating a Saturday.

joel_young8d ago

Start paying attention to how many things in your house are running at higher pressure than they should be. It's not just plumbing either. I noticed my washing machine was banging around during spin cycle for months until I realized the supply lines had way too much pressure behind them. Same thing happened with a neighbor who kept having his toilet flapper wear out every six months. Threw a cheap pressure gauge on his hose bib and sure enough it was reading 110 psi. You start seeing this pattern everywhere once you look for it. Water, air, even gas lines in older neighborhoods. Everybody just ASSUMES whatever comes through the pipe is fine and then wonders why stuff breaks all the time.