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Install Gauge and Check Initial Pressure — Check Your Main Water Pressure

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

Boost Home Water Pressure: A Step-by-Step Guide to Improved Water Flow · Step 1 of 2

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In this video

Go to an outdoor hose bib and attach a pressure gauge. You can tighten it by hand first, then use a pair of pliers to ensure it's snug. With the main water supply still on, open the hose bib valve completely to get a reading of the static city water pressure. In the video, the pressure is noted to be approximately 70 PSI.

Goal: Measure Water Pressure

  • Knowing the initial static pressure provides a baseline for the leak test.

Used in this video

  • Pressure Gauge (Tool Type: Measuring tools) — To measure the water pressure in the plumbing system.
  • Pliers (Tool Type: Hand tools) · optional — To help snug the pressure gauge onto the hose bib threads.
330.0K views2.6K5 minutes
Roger Wakefield Plumbing Education

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FAQs

What specific tools are essential for accurately checking my home's water pressure?

You'll primarily need a water pressure gauge, such as the Water Source Water Test Pressure Gauge WSPGH100, which easily attaches to an outdoor hose bibb. For adjusting or replacing a pressure regulator, an adjustable wrench and a pipe wrench (e.g., Crescent 12 in. Self-Adjusting Straight Pipe Wrench) are also necessary.

What is the most critical safety step I must take before attempting to adjust or replace my pressure regulator?

Always, without exception, shut off your home's main water supply before making any adjustments or replacements to the pressure regulator. This prevents water leaks, potential flooding, and allows for safe work on your plumbing system. Locate your main shut-off valve, typically near your water meter or where the main line enters your house.

How do I know if my low water pressure issue is definitely due to the pressure regulator and not something else?

Start by checking your main water pressure with a gauge; if it's consistently below the ideal 40-60 psi, your regulator is a prime suspect. However, if the gauge reading is good but pressure is low only in certain areas, the issue might be individual fixture aerators, internal pipe clogs, or issues specific to hot water, which this project doesn't cover.

My pressure regulator looks old or damaged; how do I know if it needs replacement instead of just adjustment?

Signs of a failing regulator include constant pressure fluctuations, banging noises in pipes (water hammer), visible leaks from the regulator itself, or if adjusting it yields no change in pressure. If the regulator is very old (over 10-12 years) or shows significant corrosion, replacement is generally recommended over attempting an adjustment.

Transcript
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So in this video, we're going to start by putting a gauge on right here at the hose bin. The reason being, now we haven't turned the water off at the meter yet but what we're going to do, we're going to put the gauge on because we want to see what city water pressure is. Now I know a lot of y'all have heard about hydrostatic tests and that's not what this is. This is strictly a leak test but that's where it all starts. So what we're going to do, we're going to put the gauge on and we're going to turn it on because we want to know what the city water pressure is.

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.