The Inexpensive Item that Lowers Bills
Updated: Jul 29
Whenever anyone asks, “what can I do” or “what do I look for” for preventive maintenance, by far the #1 thing we tell them is to get a $10-15 water pressure tester, install it on an outside spigot, and check your home’s water pressure quarterly or more. We tell people if they owned a water pressure gauge and checked it four times a year, they would be in the upper percentile of homeowners.
This easy-to-use, $10-15 item can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in water bills and repairs
Water pressure can and does fluctuate. It can increase significantly over a short period of time, especially when the utility company works on the infrastructure or makes changes to the system nearby. Additionally, even if you have a pressure regulator, it can fail, so keeping an eye on the water pressure can give you a heads up before major complications start happening.
Excessive water pressure (above 80 PSI) forces more water through fixtures and can cause thousands of gallons in waste and skyrocket your utility bills.
Here is exactly how it drains your resources:
Higher flow rates: Faucets and showers blast out far more volume than necessary to get the job done. And in the summertime, irrigation and car washing with excessive water pressure can waste hundreds of gallons of water, as well.
Damaged fixtures: Over-pressurization blows out washers and seals, leading to constantly running toilets and dripping faucets.
Pipe and appliance wear: Continuous strain creates hidden, slow leaks in joints and damages appliances like washing machines and water heaters, which can ultimately waste between 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of water a year.
What you can do:
Test it: Attach a water pressure gauge to your outdoor hose spigot to measure your home's PSI.
Regulate it: If your pressure is over 80 PSI, have a plumber install or adjust a water pressure regulator to drop the flow down to an efficient 50-60 PSI.
Have questions or want to discuss a plumbing project?
Give us a call at 503-719-4015, contact us online, or text us at 971-247-1561.