Why High Water Pressure Can Harm Your Plumbing
Is water running out of a tap at high speed? When left unchecked, high water pressure can lead to serious plumbing issues. Check out our guide to learn more!
Are you tired of dealing with high water pressure?
Picture this: you’ve just had a big meal and go to wash your hands. Suddenly, the tap blasts water everywhere, drenching your clothes. Adjusting the pressure doesn’t work, so you shrug it off and dry up, assuming it’s not a big deal—but ignoring it might not be wise.
But if your water pressure is too high, it can damage your plumbing and lead to expensive repairs.
Think of water pressure like blood pressure—if it’s too high, it can strain the system. Just like health issues in the body, unchecked high water pressure can cause major problems. Spotting high water pressure at home or in the office isn’t always straightforward, though.
To avoid unnecessary expenses, read this article on how high water pressure can harm your home’s plumbing and how you can fix high water-pressure plumbing problems.
Detecting high water pressure is simple; you only need to turn on the tap and put your hand under the water. If the pressure is high, you’ll be able to feel it.
Other tell-tale signs include rattling or banging sounds inside the pipes due to the excess water flowing through them. When the pressure is normal, water travels through the pipes evenly, known as laminar flow. But if the pressure increases drastically, water jumps and bounces inside the pipes, which produces a banging sound. This is called chaotic flow.
Water pressure isn’t constant; it can drop to a trickle or surge, potentially damaging pipes. But what causes these changes in the first place? Let’s explore.
In some cases, high water pressure isn’t about your plumbing but your location in Australia. Living downhill, for example, might mean gravity’s working against you, causing pressure issues even if your system is fine.
Most homes at the bottom of a hill struggle to maintain steady water pressure. You can’t control gravity, so unless you’re willing to relocate, there’s not much to do in such a scenario.
Plumbing systems have pressure-limiting valves to control the water pressure and prevent fluctuations. Have these valves checked by a professional whenever you have work done on the pipelines?
Homes without pressure-limiting valves or, worse, damaged and poorly installed valves are more susceptible to chaotic water flow.
Air pockets are a significant problem. When trapped air bubbles rise to the surface, they suddenly increase the water pressure. This usually happens in the high points around the system, resulting in a bottleneck and hindering the normal flow of water.
The pressure slowly increases since the water flowing through the pipes is less than the expected supply. If the water finds a way through, it comes out at a higher velocity, so removing the air bubbles is crucial to prevent pipe damage.
Constant air pressure inside the plumbing pipes requires a professional company to restore the water pressure to normal.
Even though you may feel more water is better than a reduced supply, high water pressure isn’t good for the plumbing system. It can lead to one or more of the following issues:
The human race has reached a tipping point where we must conserve or perish our natural resources. Now is not the time for wastewater; fixing high water pressure should be your priority.
If turning on the taps even gently causes a torrent of water to gush out, your plumbing system isn’t doing you any favours. And if caring for the environment isn’t your concern, exorbitantly high water bills from wasted water will grab your attention!
We have spoken about high water pressure damaging pipes. If left unchecked, the pipes may eventually burst, leading to flooding and damage to your belongings.
Your pipes may wear out faster, and the rattling caused by high water pressure can loosen the pipe joints. So, when you notice higher-than-normal water pressure, locate the shut-off valve and hire a licensed plumbing agency.
It’s easy to overlook, but high water pressure can affect more than just your pipes. Appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters all have safe limits. Exceeding these can lead to wear and tear, meaning costly repairs or replacements down the track.
We trust you’re now ready to tackle high water pressure issues. If you’re dealing with it, chat with our team about getting a water pressure regulator. These handy devices help manage your water use and protect your home from damage.
Another common sign of high pressure is leaking faucets, running toilets or plumbing leaks. This is due to the pipe damage caused to your plumbing supply line by the pressure. High water pressure issues may also cause water hammer, a banging noise you may hear coming from your pipes. You can prevent high water pressure by installing a water pressure test gauge or a pressure reduction valve. In that case, calling a licensed plumber is the best thing you can do.
Too much of anything isn’t good, and this is especially true for water supply and usage. But instead of trying to fix the problem yourself, always call a professional plumbing agency. As you can see, if high water pressure problems are left untreated for an extended period, you may encounter all sorts of nasty troubles. So, if you are in Melbourne and need a plumber, contact the WP Plumbing team. We use the latest tools to quickly locate the source of the issue and provide an efficient solution.
See you in the following guide!
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