11/02/2020 | Water Measurement Tips & Tricks | 8 MINUTE READ

Water Pressure Regulators: Use & Function

2When you’re washing dishes in your sink or taking a shower, the water pressure should be relatively high if you want to complete these tasks without issue. With low water pressure, washing dishes or taking a shower can be difficult and time-consuming. The same is true for the processes that occur in an industrial setting. However, it’s possible for the water pressure that gets sent through your faucets to be too high, which is when a water pressure regulator may be necessary. Also known as a pressure-reducing valve, a water pressure regulator is a kind of plumbing valve that’s designed to lessen the water pressure that gets sent through the primary water line.
While low water pressure is much more uncomfortable than high water pressure, too much pressure being sent through the water line can lead to worse consequences. When the water pressure is too high, problems can occur within the plumbing system that cause extensive damage. The added stress that’s placed on fixtures and pipes heightens the risk of leaks and ruptures. If you believe that the water pressure in your business is too high, you might want to look into obtaining a water pressure regulator. This article offers a comprehensive guide on water pressure regulators and how they function.


Key Takeaways:

  • Water pressure regulators help lessen the pressure going through a water line to save people both time and money.
  • When your water pressure is regulated there is a reduction of water usage, less maintenance required, and it helps provide other plumbing protection.
  • It is possible to install your own water pressure reader with a few basic guidelines to help with the process.

How Does a Water Pressure Regulator Work?

A water pressure regular is a simple fitting that’s shaped like a dome and is made from brass. These regulators are positioned right around the primary shutoff valve, which is where the water line enters the facility. A standard adjustment screw can typically be found on top of the regulator, which makes it easy for you to adjust the water pressure. Within the regulator is a spring-loaded diaphragm that will narrow and widen depending on how much pressure enters the valve.
When water is sent into a regulator at very high pressure, a mechanism within the regulator will work to constrict the diaphragm, which effectively controls how much water is sent into your business. By outfitting your water line with a water pressure regulator, it’s possible to reduce the PSI to anywhere from 50-80, which is completely safe for the fittings and pipes in your facility. When the PSI is above 80, the fixtures and pipes that are installed past the valve will be under an ample amount of stress. A water pressure regulator helps to reduce this stress, which should prevent damage and the need for costly plumbing repairs. If the water pressure that gets sent through the valve is lower than it should be, the mechanism found within the regulator will widen the diaphragm and let in more water for a better flow.
Water pressure regulators provide you with the ability to protect shutoff valves, faucets, and the valves inside of the appliances in your business. Less stress means that leaks are also less likely to occur, which can save you a substantial sum of money in plumbing repairs. The installation of a water pressure regulator should help to balance water pressure fluctuations for a more even flow throughout your facility. While it’s relatively rare for water pressure to be above 80 PSI, it’s possible for incoming water pressure to be as high as 150 PSI, which can be very damaging to the pipes in your facility.

Benefits of a Water Pressure Regulator

Before you purchase a water pressure regulator, it’s important that you know about all of the benefits that come with this device. The main benefits of installing a water pressure regulator in your home or industrial facility include:

  • Reducing water usage
  • Lessening maintenance requirements
  • Providing plumbing protection

When you install a water pressure regulator along the water line, you will be able to effectively reduce the amount of water that your facility uses. While high water pressure can be convenient, it should never be too high if you don’t want to waste your money on monthly water bills. A water pressure regulator will reduce water usage, which means that the monthly water bills for your facility should be reasonable. If the water bills are higher than they should be, this likely means that the water pressure throughout the property is at a higher rate than you would want.
Maintenance requirements for plumbing systems are also significantly reduced after installing a water pressure regulator. By keeping the water pressure at a good PSI, the fixtures and pipes throughout your home or facility should never be placed under too much stress. With less stress, these pipes and fixtures should last for a long time before being damaged or needing to be replaced, which means that maintenance requirements should be low.
The benefit of less maintenance requirements also means that your plumbing will be protected by a water pressure regulator. Excess pressure can damage toilets, sinks, and faucets, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Keep in mind that water pressure regulators should be repaired and maintained on a regular basis. If you notice that the water pressure is fluctuating more than it typically does, this may indicate that the water pressure regulator isn’t functioning properly.
If you’re unsure of the current PSI of the water in your business, it’s possible to test water pressure with the right device. Likely the best and most affordable testing method is with a water pressure gauge. With this gauge in place, you can identify what the current water pressure is. You can also determine if the water pressure is changing when water isn’t being run throughout your property. While the PSI should build when a faucet is turned on, it should soon reduce to the set PSI. When water is no longer running, the PSI shouldn’t change. If it does, there may be a problem with the plumbing system in your facility. If you’re unsure of how to use a water pressure gauge, your local water company should be able to assist you in this matter.

Installing a Water Pressure Regulator

If you want to install a water pressure regulator on your own, it’s possible to do this in industrial and residential settings by following a few basic guidelines. In the event that you’re hesitant about installing this device on your own, a plumber can provide you with installation services.
While a water pressure regulator can be installed in a variety of positions, the best installation placement is right after the primary shutoff valve that controls the water line. By placing the regulator in this position, all of the piping throughout your home or facility should be adequately protected from the adverse effects of high pressure. If ever the regulator needs to be repaired, you can easily shut off the water and turn it back on without having to navigate the piping in your business.
In the event that a water pressure regulator of yours needs to be replaced, a replacement installation is usually very straightforward. The majority of manufacturers for water pressure regulators don’t go through the hassle of changing the overall size or shape of their regulators, which means that the installation should be the same as your old regulator.
For a new installation, the process may be more strenuous. In fact, some adjustments will likely need to be made to the primary water line, which is something that you shouldn’t attempt to complete on your own unless you have a significant amount of experience with plumbing systems. In some situations, the shutoff valve for the water line may need to be moved to a different position to make sure that there’s enough room for the pressure regulator. Once installation has been completed, the first thing you should do is check the current water pressure before making necessary adjustments.
To get the most out of your water pressure regulator, it’s important that you understand how to operate the adjustment screw that’s positioned on top of the regulator. When you tighten the screw, the tension for the inner spring will increase, which helps to lessen the water pressure when it leaves the valve. When you loosen the screw, the water flow rate will increase, which boosts the water pressure that leaves the valve.
By controlling the amount of water that gets set into your business, you should be able to save a substantial amount of money in the long run. For instance, the monthly water bills for your facility should be lessened significantly by controlling the water pressure. It’s also important to note that less stress being placed on the plumbing system equates to less money spent on repairs.
Water pressure regulators are highly important devices that may be needed in businesses and industrial facilities with high water pressure. When the water pressure is too high, the possibility of a burst pipe increases significantly, which can cause damage that takes thousands of dollars to repair. While it’s possible to find affordable water pressure regulators, industrial regulators will provide you with a more expansive feature-set that should justify the higher costs.

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Posted by Sensorex on November 2, 2020

Sensorex is a global leader in the design and manufacture of quality sensors for water quality and process applications. The company offers more than 2000 sensor packages for pH, ORP, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, UV transmittance and other specialty measurements, as well as a full line of sensor accessories and transmitters. Its expert technical support engineers solve analytical sensor challenges with custom designs and off the shelf products.

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