Tis the season for Snow Birds

I'm sure you have all noticed around town that the Snow Birds have migrated back for the winter. As this might get stressful for everyone else, let’s take a step back, breathe, and focus on preventative measures for your home. 

One thing that comes to mind is making sure your home has a pressure reducing valve. A pressure reducing valve (PRV) regulates high incoming water pressure to a lower, constant downstream pressure. This will protect your plumbing, appliances and water fixtures from damages such as burst pipes, flooding, leaks, and pipe banging. The PRV will also maintain a stable and consistent water pressure to your home even if the county water’s pressure fluctuates.  

So how does a PRV work?
It has an inlet where the high pressure water enters and an outlet where the lower pressure water exits. A spring and diaphragm are the core components. The spring provides a force, and the diaphragm responds to the downstream pressure. When the downstream pressure rises, it pushes against the diaphragm. This will partially close the valve to reduce the flow and lower the pressure. Then, when the downstream pressure drops, the spring pushes the diaphragm to open the valve. This allows more flow to maintain the set pressure. You can adjust the desired pressure on the PRV, usually using a screw on the top of the valve.

How do I know if I need a PRV?
It is always the safest to install a PRV on your home’s incoming water pipe, but especially, if the incoming water pressure exceeds 80 PSI. This high of pressure can damage the water fixtures, appliances and pipes. We can check the water pressure using a pressure gauge, and confirm if a valve is needed. Some counties may require a PRV to be installed on new or remodeled homes as well. PRVs are typically located on the main water supply line just after the water meter or where the water enters the house. It could be found on an interior wall, in the basement or crawlspace, and even underground. You can identify it as a bell-shaped component with an adjustment screw on the top.

We highly recommend installing one if your home does not already have one. It will prolong the lifespan of your water pipes and appliances. By regulating the pressure, it can also save money on your water bill. High water pressure exerts more water per minute. Please give us a call and we will come out and assess your home, test the pressure and install one the same day!

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