| When it comes to water pressure, what one person | | | | washing machine faucet is usually inside the home, or |
| thinks is adequate might come across as a trickle to | | | | so we hope, and has the same threads as the |
| another. Because opinions vary widely, it is important | | | | pressure gauge. If the reading is still high, then the |
| to be able to make a determination of the adequacy | | | | problem is confirmed since the washing machine is |
| of water pressure in some definitive way. That is | | | | one of the appliances we are trying to protect from |
| especially true for a working home inspector. If a | | | | damage caused by high water pressure. |
| client asks why the inspector did not comment on | | | | As an aside, it is my opinion, having inspected many |
| high or low water pressure, then having a normal | | | | homes and then checked the water flow, that any |
| water pressure reading documented on the report is | | | | reading under 50 PSI is suspect and the people who |
| a good idea. | | | | are going to live in the house ought to see for |
| Water pressure gauges are easy to use practical | | | | themselves if they like the water pressure. If a |
| tools and, certainly, not out of the reach of the | | | | person buying a house does not have a pressure |
| homeowner in either cost or the expertise required | | | | gauge, or wonders if he or she will be satisfied with |
| to operate them correctly. In fact, these gauges can | | | | the water pressure, I suggest the good old-fashioned |
| be purchased at any good hardware store for about | | | | multi-flow test. It is simple enough. Get the |
| $10.00. Once you have the device, you might wonder | | | | dishwasher or washing machine running. Then turn on |
| what readings you are looking for? Well, normal | | | | a sink or two and go to a bathroom and try the |
| pressure is described as being between 40 and 80 | | | | shower, the sink, etc. Do this on each floor, with |
| PSI (pounds per square inch). The easiest place to | | | | other fixtures running. You can get a pretty good |
| check that reading is to screw the gauge on at an | | | | idea of the adequacy of the water pressure and |
| outside faucet. Beware, there can be a potential snag | | | | how it will affect you. |
| doing that: Not often, but sometimes, the hosebibb | | | | As far as solutions to a pressure issue: If the |
| or faucet is plumbed in before a pressure reducer is | | | | pressure is too high, a pressure reducer will probably |
| put in the system and, in that case, there will be a | | | | be installed by a plumber. If, on the other hand, the |
| high reading on the gauge. For this reason, when a | | | | water pressure is too low then that will be more |
| hosebibb gives a high reading, a person should try to | | | | complicated. The cause can range from bad pressure |
| get another reading, such as attaching the gauge to | | | | at the source, to rusted pipes and a number of other |
| the faucet the washing machine connects to. The | | | | issues. |