How High Pressure Can Damage Your Plumbing System

High water pressure is considered a luxury in many homes. It’s not uncommon to hear homeowners and residents complaining of low water pressure, leading to unsatisfactory showers and other issues.

However, if your water pressure is too high, it can lead to damage throughout your plumbing system. Is the water pressure in your home unusually high? If it is, you might want to read this article to avoid expensive problems.

The Right Pressure

Did you know that most homes have water pressure that’s around 50 PSI? Anything above 60 can lead to damaged pipes and other plumbing problems.

If your water pressure is too high, you’ll notice one, if not all, of the following situations.

Banging Pipes

When your water pressure is too high, you’ll hear pipes banging around. These are known as water hammers, and they come from water shockwaves in your pipes stopping suddenly. You’ll hear this noise soon after you turn the water off in your kitchen or bathroom.

Leaking Faucet

Have you noticed any leaking faucets in your home? This could be a sign of high water pressure. However, if it is water pressure, it will only happen at certain times or when you’re using certain fixtures.

Shaking Pipes

If you hear your pipes shaking or rattling, it’s a good indicator of too much water pressure. This rattling sound comes from the pipes knocking together because of the force of the water.

Water Bill Too High?

If your water bill is unusually high, you could have issues with high water pressure. You’re dispensing more water than normal because of the extreme pressure, leading to a higher bill.

Impact of High Pressure

Besides a much higher utility bill, increased water pressure can lead to some significant problems. Your appliances are at high risk of being severely damaged.

Washing machines and dishwashers are the two appliances that have the highest risk. High water pressure can lead to these appliances failing early.

Additionally, high water pressure can damage your pipes significantly. Older pipes can easily crack or break from the pressure.

Sometimes the city’s water system is sending too much pressure into your home. In this case, there’s nothing you can do about it. However, if it’s an issue with scaling or clogging, the issue can be fixed.

You should contact a plumber to handle these issues. You don’t want to risk further damage if you don’t know with certainty what it takes to remedy the problem.