Where is my water pressure valve

[pluspea]

Been all under the house and can't locate it. Found where the line comes in from the meter and followed it all the way and saw nothing but the valve in the pic. My pressure has been fine until they put a new line in a few weeks ago, and now it is over one hundred and I cant get it down. Any help appreciated.

 

[Jessie]

I'm not sure, but if you are on city water I don't think you can control the pressure. It is what they supply. You may be able to add a pressure control device, but I doubt if you already had one. I would call the water company and let them know you're running 100psi if that's what it is. Should be around 60.

 

[pluspea]

Guy at lowes says I have one somewhere, but where. They just put a new meter in not long ago, and it was fine until they did all the new stuff.

 

[GreyOwl]

The guys at Lowes just think they know it all. If you already had one, your pressure wouldn't have changed. Actually if you had one, it would be right after the shutoff valve and before the first water using appliance.

 

[LVSteve]

Guy at lowes says I have one somewhere, but where. They just put a new meter in not long ago, and it was fine until they did all the new stuff.

Unless it is a code in your area the guy at Lowe's is full of it or thinking of a lawn sprinkler system. I've never lived in a house that had a pressure reducing device or valve fitted when it was built. You want the pressure down you have to get one fitted.

 

[pluspea]

You could very well be right, since I've looked high and low for one. He inclined me to believe all had to have one or everything would leak. I noticed my pressure valve started leaking, then I tested and found out that it had went up. I think it might of had something to do with the new larger lines etc. I called the utility district and the guy is supposed to call me, I will ask him if it is on their end.

 

[gdnagle]

It should have been in you house right at the main shutoff valve, right as it came through the wall or floor, if you had one or you could check by the shutoff valve at the street you never know what a city worker might do. Years ago when on city water in all the houses I've owned they all had pressures valves, of course I cranked them all up, I like water pressure besides it helps you find leaks.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Looks like you never had one, but if your pressure is indeed 100psi you need to have a pressure regulator installed ASAP before something lets go and floods your house. If you have an old water heater chances are it will be the first to go. Seems to me the city should have warned you about the pressure change and the dangers of having too high of pressure.

 

[BobC357]

The main water valve should have a blue handle. Where the line comes into the home and near the water meter there should be a valve very close. Some water meters are two-part: a sensor where the line enters the home and a readout somewhere else--usually outside.

It sounds like you need a pressure regulator in the line. I have two in my home -- one for the sprinkler system (80 psi) and one for the domestic use (60 psi) inside. These are right after the meter where the two branches fork. Also, you want to make sure they are before the hot water heater as well.

Oh, and if they ran a lot of water changing the mains, you'll want to flush your hot water heater to get rid of any sediment that may have entered the lines to the home. After they changed mains, we had to flush the hot water heater numerous times before we got clean water out of the drain.

Good luck

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Is we talking turn off valve? Slab house, national code requires a turn off valve where the supply pipe clears the top of the slab. That is usually under a sink, bathroom or kitchen. That will be a valve kind of barely sticking out of the wall under the sink.
Some warm weather houses run the line up and into the side of the house. Have seen this in Houston, with busted frozen pipes. Blue Norther, don't you know!
All water systems everywhere require a turn off at the meter. Usually in the meter hole, you need a special tool or crescent wrench with a strong arm.
Pressure reducer? Why yes, I have had one. Too much water pressure can be hazardous to your health. When I had a copper line burst under my kitchen floor, my blood pressure went off the scale. When the water system manager said, why yes, you do do have high pressure. You need a pressure regulator. I thought everybody already knew that.
Sometimes my ESP just don't work!

 

[Rule3]

Is the picture you posted the main valve which shuts off water to the whole house??

How do you know your pressure is 100PSI?

We have city water and have never seen a home with a pressure dial indicator.

The meter by the street just show the gals used and the shut off is on the outside where it enter the home as Pilgrim mentions.

 

[pluspea]

Went to home depot and the guy says its the utility co. that did it, said he sold 60 in a short time. I dug down to the meter and still couldn't find one, I've decided to call a plumber and bit the old bullet, bad as I hate to. I don't have the tools to do it. thanks to all replies anyway.

 

[islamoradamark]

where i live we just have water meter and shut off at the meter and thats it , they tell me 40 psi. we use copper and PVC 4 ALL our water lines 100 just seems high to me

 

[shaggist]

You can buy a fitting and pressure gauge that screws on to your hose bib, that will indicate your line pressure. All plumbers have several.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

You can buy a fitting and pressure gauge that screws on to your hose bib, that will indicate your line pressure. All plumbers have several.

It's actually better to borrow one from your buddy like I did. My water pressure that bust the line under my kitchen slab was over 100.
You ain't lived until you got a jackhammer going in your kitchen.
If you water is 100psi , bite the bullet and have a plumber install a pressure regulator.

 

[tompehret]

I'm a Home Inspector. I see homes from 60+ yrs. old to almost new. Older homes here in NM often have no internal main valves and rely on the valve at the municipal meter for shut-off. As for pressure, someone earlier had in right; 60 PSI is plenty good if the size of your main can deliver the volume your household needs. Up to 80 PSI is ok. 85 psi in a newer, copper or PEX plumbed house is ok too. More than that and I put a warning in my reports about it. Pressure-reducing regulators are an effective solution for this if done by a pro. I know of at least one new residential development in my area that was running well over 100 PSI to all its dozens of units. I inspected a bunch and a lot of those homeowners had the contractor retro fit regulators. I later learned the builder started putting them in during construction.
Talk to the water utility people first. If necessary hire a professional. Don't ignore the problem (it's solvable) and good luck.

 

[pluspea]

Plumber called and coming out first thing in the morning, he says that my house probably dosen't have one at all. I asked him about turning on the main supply so I could take my beauty shower, he says fine as long as I leave another faucet on to relieve the pressure.

 

[Rule3]

Again, were did you get the 100PSI figure from??

 

[pluspea]

Bought a guage and tested it. Water heater tipped me off with a leaking pressure valve.

 

[erics]

I have seen a number of water meters that have a pressure adjustment built in. Look at your meter and see if there is something looking like a bolt head on the meter that appears to have no function other than just sitting there. Open a tap somewhere close or have someone monitor one for you. try turning clockwise to see if something happens. 100psi is wayyyy too much, 60 is usually great. Sometimes people like a little higher mostly for a shower.