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High water pressure used to only be a problem in the hills on the west side of Austin during the heat of summer but in the last few years it has been showing up all over the city as demand rises with population. Easily misunderstood, high water pressure is an invisible source of constant stress on your plumbing system. Like high blood pressure which damages heart valves, blood vessels, and organs, over time high water pressure puts a strain on your pipes and faucets they weren't designed for. There aren't any nice photos we can show you to demonstrate high water pressure, only the damage it causes. It is faceless and silent with the only evidence being failed plumbing fixtures and flooding.
Symptoms of excessive water pressure can be banging water pipes, faucets that won't stay repaired and start leaking too soon after being fixed, and toilets that won't shut off. High water pressure will accelerate the deterioration of washing machine hoses causing them to fail prematurely, bulge, blow out, and flood your home. Failures caused by high water pressure will often occur in the middle of the night because pressure goes up when no one is using water.
Water pressure over 80 psi will void the manufacturer's warranty on plumbing fixtures, faucets, washing machines, and dishwashers. The only way to control excessive water pressure is to install a pressure reducing valve on the water supply coming into your house.
Static water pressure is the pressure of the water when the system is closed, when faucets are off and the toilets are not running. Water pressure is determined by the city unless you have a pressure reducing valve on your home's water service to reduce it to a safe level. Like an overinflated balloon, high water pressure puts a strain on the plumbing system.
Flow rate is the amount of water that comes out of the faucet. Flow rate is determined by many factors including the size and length of your pipes, your water pressure, and the type of faucets you have. It is possible to have a low flow rate yet also have high water pressure if the pipes in your home are old, undersized, or full of hard water deposits.
