It is essential to look for a few key indicators of the home’s water pressure and how those systems are functioning. It is not just a matter of whether the showerhead is strong enough for a quality shower or whether someone flushing a toilet will interrupt that shower.

Inadequate pressure also affects other household appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, sprinklers, and other outdoor landscaping systems that use water.

 

What is water pressure?

Water pressure is the amount of force exerted by the water supply system in your house. It is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), and standard water pressure is typically between 30 and 80 PSI.

 

What is functional flow?

Functional flow is the volume of water flowing through the pipes to the individual fixtures. Poor flow may be due to buildup in the piping or improper plumbing.

 

How to Test a Home’s Water Pressure

To determine if a home has sufficient functional flow, go to the bathroom and turn on the sink and the shower. Wait until the water temperature is satisfactory, then flush and check to see if the flow diminishes. You can go to other fixtures and run water as well, but at some point, each system will experience a decrease in flow if you open too many at once.

A sure way to kill the flow is to open up an outside faucet during the test. Then, go easy and test the flow by opening up every fixture in a given bathroom. 

You can also test your water pressure using the cold water supply faucet at your washing machine. To do this, screw a pressure gauge onto the faucet behind the washing machine (you’ll need to disconnect the hose before doing this). Then, turn on the faucet all the way and observe the pressure gauge to determine if the home is at the sweet spot.

 

How to Obtain Perfect Water Pressure

You don’t want your home to have water pressure that is too low, but water pressure can also be too high. Plumbing systems are designed to have no more than 80 PSI. When this pressure is exceeded, it can cause problems.

 

High pressure will rarely cause pipes to burst, but it strains the weak links in your piping system, such as rubber hoses and gaskets, making them vulnerable to leaks and failure.

 

Pressure Reducing Valve

A pressure-reducing valve (the bell-shaped device seen here) can correct high pressure. Below the valve is the main water shutoff.

You can correct high residential water pressure by installing a pressure-reducing valve. It is a bell-shaped device that reduces water pressure. Set the water pressure to 60-70 PSI. 

If the house has low pressure, you first want to determine if the house is on a public water supply system or a private well system. Most public systems are required to deliver a minimum of 30 PSI to your home, so inadequate pressure in public water systems is rare. 

If the house is on a public water supply and the utility cannot improve your pressure, the solution involves installing a pressure tank and a pump. It gives your supply piping system a pressurized boost.

If the house is on a private well, low pressure could indicate a problem with the captive storage tank or the pump, and you should have a qualified well expert check the system.

 

Flaws in the Functional Flow 

Rusted pipes can block water flow.

Lack of functional flow can be a problem in older homes with galvanized steel pipes; this pipe was commonly installed until the late 1960s and early 1970s. This pipe was manufactured with a galvanized coating to prevent corrosion of steel pipes. Unfortunately, when this galvanization wears away, the pipelines become coated with rust.

The result is a restricted piping system that will not deliver adequate water to the fixtures, even with all the pressure in the world. To fix the problem, you will need to replace the pipes. 

Another common cause of poor functional flow is unprofessional water piping systems. Good plumbers know how to size pipes correctly so that adequate water reaches each fixture. However, one amateur mistake is to install too many appliances in piping that are too small in diameter. The result is inadequate water supply to fixtures or poor functional flow. That can be hard to repair without piping replacement.

Just because an installation has poor flow does not mean it is due to the pipes yet. There are other factors in the plumbing system that can cause poor flow. For example, sometimes, an angle stop (one of those closures under the sink) can be partially closed. Faucet aerators (the small screens inside the faucets) can become restricted. The main house shutoff valve may be closed or restricted. Supply connection hoses may be kinked or restricted.

I hope this clears up some common misconceptions about water pressure and functional flow. Remember, informed homebuyers are happy homebuyers.

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