I've installed pressure regulators at a couple of my places too, and honestly, the savings were pretty minimal—maybe 5% tops. But you're right about the maintenance side of things. High pressure can really do a number on plumbing fixtures, and I've seen firsthand how quickly washers and valves fail without one. For me, it's less about the water bill and more about avoiding those dreaded midnight calls from tenants about leaks... definitely worth it for peace of mind alone.
Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from with the savings being minimal. But honestly, even that 5% can add up over time, especially if you've got multiple properties. For me though, it's more about safety and longevity—I've seen some pretty nasty damage from unchecked pressure issues. Had one client whose faucet literally blew apart because of high pressure... talk about a messy surprise at 2 am.
Plus, it's not just washers and valves; appliances like dishwashers and washing machines take a beating too. Pressure regulators might seem like an extra step or expense initially, but they really help prevent bigger headaches down the line. I'd rather spend my Saturday installing one regulator than dealing with emergency repairs later on. Peace of mind definitely beats waking up to frantic voicemails from tenants any day, haha.
"Pressure regulators might seem like an extra step or expense initially, but they really help prevent bigger headaches down the line."
Couldn't agree more on this point. A couple years back, I had a similar situation where a tenant kept complaining about dripping faucets and rattling pipes. Thought it was just a worn washer or loose valve at first, but after swapping parts multiple times and still getting nowhere, I decided to check the pressure. Turns out, the city had recently upgraded their main lines, and our building's pressure was through the roof—like 90 psi instead of the standard 50-60 psi range.
Installed a regulator that weekend, dialed it down to around 55 psi, and haven't had a single call about dripping faucets or noisy pipes since. Definitely taught me the value of tackling the root cause rather than just patching symptoms. So yeah, even if it's not about saving big bucks immediately, preventing those midnight "emergency" calls is worth every penny and minute spent.
Interesting experience—makes me wonder, though, how often do cities actually notify residents when they boost water pressure? Seems like something we'd wanna know about ahead of time to avoid these surprises...
"Interesting experience—makes me wonder, though, how often do cities actually notify residents when they boost water pressure?"
Honestly, in my experience, cities rarely give residents a heads-up about pressure changes unless it's something major or long-term. Most of the time, these fluctuations are minor and temporary, so they don't see it as worth the hassle of notifying everyone. Plus, a dripping faucet usually points to a worn-out washer or cartridge rather than a pressure issue. If your faucet drips more when the pressure spikes, it's probably just highlighting an existing problem that was already there.
If you're noticing this regularly, I'd recommend installing a pressure regulator valve (PRV). It's not too complicated—basically, you install it right after the main shut-off valve to keep your home's water pressure steady. It saves wear and tear on fixtures and appliances and prevents those annoying surprises. Sure beats waiting around for city notifications that might never come...
