That kind of pressure jump isn’t normal, and you’re right—regulators can get sticky, especially if they’re older or there’s grit in the line. I’d want to know if you’re seeing any banging or “water hammer” when the pressure spikes. Also, is the gauge on the house side of the regulator? Sometimes folks put it before, which doesn’t tell you much about what’s happening inside. I’ve seen city work cause weird swings, but usually not that dramatic unless they’re really messing with the main. Any recent plumbing work or new appliances? Sometimes a new fixture can stir up old gunk and mess with the regulator.
Had a similar headache last year—pressure would spike outta nowhere, and the pipes sounded like they were throwing a tantrum. Turned out my regulator was ancient and full of crud. Swapped it myself (YouTube is a lifesaver), and things calmed down. I’d double-check where your gauge is too... mine was in the wrong spot for ages, so I was basically guessing. City work can mess with stuff, but usually not that wild unless they’re digging up the street.
That’s wild, I’ve always wondered how much the regulator actually matters until it goes bad. Did you notice any weird water discoloration or just the noise and pressure jumps? I’m kinda skeptical about city work being totally innocent though… last time they “fixed” a hydrant nearby, my pressure got all screwy for weeks.
Regulator issues can sneak up on you—one day everything’s fine, next thing you know, faucets are sputtering and the pipes sound like they’re about to launch. I’ve seen pressure spikes mess with fixtures and even cause minor leaks. As for discoloration, that usually comes when city crews flush lines or open hydrants, stirring up sediment. I wouldn’t put all the blame on city work, but it definitely throws things off sometimes. Had a job where a “simple” hydrant repair led to brown water for days... not fun.
Pressure regulators are like those friends who seem chill until they suddenly lose it at a party—one minute, everything’s smooth, next minute, chaos. I’ve had calls where folks thought their pipes were haunted from all the banging and whistling. And yeah, city work can stir up some gnarly stuff in the lines. Had a customer swear their water looked like weak coffee for a week after hydrant flushing... not exactly what you want first thing in the morning.
