My Home's Water Pressure Is Too High

By Geoffrey Sperring

August 16, 2025

Are you kept awake at night by rattling water pipes? If so, you probably have a problem with high home water pressure. This is a frequent issue in homes without a pressure-reducing valve. Left unattended, high pressure causes water leaks and appliance damage.

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How High Is Too High for Water Pressure in Your Home?

According to the EPA, the recommended water pressure is between 45 and 60 psi. Although domestic water systems tolerate up to 80 psi, anything above that pressure may cause leaky faucets and appliance damage. Municipal water supply line pressures can reach or exceed 100 psi, so it's necessary to fit a PRV to reduce the domestic water pressure to a safe level.

The Effects of High Water Pressure

If your home's water pressure is too high, it may harm your plumbing. Typical concerns of high-pressure damage you may experience include:

Water leaks. Excessive water pressure in plumbing causes leaks in screwed and soldered joints.
Water hammer. When you turn on the bath or shower, you hear water hammer in the piping caused by the sudden change in water pressure.
Water wastage. You use more water when showering and rinsing vegetables in the kitchen.
Pipe stresses. High pressure increases the risk of a burst pipe that may cause flooding.
Appliance problems. Appliance water inlet valves may start to leak and can ultimately fail.

Warning Signs of High Home Water Pressure

Several signs show you have high water pressure in the home. If you have one or more of these symptoms, it's best to call a plumber and get the water pressure tested. Indications of high water pressure include:

Banging in pipes. Loud banging and shaking noises when you turn on the water are a typical sign of excessive water pressure.
Spitting water from aerators. If you open a faucet, the water shoots out of the aerator and often splashes out of the kitchen sink.
Leaking toilet seals. You continually need to renew the seals on the inlet water valve on the toilet.
Dripping water from faucets. Even after you've changed the washers in the faucets, they soon start leaking again, and you must use excessive force when closing the faucet to stop dripping.
Leaking water. You experience unexplained water leaks from pipe joints and connections due to high water pressure.
Failing appliances. There are issues with the dishwasher and washing machine overfilling and not running properly.

Reasons for High Water Pressure in the Home

Here are some common reasons for high water pressure problems:

Municipal water pressure is too high. If you live close to the utility or are supplied from a main supply line, the water pressure may be too high, sometimes exceeding 100 psi.
Living in a low-lying area. The water pressure is higher if the home is significantly lower in elevation than the main water distribution area.
Faulty or no pressure-reducing valve. You don't have a water pressure regulator or if you do, it's faulty.
Hot water thermal expansion. If the hot water faucet leaks or you get a surge of hot water when opening the faucet, the cause may be thermal expansion of hot water in the piping from the water heater.

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I Think My Home Water Pressure Is Too High — How Can I Measure It?

If you believe you have high home water pressure, here are two ways to measure it.

Use a Pressure Gauge

Buy a pressure gauge from a hardware shop together with an adaptor to connect the gauge to an outside hose bib. If you live in an apartment, use the washing machine's cold water outlet. Fit the gauge, and open the faucet. The water pressure should be between 45 and 60 psi.

Do a Bucket Test

Place a standard 1-gallon bucket under an outdoor faucet and measure the time it takes to fill the bucket with the faucet on full flow. Divide this time by 60 to calculate the flow in gallons per minute. You should get a flow rate of between 2.5 and 6 gallons per minute. Anything higher means the water pressure is too high.

What Can You Do If Your Home’s Water Pressure Is Too High?

If your pressure is too high, here's how to reduce water pressure at home to 60 psi.

Fit a Pressure Reducing Valve to the Cold Water System

Fit a PRV into the main water supply line to the home just after the water shut-off valve. The size of the PRV must be the same as the diameter of the supply line. It must be fitted so that the arrow on the unit points in the direction of flow.

Install a Hot Water Expansion Tank

An expansion tank absorbs the thermal expansion of hot water and prevents an increase in the hot water pressure. The tank must be sized to suit the capacity of the water heater and the water pressure. It's best fitted by a plumber.

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