| What makes the water come out of the sinks, | | | | actually require a pressure addition device. This device |
| bathtubs, or showers in your house? Simple: the | | | | is basically a large tank that fills up with your well |
| water in your house's plumbing is pressurized. If your | | | | water and increases its pressure to the correct level |
| house follows the standards set in the Uniform | | | | for your home plumbing. |
| Plumbing Code, it will be pressurized to about 50-70 | | | | Pressure reduction devices and pressure addition |
| pounds per square inch (PSI). If you don't know your | | | | devices, like any other piece of home equipment, will |
| home's water pressure, you can measure it with a | | | | eventually wear out over time. If your pressure |
| water pressure gauge. These can be purchased at | | | | addition device starts to wear out, you will begin to |
| most hardware stores, and will attach to one of your | | | | notice reduced water flow in your household's |
| faucets. | | | | faucets, especially on higher floors. If the problem |
| If you get your water from a city or other | | | | remains unchecked, it will put additional stress on |
| municipality's water grid, the water actually comes to | | | | your well pump, which will eventually cause it to burn |
| your house at a higher pressure than your home | | | | out. |
| plumbing can handle. If you were to connect your | | | | If you have a pressure reducer device that is starting |
| house's plumbing directly to the city's water supply, it | | | | to wear out, the water pressure in your home |
| would soon destroy your water pipes and appliances. | | | | plumbing will start to increase beyond its |
| So how do homes handle this? They need a pressure | | | | recommended levels. One of the first victims of this |
| reduction device installed between their internal | | | | increased pressure are your appliance pipes and any |
| plumbing and the city water pipes - this device will | | | | other soft, non-metal pipes - they can burst and |
| reduce the water pressure to an acceptable level for | | | | flood your home. The increased water pressure will |
| your home. | | | | also cause leaks in your pipe joints and toilet valves. |
| Conversely, if you get your water from a well, the | | | | In a worst-case scenario, even the metal pipes in |
| water pressure is much too low for your house. Your | | | | your house can burst. |
| well will simply pull the water out of the ground, but it | | | | If you need to inspect, repair or replace your house's |
| won't pressurize it at all. If you hooked your home | | | | water pressure device, it is better to call a licensed |
| plumbing directly into your well, you would get little | | | | plumber than to try and do it yourself. Licensed |
| more than a trickle out of all your faucets, bathtubs | | | | plumbers will be familiar with your region's water |
| and so on. If your faucet was physically located | | | | pressure regulations and can examine your home's |
| above your water store - say, on the second level | | | | internal water pressure specifications. Then, whether |
| of your house - you wouldn't get any water out at | | | | you need a repair or complete replacement, they will |
| all! So instead of the pressure reduction devices that | | | | be able to plan and implement a solution that is |
| your city friends' houses need, your house will | | | | appropriate for your personal housing situation. |