high water pressure

[lynn zhou]

I recently put a pressure gauge on my water heater drain faucet, I got 140. That is the reason the TPR valve is dripping.
At first, I thought it was due to thermal expansion from the water heater.
The pressure would go down to 40 as soon as I turn on the cold water faucet. The pressure would creep up after I turn off cold water. Note, the water heater wasn't heating because I only turned on/off the cold water.
That means the pressure isn't from thermal expansion, right?
Does that mean my street water pressure is too high?
I have pressure regulator in my house. It reads 25-75.
So what is the problem???

[Dale Duffy]

Sounds like you need a new Pressure Reducing Valve....but I am not a plumber, which is who I would recommend looking at the issue, and repair as needed.

[Jack L. Gilleland]

Regulator isn't regulating...... The water to the water heater. Spring type regulators sometimes get stuck. Take your guage and put it on a sillcock to test house pressure. If it is high also then have service on regulator or replace.

[lynn zhou]

Thanks for your suggestion. I will try it on sillcock tomorrow.
But I thought it should be the same as they are all connected together.

[Jack L. Gilleland]

Without knowing what the system looks like there is no way for me to say that all water is reduced. Since when you turn on the cold the press. drops the entire water system is probably connected to one faulty press. regulator.

[Dale Duffy]

Hard to believe there is 140 lbs. at the street, now that is really off base.

Lynn, are you sure the pressure gauge your using is reading correctly?...I think I would try a couple different pressure gauges...that is really odd.

[Jack L. Gilleland]

Dale I've seen it about that high south and east of Dayton, so I guess I just took it for granted.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by dduffy

Hard to believe there is 140 lbs. at the street, now that is really off base.

My street pressure is 160 psi.

Your regulator is bad, plain and simple. The label that reading of "25 - 75" is just the range of the regulator - when it's functioning properly.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by jpope

My street pressure is 160 psi.

Your regulator is bad, plain and simple. The label that reading of "25 - 75" is just the range of the regulator - when it's functioning properly.

160 lbs unreal....

Getting any Fire or Smoke up you're way Jeff?----

[Dale Duffy]

When I was in the Underground Pipe Business, water, sewer, storm, large diameter pipe, 4 in. to 60 in.....I only tested PVC or Transite at 190 lbs, and if there was a pocket of air in a pipe, I have seen the pipes come right out of the ground and tip a car on its side (after the pipe failed) when I was testing the pipe for the City inspector....!!!

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by dduffy

When I was in the Underground Pipe Business, water, sewer, storm, large diameter pipe, 4 in. to 60 in.....I only tested PVC or Transite at 190 lbs, and if there was a pocket of air in a pipe, I have seen the pipes come right out of the ground and tip a car on its side (after the pipe failed) when I was testing the pipe for the City inspector....!!!

Wow, that's amazing Dale. Good thing it was the car and not you.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by dduffy

Getting any Fire or Smoke up you're way Jeff?----

No smoke here. We're about 15 miles north/west of this one. Freeways are sure tied up though.

[lynn zhou]

The pressure gauge still reads more than 145 on the outdoor sillcock. So the problem IS water pressure from street is TOO high.
Is the water company's responsibility to set the proper pressure when connect to my home?
The pressure regulator (the failed one) is connected before water meter. Does this belong to water company or mine? I called my water company, but I don't know when will they show up.
Any estimate to replace the regulator if I call plumber from yellow page?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

The regulator is your responsibility.

[lynn zhou]

Thanks Jeff. Do you mean it's mine even if it's before the water meter?
So the water company is not responsible for regulate the pressure? No wonder they still have shown up yet.