Water Pressure?

[Malice]

So you know, I've got this new home and all. I noticed a couple of things, if I turned off the kitchen sink faucet real fast I can hear the pipes hammering down in the basement. I knew the water pressure was set pretty high as well. I went and bought a gauge and it was running 85psi. I thought I read somewhere that 35-45psi is what you should run in your home to avoid damaging your water heater and other appliances. What's the real deal on that one?

It looks like i have two pressure regulators, one from the main line and another one after the sprinkler line so I'm guessing I can run the sprinklers at a higher psi. However, I lowered the main to 45psi and the sprinklers still seem to be running fine and covering all the zones well. The hammering when they go on and off is significantly reduced as well. Is it normal if there is some amount of hammering when they go on and off?

The third thing is that even when the sprinkler system is off, one of the sprinkler heads in one of the zones still drips water. Since the system is off, this leads me to believe that the valve that is controlled by the automatic sprinkler system is not fully closing or is damaged and therefore a small amount of water pressure still exists in the system which is causing my water bill to go through the roof.

Help me Obi Wan! You're my only hope!

[Phantom]

If you are happy with the 45psi for showering and sprinkler coverage then I would leave it there. Your fixtures will last much longer! The hammering or water hammer as it is called is not caused as much by pressure as it is by flow. The banging you hear is caused when you stop the flow quickly. Your sprinkler solenoid valves are a quick closing valve a lot like closing the kitchen faucet real fast. There is a way to stop the hammering by adding an expansion tank (Domestic or Potable) on the main. You might need two depending on your PRVs (pressure reducing valve). An expansion tank is a steel tank with a rubber bladder inside. The bladder is filled with air. Water does not compress but air will. So the bladder will absorb the hammering effect.

You could be right on the sprinkler valve. Does it leak all the time or just for awhile after the sprinklers shut off? Might just be drain back.


Learn You Shall!

[D-Bone]

I don't know if he'll respond this morning since Lockheed has him locked down at work... so I will try and answer based on my second knowledge of the topic.

From what he described to me, it leaks all the time. 24/7

[Malice]

Thanks for the info man! It is much appreciated!

As for the leak, yep, its 24/7. I need to take apart the solenoid and see if there is any debris in there. For now I just have the water turned off till I can take a look at it. The grass will live, or not, its almost winter anyway.

[Phantom]

Keep me posted!

[{OOE}Death]

Thanks for the info man! It is much appreciated!

As for the leak, yep, its 24/7. I need to take apart the solenoid and see if there is any debris in there. For now I just have the water turned off till I can take a look at it. The grass will live, or not, its almost winter anyway.
Also make sure the valve is screwed all the way in. That's how I would test the zones on mine. Unscrew it and the water flows.