How to Install a Pressure-Reducing Valve on a Main Supply Line
Water pressure impacts a variety of things inside a home. For instance, high water pressure may cause your home’s pipes to bang and groan. Low water pressure may cause your toilet to flush improperly and your shower head to produce nothing more than a trickle. Thankfully, there are solutions to each water pressure related issue. For example, if you are experiencing high water pressure problems in your home, you may want to consider installing a pressure-reducing valve. The valve is designed to automatically lower the pressure of the water entering your home to a more manageable level. Here’s a quick rundown on how to install one:
Supplies Needed
In order to complete this plumbing task, you will need to invest in a pressure-reducing valve ($53), a pair of pipe adapters, a can of pipe dope ($11), pipe wrenches, a tape measure and a pipe cutter.
Prepare the Pipes
Before starting this project, you’ll need to shut off your home’s main water supply and drain all standing water from its pipes. To drain the pipes, simply walk through your home and open up every single faucet. I’d recommend that you start at the highest level of your home and work your way down to the lowest level. Doing so should allow all the standing water to exit down the drain.
Install the Pressure-Reducing Valve
Once the pipes are clear of water, decide where you want to install your pressure-reducing valve. In most instances, the best place to install it is where the main water supply line enters the house. Carefully measure the length of the pressure-reducing valve and its adapters. Then cut out a section of the main water supply to accommodate the pressure-reducing valve and its adapters. If desired, coat the threads with pipe dope. Then, using a pipe wrench, attach the pressure-reducing valve and its adapters onto the main water supply line.
Restore the Water Supply
After the pressure-reducing valve has been installed, go back through your home and close all the open faucets. Once that’s done, turn your home’s water supply back on and check for leaks. If leaks are present, shut the water supply back off and fix them. I should also mention that when you turn your faucets back on for the first time, you may temporarily experience noisy pipes and sudden bursts of water. In my experience, this is most often caused by air in the lines. The air should eventually go away on its own. Once it does, the noise and sputtering should cease.
Source: Personal Experience
Killeen Gonzalez has a history of completing DIY home improvement projects with her family.
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