any plumbers? watts valve ?

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

I have a pressure gauge on the water line after the watts pressure reducer. Right now the gauge is pegged at 130psi . I tried adjusting the nut to lower it, but there was no change. Open a faucet and psi goes 65, whwhere it should be.

Am I right that the valve has gone bad? That psi should be much lower after the valve?

[SousaKerry 503]

Yeah normal house pressure is like 35-55 PSI.  Sounds like a bad pressure regulator, the drop in pressure when opening a tap is because the flow is restricted through the regulator.  Probably due to it being partially stuck open or a busted spring.  I have never messed with a water pressure regulator but have worked on plenty of Steam and Air.

[shorts 182]

could be a guage going bad, I would replace both the guage and valve to play it safe, the parts are way cheaper than a burst water system and the resulting water damage and cleaning up the mess

 

Edit, Kerry beat me to the post,

Edited January 17, 2014 by shorts

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

^{im going to get one either tonite or tomorrow. I wasn't 100% sure how they worked}

^{we started getting a high pitched sound with the upstairs faucets that only lasted a few seconds and stopped., then wouldn't come back for a while.}

^{im figuring that this is the cause   the pressure is too high through the pipes , it drops down when the water is run , then takes a while to build the pressure back up , then noise again}

^{at least it should be an easy fix , looks like lowes stocks them}

^{thanks guys}

[rmaynard 16,290]

Am I to assume that we are talking about city water and not a well/pump? I have seen city water enter the house, go through the regulator, and still be near 100 psi. My son-in-law has city water, and just before the hot water heater there is a 100 psi relief valve. It constantly dripped. We decreased the pressure back to 85 and it stopped.

 

Depending on where you are, city water is almost always dirtier and laden with more minerals than your typical well. I would replace both the regulator and the gauge. Many times the city has to come out to shut off the water at the street since many plumbers don't put a shut off valve ahead of the regulator.

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

yes it is city water , and luckily we have a shut off inside   its in this order -

city line -   shut off   -water meter - regulator - gauge

ive tried decreasing the pressure , but didn't have any results.  I also read if you increase the pressure and run a faucet  it might clear the restriction , but then what? it goes on to block something else?

[rmaynard 16,290]

Once the internal parts get a coating of minerals, there isn't much that can be done to fix it short of replacing. I am not a plumber, but as a licensed home improvement contractor, I have seen my share of issues created by hard water.

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

Ok , so it not exactly a watts brand, its a Wilkins.

Biggest difference-lowes doesn't stock the Wilkins, but they did have watts

everything looks like it should line up, and as long as the fittings are right it may go right in

However, im going to wait until tomorrow incase I need to change any of the fittings

Edited January 18, 2014 by 6.0 powerstroke

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

Turns out the gauge was correct. With the new gauge I was getting 125 psi at the faucet! Old peice fought me a little coming out, but the new valve went right in. No more noise, and now a steady 65 psi

Thanks for all the replies!

[rmaynard 16,290]

Isn't plumbing fun? Glad you got it fixed. And you saved the price of a plumber which will allow you to buy another Wheel Horse.

[6.0 powerstroke 62]

There are a couple horses on the local cl, but I think I have to settle for a couple new tools this time