Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Sudden Drastic Pressure Increase?

This morning, I suddenly noticed a great increase in water pressure to all of the plumbing in the upper level of my home -- I'm not sure what caused it. At first it wasn't a big deal, just a change -- But the pressure is so great now that the shower and sinks are incredibly noisy, there's extremely loud noises coming from the pipes inside the wall (tough to describe, just, well, loud).

To make matters worse, the pressure is so great that the upstairs toilet now is spouting water from the top of the mechanism that refills the back reservoir (sorry I don't know the terminology). It shoots up like a geyser! Granted this may be exposing a weakness that I need to replace that part, but still, something is up with the water pressure.

Can anyone tell me what I might need to do to troubleshoot this or if there's a common problem that causes such symptoms? I dunno where to start (though if there's such a thing as a device that controls the water pressure where the water comes into my house, that's a good start, I have noticed the pipe noise I cited above for a few months now where the main water line comes into the house, but only for a few seconds after a toilet is flushed or sink run, etc).

By the way, turning the water valve down about halfway on the toilet solved the geyser problem, telling me there's definitely too much water pressure all of a sudden!

Any help would be very much appreciated! This is city water BTW, not a well.

Brad

Hello,

First we need to know if you have a pressure reducing valve.
Find your water meter then continue along the water line heading into the house and look for a big brass thing with a big screw sticking out of the top of it.

Second, Go to the big box store and if you don't already have one, pick up a pressure testing valve that screws onto a hose connection for about $10.00

Check your water pressure. If it is over 80psi you have a problem.

Now back to the first question, is there a PRV ?
If not, the city has increased the water pressure and if it is over 80psi, you will need to install a PRV.

If you already have a PRV, there is probably something wrong with it. We will go over that after you check out these other items I have addressed.

Mark,

Thanks so much. I need to go to the big box today anyway so I will get a PSI tester, I have a hose hookup very close to the main.

The main is tricky to get at, it comes in under the front porch in a small crawlspace through an access in the back of a closet, but I'll get everything outta there and go in looking to see if we've got a PRV installed. Great tips. Thanks very much.

I'll be back. :)

Man such great info at this forum.

I was chatting with neighbors who confirm their pressure went up and their pipes got louder but they are not concerned, saying they like the higher water pressure. Personally I just don't like the noise being so loud you can barely talk over it when water is running, or the fact the pressure already busted up the intake in one toilet tank.

One neighbor simply suggested I turn back the main a little bit - I know where it is under the house, and can turn off the water coming into the house myself, but would turning this back, say, halfway, have any affect on the pressure or won't that matter (is it sort of like an all or nothing thing?)

Thanks, you are such a helpful group.

Partially closing the main shut off valve will have absolutely NO effect on the static pressure, i.e. the pressure in the pipes when no water is being used. It WILL reduce the maximum available flow and as a consequence lower the pressure when water IS flowing.

The ONLY solution is the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV).

If you do not have a readily-accessible main water shut-off you really should install one. The PRV should be installed immediately after the main shut off and there should be connections for pressure gauges both before and after the PRV.