I recently moved into a house that is about 6 years old. The house sits upon a small hill. The water pressure is 40 psi at the street and the flow rate is 13 gpm. At the house, the pressure is about 30 psi and the flow rate is 3.5 gpm. The house is higher than the street level, but the elevation change is only about 25 ft. There is a pressure regulator in the line, but I have it screwed all the way down. I feel like the decreased flow is abnormal and is causing the water supply in the house to feel like low water pressure. Any ideas on what is causing this problem and what I can do to fix it?

thanks,

Reed

labman

The 10 psi drop is about what to expect in 25'. And 30 psi is going to give miserable low flow. You can complain to the authorities about the low 40 psi at the street. You could install a shallow well pump and a pressure tank. That may or may not be allowed.

The pressure regulator can be adjusted to deliver incoming pressure and down to nothing. It can't give you more than it is getting.

iamgrowler

How are you measuring the pressure at the street?

Have you actually disconnected your line from the meter and pressure tested at the meters pigtail -- Or are you testing from a port at the pressure regulating valve?

reed10

The utility company disconnected the gauge at the street and took the pressure measurement. They also took the measurement at the house through an outside water outlet.

I don't understand why the flow rate is so low. The pressure drop I understand, but the only thing that I can come up with for the flow rate is an obstruction in the line.

iamgrowler

If your street service is only 40psi, then you do not need the pressure reducing valve.

The PRV would be my first suspect in narrowing down whether you have a blockage or not.

Lose or bypass the PRV.