We are experiencing poor water pressure. We have lived in the house for about 2 years and have never had great water pressure. I noticed what seems to be a regulator valve of sorts on the main line coming into the house (see picture) and was wondering if I can adjust this valve to increase the pressure or do I need to take more drastic measures?

I have checked at each faucet for any signs of build-up or 'gunk' in the lines and everything looks fine. The pressure is bad throughout the house so that leads me to believe that things are OK with the plumbing. Here are my house specs:

House built in 1989
Copper plumbing
City Water
I don't know the PSI in the house or coming from the City's lines.

Thanks,
Kyle K


http://www.genetics.wustl.edu/kyle/CIMG1498-2.JPG

Go for it. Just take a wrench and run the bolt head in, clockwise. Count the flats or complete turns you turn it. If that give you a quick burst of water dying to a trickle, it is not pressure, but a restriction to flow.

Go for it. Just take a wrench and run the bolt head in, clockwise.

Wouldn't turning the bolt clockwise tighten it therefore letting less water through? Forgive my ignorance, I don't know a whole lot about plumbing...

Thanks,
Kyle

Tightening the bolt increases the force on the spring which the water has to balance before being shut off. Yeah, it sounds backwards.