Hello,

We have recently started hearing a continuous grinding noise/vibration in pipes for a 2-3 seconds after any faucet is turned off or when toilet after flushing completes filling tank or when shower is turned off. i.e no matter where we use water, shutting off water source after using causes grinding/vibrating noise as if something is being dragged.

Our house is 3 levels built in 2004. A plumber came and said that since the vibration happens no matter which faucet is used, it is due to the pressure regulator valve going bad and that it would cost us $400 to replace.

Our questions:
(1) Do the symptoms I mentioned suggest that the regulating valve is going bad?
(2) Does it cost $400 to replace it. The valve is not that difficult to reach, it is at waist level in our furnace/water heater room.

Your advice and suggestions are needed. Please help.

Hi NKaufman

In answering question #1, yes, it does sound like chatter from the pressure regulating valve (PRV). Before I even finished reading your post I guessed the PRV was the issue at hand (I swear! ).

In terms of pricing, it doesn't sound too far off (material alone is a minimum $150.00), depending on where you are from... ;)

From what I can tell, the plumber came out, diagnosed the problem and is asking a fair price to do a complete job. Sounds like a keeper to me!

Mark

Hi NKaufman

In answering question #1, yes, it does sound like chatter from the pressure regulating valve (PRV). Before I even finished reading your post I guessed the PRV was the issue at hand (I swear! ).

In terms of pricing, it doesn't sound too far off (material alone is a minimum 0.00), depending on where you are from... ;)

From what I can tell the plumber came out, diagnosed the problem and is asking a fair price to do a complete job. Sounds like a keeper to me!

Mark

Well, this website mentions that it should not cost more than $175 for my zip code - 22030
http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_pressure_regulator_valve.html

Also, was wondering if removing air by turning off water supply, draining water from all faucets will help at all.

If so what are the proper steps to do this:
Turn off water supply
Turn on all faucets etc and drain water
Run all toilets
Now do I keep some faucet turned on or should I turn off all faucets?
Turn on water supply.
Do I turn on faucets now from closest to water supply and then go upstairs?

Go back and look at that site again... it is suggesting that the labor and basic materials is around $175.00... doesn't include the pressure regulator (adds another $100.00) or the cost of permit and tax.

If you think you can do better, you only need to call a couple more plumbers and get estimates from them.

Finally, no, draining and refilling the system will not help fix the PRV... needs to be replaced, so it needs to be replaced.

Good luck!

Mark

Go back and look at that site again... it is suggesting that the labor and basic materials is around 5.00... doesn't include the pressure regulator (adds another 0.00) or the cost of permit and tax.

If you think you can do better, you only need to call a couple more plumbers and get estimates from them.

Finally, no, draining and refilling the system will not help fix the PRV... needs to be replaced, so it needs to be replaced.

Good luck!

Mark

I think you are mistaken. The site clearly says that materials is between 41.88-45.35 that includes valve (see where it says "1 valve") and includes all fittings. Labor is for 2.1 hrs.

Pressure Valve Labor
Direct labor expenses to install pressure regulator valve. 2.1 hours $105.73 - $112.99
Pressure Valve Job Materials and Supplies
Cost of supplies that may be required to install pressure regulator valve including: fittings, mounting hardware and connectors. 1 valve $41.88 $45.35

I don't know what pressure regulator they are talking about at $41-$45 as any I install sell at wholesale for $100. I'll bet your plumber installs the ones that I install...PRVs with strainers...more expensive, but can be cleaned out easily when/if they get clogged up.

For fun though, say we can find a pressure regulator valve for $40.00 wholesale....how about material mark-up...fair for a company to give a mark-up on material right? So, at a business minimum that PRV should sell for $60.00. Now, the male adapters for this cost about $3.50 a piece (so I charge $10.00 for both). The gas, solder, flux, sandcloth, and copper pipe, etc. for soldering/connecting is a base charge of a minimum of say $20.00 and then there are required hangers, etc., too.

Labor for 2.1 hours....so local plumbing companies charge about $50.00 per hour on average in your area? Because that is what 2.1 hours breaks down to at $105.73 - $112.99. I'd worry about any plumbing company that charges $50.00 an hour...;)

The site is not correct about anything (I checked other zip codes I know and they were ridiculous numbers). Anyway, it doesn't matter what the site says...you have a quote for $400.00 and as I said in the very beginning, "price depends on where you are from", so get two more estimates and see what happens from there...

Good luck!

No plumber is going to be in business more than one month charging $50 an hour. After that he will be looking for a job so he can pay his mortgage and feed his kids.

Go back and look at that site again... it is suggesting that the labor and basic materials is around $175.00... doesn't include the pressure regulator (adds another $100.00) or the cost of permit and tax.

If you think you can do better, you only need to call a couple more plumbers and get estimates from them.

Finally, no, draining and refilling the system will not help fix the PRV... needs to be replaced, so it needs to be replaced.

Good luck!

Mark

Got another plumber to take a look at it. He wants to replace PRV as well as main water spigot valve as well. He stated that normally people replace both at the same time.

Ah well..

Got another plumber to take a look at it. He wants to replace PRV as well as main water spigot valve as well. He stated that normally people replace both at the same time.

Ah well..

What is his cost and does it include spigot? Why replace if it is OK.

Total cost $600 for both PRV and main water spigot. Don't think I'll be going with this guy though.

Got ONLY PRV replaced and noise is now gone. Thanks for your assistance.