How to Adjust a Pressure Valve

Adjusting pressure valves is simple

Adjusting the pressure valve in your home allows you to change the water pressure to meet your own personal preferences. Additionally, excessive water pressure can cause damage to pipes and waste large amounts of water. Fortunately, you can adjust the pressure valve in your home yourself and take control of the water pressure.

Things You'll Need

• Pliers
• Flat head screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Find the pressure reducing valve in your house. The easiest way to find the valve is by first finding the water supply line where it enters the house. The supply line and the valve will either be located in the basement of the home or at the water meter where the line enters into the house.

2. Look for the brass bell shaped valve with a screw on the top. This is the pressure valve. The screw is used to adjust the water pressure for the house.

3. Loosen the lock nut in order to expose the pressure adjusting screw. Squeeze the lock nut with a pair of pliers firmly and turn it in the counter-clockwise direction as far as it will go so that the screw on the top of the valve is exposed enough to turn.

4. Adjust the water pressure. Use a screwdriver to turn the screw clockwise in order to increase the water pressure. Turn the screw in the counter-clockwise direction in order to decrease the water pressure.

5. Test the new water pressure. After making adjustments to the water pressure, turn on some faucets and shower heads in the house to verify that the new pressure settings are adequate. Upon reaching the appropriate pressure settings, tighten the lock nut with a pair of pliers.

References

• Hydraulics and Neumatics: Pressure Valves