What the valve does
Water can come in from the street at a higher pressure than your pipes and fixtures are built for. The pressure regulator valve, usually near where the main line enters the house, steps it down to a safe level.
When the valve wears out, full street pressure reaches everything you own that holds water.
Signs the pressure is too high
High pressure rarely announces itself. It shows up as a lot of small problems.
- Pipes that bang when a tap is shut off
- Toilets that run or refill on their own
- Faucets and shower heads that drip
- A water heater or washer that fails early
- A spray that is stronger than it used to be
Why every 5 years
Regulators wear slowly, so pressure creeps up without anyone noticing. A check every 5 years catches it before it costs you a water heater or a burst supply line.