What water pressure should my house have?
Measure it with a hose-bib gauge rather than guessing. Pressure that is too high stresses valves, hoses and appliances; pressure that is too low usually indicates a restriction or a regulator problem.
Last reviewed 2026-07-15
Excessive static pressure is a common and silent cause of supply line failures, leaking fixtures and shortened appliance life. It is also easy to measure.
Where municipal supply pressure is high, a pressure-reducing valve is standard. Those valves fail over time and are a frequent cause of pressure drifting out of range.
What to check first
- Static pressure measured at an exterior hose bib with everything off
- Whether a pressure-reducing valve exists near the main shutoff
- Whether low pressure affects the whole house or one fixture — one fixture usually means an aerator or supply stop
- Thermal expansion provision if the system is closed
When to call a professional
- Pressure is well outside a normal residential range
- A pressure-reducing valve needs adjustment or replacement
- Pressure fluctuates sharply or there is banging in the pipes