countryside-service20261022215402

Is Your Water Pressure Too High?

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:49:43 GMT

Is Your Water Pressure Too High?

Is Your Water Pressure Too High? Here’s Why it Matters.

Water pressure is one of those things homeowners don’t think about until something goes wrong. Having good water pressure is important but more pressure isn’t always better. If water pressure is too high or pressure isn’t properly regulated, it can put unnecessary stress on your home’s plumbing system, fixtures and appliances connected to it. Countryside Service thinks homeowners should understand what’s happening in the plumbing system so they can make informed decisions about their home.

What is Considered High Water Pressure?

Water pressure above 80 PSI shall be regulated per Colorado plumbing code. Your home’s water pressure can also change throughout the day. Pressure from the municipal water supply may fluctuate. A 90 PSI reading at 2 PM could easily exceed 140 PSI at 2 AM when not as many homes in the area are drawing off the system. That’s why simply checking the pressure once doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Why Does High Water Pressure Matter?

Your home’s plumbing system is made up of many components, pipes, fittings, valves, faucets, toilets, water heaters, washing machine, dishwasher, and other appliances. When water pressure is consistently higher than these components are designed to handle, it can put additional stress on the system. Overtime excessive pressure can contribute to leaking faucets, leaking from plumbing connections, valves, and other fixtures. Increased stress on pipes and fittings can cause premature failure of plumbing appliances and components, increased water usage, and greater risk of developing leaks. High pressure doesn’t necessarily mean something is going to fail tomorrow. The concern is the additional stress placed on the system overtime.

What Does a Pressure Reducer (PRV) Do?

A pressure reducing valve helps control the water entering the home’s plumbing system. If the incoming supply pressure is higher than the home’s plumbing system should receive, a proper functioning PRV reduces and regulates pressure before it reaches the home’s fixtures and appliances. A PRV can provide more consistent pressure and reduce unnecessary stress. If a home already has a PRV, it is also important to ensure it is working correctly. Regulators can wear out, losing proper adjustment.

What Should Homeowners Look For?

Water pressure doesn’t always announce itself with an obvious problem. Some things homeowners may notice include faucets or fixtures that seem to have unusually strong pressure, dripping faucets that seem to return repeatedly, noisy pipes, knocking in the plumbing system or waterlines, prematurely failing fixtures, recurring leaks at plumbing connections or fixtures that have difficulty turning off. Even something as simple as having to repeatedly replace a float on your evaporative cooler could be a telltale sign of a pressure issue in your home.

Symptoms don’t automatically mean high water pressure is the cause, they are simply reasons to have the system checked rather than guessing.

The Bottom Line

The plumbing system was designed to operate within a certain range of conditions. Keeping water pressure properly regulated can help reduce unnecessary stress on the system, and may help extend the life of plumbing components and appliances.

At Countryside Service our goal isn’t to sell something that you don’t need. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening, explain what we find and help you decide what makes sense for your home.

Sometimes that means adjusting or replacing a pressure regulator. Sometimes it means monitoring the system and sometimes everything is working as it should. You deserve to know what your plumbing system is doing before deciding anything needs to be done.

Get Your Home Ready for Winter

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:48:41 GMT

Get Your Home Ready for Winter

A little preparation now can prevent expensive problems later. Colorado winters can be hard on your home’s plumbing and outdoor water systems. Taking a little time before freezing temperatures arrive can help protect your property from frozen pipes, damaged equipment and costly repairs.

Here are a few things we recommend checking before winter sets in.

1.Shut Down Your Evaporative Cooler

Before freezing temperatures arrive, your cooler should be shut down and prepared for winter. This typically includes shutting off the water supply, draining the water from the system, and taking the appropriate steps to protect the cooler and its waterlines from freezing.

Why this matters: Water in the system can freeze and expand, potentially damaging components and connections.

2.Blow Out Your Sprinkler System

Your irrigation system should be properly winterized before temperatures drop below freezing.

An irrigation blowout removes water from the sprinkler lines so that the water isn’t left sitting in underground pipes, valves and other components where it can freeze and expand.

Why this matters: Even though much of your sprinkler system is underground, freezing water can still damage pipes, backflow devices and other components.

3.Check Your Outdoor Faucets

Don’t forget about exterior hose bibs and other outdoor water connections. Remove hoses and make sure outdoor faucets are properly shut down for the season. If your home has a freeze resistant or frost-free hose bib, it still needs to be used and maintained properly to work as intended.

Why this matters: A small amount of trapped water can freeze, expand and damage plumbing components.

Before You Call a Plumber

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:47:57 GMT

Before You Call a Plumber

Not every plumbing problem requires an immediate service call. Sometimes a quick check or simple reset can solve the issue. Here are a few things you can do before calling.

My toilet wasn’t flushing well but now it seems fine. Do I need a plumber?

Your toilet had trouble flushing but is now working normally. You may not need to call a plumber right away. Try flushing the toilet several times and pay attention to how it drains and refills. If it continues to flush normally without backing up, gurgling or slowly draining, there may have been a minor or partial clog that cleared itself. Keep an eye on it. If the toilet begins flushing slowly, the water rises unusually high, or you notice other signs of blockage, it may be time to have a plumber take a look.

Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn On. What Should I Try?

Check the reset button on your garbage disposal. The reset button is typically located on the bottom side of the disposal under the sink. Make sure the disposal switch is turned off then press the reset button. You may hear it or feel a small click. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get your disposal working again -the magic button. If this does not work, we can send a technician out to diagnose the problem.

I Have a Waterline Break and Can’t Schedule a Plumber Right Away. What Can I Do?

If you have a significant water leak and need to stop the water to prevent further damage, contact your local water utility company to ask about shutting off the water service to your home. This may help limit water damage and reduce your water bill while you determine your next steps and wait for a fix. If you know where your water shut off is located, you may be able to shut it off yourself.

Homeowner Plumbing Tips

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:46:45 GMT

Homeowner Plumbing Tips

A little plumbing prevention can go a long way toward avoiding clogs, backups, odors and unnecessary repairs. Here are a few simple tips from our team to help keep your home’s plumbing systems working properly.

Be Careful What You Put Down the Sink or Garbage Disposal

Not everything that goes down your kitchen sink or garbage disposal should go down the drain. Certain foods can contribute to clogs and fill up in the plumbing system. Avoid putting items such as grease, fats, oils, rice, pasta, eggshells, large amounts of food scraps and other materials that can expand, stick together or accumulate in your drain. Just because your garbage disposal grinds something up, doesn’t necessarily mean your plumbing system is designed to handle it. When in doubt, throw it out.

Care for Your Septic System

If your home has a septic system, what you put down your drains can affect the health and performance of your system. Regular maintenance and the right products can help support the natural biological activity your septic system relies on. We recommend Bio-Clean as a maintenance product for septic and drain systems. Bio-Clean uses naturally occurring bacteria and enzymes to help break down organic waste.

If you are interested in purchasing Bio-clean, talk to your technician or the office.

It’s also important to avoid sending harsh chemicals down your drains whenever possible. Products containing bleach and antibacterial ingredients or other aggressive chemicals, can interrupt the natural biological activity that helps your septic system function.

*Remember: Septic systems need beneficial bacteria to do their job. Be mindful of what you put down your drains.

Give Your Water Heater Some Attention

Your water heater works hard every day, and regular maintenance can help keep it operating efficiently and extend it’s service life. Annual flushes are recommended for regular water heater maintenance. We also check components of the water heater for proper function. This can help reduce sediment buildup and keep your system working properly for longer.

*Ask our office about being added to our water heater maintenance list!