How to Test Your Home's Water Pressure

By
Aaron Stickley
Aaron Stickley

Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron's articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.

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Updated on 08/28/22
Reviewed by
Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein
Reviewed by Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. He specializes in estimating as well as design and engineering for plumbing systems, and he works for one of New York's largest union plumbing construction companies.
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Fact checked by
Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel
Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.
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Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $10

It’s a good idea to test water pressure in your home a couple of times per year as part of a plumbing maintenance checklist. Testing water pressure is quick and easy, and all you need is a simple and inexpensive pressure gauge. Some homes even have dedicated gauges hooked up somewhere in the water line so homeowners can check the water pressure quickly and easily with just a glance. But if you don't have a permanent gauge, it is very easy to do a periodic test with a standard water pressure gauge.

Water pressure gauge on end of outdoor faucet to test pressure

The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

Why Test Your Home's Water Pressure?

Having too much water pressure can be hard on all plumbing lines and fixtures and can even cause blowouts in flex lines or washing machine hoses, which in turn can flood the house. It’s a good idea to test water pressure even if your home has a pressure regulator, or pressure-reducing valve (PRV), on the main water supply line because it isn’t necessarily obvious when a regulator fails. Testing water pressure occasionally can catch a problem with the regulator before the high pressure can damage any plumbing.

Tip

If you discover that you have low water pressure, call your water supplier or utility, and ask about having someone come out to look at the issue. In some cases, the water supplier owns the PRV (pressure-reducing valve) on your line and can make adjustments easily.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Water pressure gauge
  • Tongue-and-groove pliers (as needed)

Materials

  • Rag

Instructions

Water pressure gauge next to pliers on wooden surface

The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  1. Choose the Testing Location

    If your water comes from a city or municipal water utility, select an outdoor hose spigot closest to where the home's main water supply line enters the house. If you get your water from a well, use a faucet or fixture that is close to the well's pressure tank. You will get the most accurate reading if the hose bib or faucet is fed by a supply pipe that is the largest size inside the house, as it has not been reduced like the lines to bathroom plumbing fixtures. Such lines should generally be 3/4 to 1 inch, but may also be 1/2 inch.

    Black hose tightened to outdoor faucet for testing water pressure

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  2. Check for Running Water

    To get an accurate reading when you test water pressure, make sure water isn’t being used anywhere inside or outside the house. Turn off washing machines, sprinklers, refrigerators with ice makers, and dishwashers. When you test the pressure with a gauge, you are measuring the static water pressure; if water is moving anywhere in your plumbing system, it may result in a false low reading.

    Black hose adjusted on outdoor faucet for leaking water

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  3. Install the Pressure Gauge

    Remove the hose from the faucet if there is one connected; do not perform the test with a hose. Screw the pressure gauge onto the faucet. There will be a rubber gasket inside the pressure gauge, and you should be able to simply hand-tighten the pressure gauge to get a good seal. But if this connection leaks a little during the test, tighten it a bit more with tongue-and-groove pliers or an adjustable wrench. A good seal is necessary for an accurate reading.

    Tip

    Use a gauge that reads in psi (pounds per square inch) and has female hose threads so you can screw it onto a hose bib or washing machine bib faucet.

    Water pressure gauge twisted onto outdoor faucet with pliers

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

  4. Check the Pressure

    Turn the faucet all the way, and then read the pressure on the gauge's dial. Typical home water pressure ranges from 40–50 psi and generally should not exceed 60 psi. Most standard pressure regulators have a maximum adjustment of up to 75 psi. So if the reading on the pressure gauge is over 75 psi, then you know that the pressure regulator is not working correctly and will have to be repaired or replaced. If you don't currently have a pressure regulator installed and the water pressure reading is over 60 psi, consult a plumber about having a regulator installed.

    Water pressure gauge measuring pressure on outdoor faucet

    The Spruce / Georgia Lloyd

Testing at the Washing Machine

If you don't have a hose bib, an alternate place to test your water pressure is at your washing machine's cold water supply faucet. Shut off the cold water at the faucet behind the washing machine, and then disconnect the hose from the faucet. (Be careful as it will be full of water.) Screw the pressure gauge onto the faucet, and then open the faucet all the way to test the pressure.