How to Know When to Replace your Pressure Reducing Valve in Austin, Texas

Living in the beautiful city of Austin, Texas (78751 zip code) comes with its fair share of home maintenance tasks. From keeping your house energy-efficient to plumbing maintenance, investing in the care and upkeep of your home can help ensure that it remains functional and comfortable. One of the most important plumbing maintenance needs for Austin-based property owners is pressure reducing valve replacement or repair. Knowing when to swap out an old valve for a new one will help you avoid water damage, plumbing problems, and high energy bills due to inefficient heating. This article will showcase key indicators of when to replace a pressure reducing valve and the steps needed to ensure that you get the job done correctly.

What is a Pressure Reducing Valve?

A pressure reducing valve (PRV) is a type of valve that helps regulate changes in water pressure within a plumbing system. Systems in Austin and other cities tend to have higher water pressure than what is deemed safe for pipes and plumbing fixtures. Without a PRV, excessive pressure can lead to pipes cracking and leaks that waste water, damage property, and cost homeowners time and money to fix. By controlling water pressure through regulating the rate of water entering the system, PRVs prevent the eruption of faucets and showers, prevent excessive wear on fixtures, and can help save on energy bills.

When and How to Replace a Pressure Reducing Valve

Replacing a PRV is an important job and can be time consuming and challenging for those without the right training and experience. Therefore, it is essential to first identify symptoms that signal it is time to replace the valve. Clues that a pressure reducing valve needs to be swapped out include:

Fluctuating water pressure.

Reduced water flow.

No water in the pipes.

Large water bills.

Valve is 15 years old or older.

While the water pressure in your home may be fluctuating, a cracked or leaking PRV could be caused by other sources such as a water line break or an incorrectly sized pressure reducing valve. Therefore, it is essential to have a professional come to inspect your home's piping system before attempting to replace or repair the valve.

If the valve is found to be in need of replacement, the process should always be left to a qualified professional plumber. This is because the necessary work requires knowledge and experience to ensure that the valve is sized and installed correctly and that the system is balanced as per local code.

For Austin-based property owners, working with a licensed plumber from Abacus Plumbing can help reduce risk and provide peace of mind that the job is done correctly the first time. Our team of experienced and certified professionals has helped hundreds of clients throughout the central Texas area with their plumbing needs, from gas and electric water heater installation to slab leak detection and repair. All Abacus technicians are highly trained and committed to meeting the highest standards for customer service and satisfaction.

In Summary

Replacing a pressure reducing valve is an important part of home maintenance for Austin, Texas-based property owners. Identifying signs that a valve needs to be replaced or repaired, such as fluctuating water pressure, reduced water flow, elevated energy bills and age, can help ensure that plumbing systems remain functional and cost-effective. Unfortunately, attempting to replace a PRV without the right experience can lead to water damage, inefficient heating, and other plumbing problems. This is why it is essential to have an experienced and certified plumber handle the job to ensure the correct size and installation are done, the right way.

Pressure Reducing Valve

Austin

Texas