How to use a water pressure gauge?

13th August 2021

How to use a water pressure gauge?


	Shop for Water Pressure Gauges


		There are two chief functions of a water pressure gauge: to obtain a static water pressure measurement and to obtain a flow rate.

		Obtaining a static water pressure measurement
		Step 1 – Switch off all taps Firstly, switch off all taps and appliances so that there is no running water inside or outside the house. This includes taps, washing machines, dishwashers, sprinkler systems etc. If you do not do this, then your measurement will be inaccurate.

		Step 2 – Attach water pressure gauge Screw your water pressure gauge onto your outdoor tap, hose end, or appliance connection and hand tighten. An outside tap is typically your first test point, as this the outlet closest to the mains water supply.

		How do I attach it? If your water pressure gauge did not come with a hose then it should still have a threaded fitting. This fitting screws on to the gauge’s brass connection and, in turn, connects to the tap. If you don’t have one of these fittings, you can pick one up very cheaply in any good plumbing store.

		Step 3 – Turn on tap Turn on the tap fully. This will force water into the gauge and move the needle.

		Step 4 – Note down reading Note down the reading on the gauge. This measurement is known as “static water pressure”. A typical static water pressure measurement for a domestic household supplied from a mains water supply should be between 2-4 bars (30-60 PSI).

		I got a low reading, what does this mean?
		If you are getting a very low reading at this point, you may have a blockage or defect in your communication or supply pipe located between your house and the mains supply.Alternatively, you may be in a low pressure area and may need to install a pump to raise the pressure of your water supply. Contact your water supplier for more information.

		What is a pump? A pump is a device that can increase your domestic water pressure. It is worth noting that there are some water by-laws that do not allow you to install certain pumps directly onto a mains supplied pipeline without first installing a reservoir tank for it to draw from. Check with your water suppliers or contact a plumber for further information.

		What is a reservoir tank? A reservoir tank is a container that holds a surplus of water for the pump to draw from. Reservoir tanks come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes depending on your needs.

		I got a high reading, what does this mean?
		If you are getting a very high reading at this point then you may need to install a pressure regulator into your system to protect your household appliances and plumbing fixtures.

		What is a pressure regulator? A pressure regulator is a device that regulates your water pressure as it enters your household boundaries. Many appliances will not function properly without the correct water pressure and high water pressure may even damage some appliances.

		Step 5 – Turn off tap and remove water pressure gauge Turn the tap off and remove the water pressure gauge. Job done!

		Using a pressure gauge to obtain a flow rate
		To obtain a flow rate you will need: a water pressure gauge…

		…a timer or watch (that counts seconds)…

		…and a container of a known volume e.g. a 10 litre bucket.You will also have need to carry out a simple calculation.

		Once you have obtained your static pressure measurement and noted it down, partially open a (different) tap until the pressure drops to a pre-determined amount, for example 3.0 bar.

		Once the pressure is at this amount, turn on your outside tap fully and time how long it takes to fill your container. Take a note of this time.

		If, for example, it took 20 seconds to fill your 10 litre bucket then divide 10 litres by 20 seconds. 10 divided by 20 = 0.5

		Once you have this figure, times it by 3,600 (the number of seconds in an hour). 0.5 x 3,600 = 1,800This means you have a flow rate of 1,800 litres per hour at 3.0 bars of pressure.