For a few days, several sinks and toilets made a high-pitched whining sound when water was running or a toilet was flushing. The noise stopped, and a gauge later read about 50 psi. Should I have the pressure-reducing valve replaced, or just keep an eye on it?
Could 50 psi be causing the whining, or is my pressure valve failing?
Asked by Bafflebox
Answers
I wouldn’t replace the pressure-reducing valve based on a 50 psi reading alone. That’s a reasonable household pressure, and higher isn’t automatically better. If the noise comes back, note which fixtures trigger it and whether it happens at several fixtures at once. That’s more useful than guessing from one pressure reading.
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A whistle often comes from something vibrating at one fixture, like a faucet part, toilet fill valve, or showerhead washer or flow restrictor. If it’s only one fixture, start there rather than changing the house pressure. If several fixtures make the same noise, especially at the same time, then it’s worth having the shared supply or pressure valve checked.
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Don’t turn up the pressure just because you saw a higher range mentioned somewhere. A single gauge reading doesn’t tell you whether the valve is faulty, and adjusting it blindly can create new problems. If the noise returns or the pressure seems to change a lot, a plumber can check the pressure at the house supply and see whether it stays steady while water is running.
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Bafflebox:
The noise had stopped by the time I got the gauge, so I’ll pay attention to when and where it happens if it returns.