A pressure reducing valve is an important part of a home’s plumbing system. It helps reduce maintenance and possible costly repairs.

The brownish object to the right of the isolation valve/tap is what a pressure reducing valve looks like. It is usually located where your main water line from the city comes into your home.

Why is this important? It reduces the water pressure from the city to a level that prevents unnecessary damage to the piping and fixtures in your home.

This valve was installed because the city water pressure was about 90 psi (a max of 75 pound per square inch is recommended for residential use). It was causing damage to the cartridges (valves) in the newer style quarter-turn taps. Every three to six months they would start leaking.

Replacement parts for these were costing about fifty dollars for each tap. To install a pressure reducing valve only cost three hundred and stopped the issue.