Tony Hwang writes:

blueman wrote:
When our in-ground sprinkler is running outside, I can hear the water
meter 'clicking' through all the pipes -- including as far away as our
3rd floor bathroom. All the pipes are secured properly using clamps
and we never hear any other water hammering or vibration noises. The
clicking definitely comes from the water meter itself and sounds like
a metronome beating at at 4-5 beats/second. The pipes themselves are
not detectably physically vibrating (though the sound from the water
meter is obviously transmitted through them).

The irrigation system is high volume in the sense that the supply
lines are 1" copper followed by 1" plastic irrigation piping that feed
3-5 Hunter rotors per zone. I assume other high flow applications
would set the water meter vibrating similarly. Our water pressure is
on the high side (about 80 psi) but that is supposedly normal for our
area.

- Is this "normal" for a water meter?
- Could this be affecting the metering? (either positively or
negatively) - Any ideas?


Hi,
1. Is the clicking frequency slows down if water use is reduced?
Yes - it seems volume related.
Regardless, meter needs a replacement(it is wearing out)
I scheduled someone from Water & Sewer to come by tomorrow morning.
Our meter is electronic type with radio signal. Reader just drives by
our house to read it. I heard ultimately they will read it remotely
via satellite hook up.
We now have an electronic type where I think they just hook up a card
reader on the outside of the house.
Supposedly we are moving to a drive-by system so maybe they will
replace mine with that type.


2. Running pressure of 80psi is I think too high. If you don't have
regulator, install one and bring it down to 60 psi. If it is running
at 80, static pressure could be well over 100 which is too much.
Checked static pressure in the night when water use is at it's low?

Right now:
Static pressu 90
Pressure with full sprinkler running: 72.

I agree it is high and probably causing wear & tear on valves.

- How much would it cost to install a pressure reducer?
- Wouldn't I also then need a (thermal) expansion tank for my water
heater?

It's been this way for a long time and I assume my neighbors all have
similar pressure. Is it really worth fixing or should I be thankful
for "good pressure"?