At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

On Apr 11, 8:50*am, mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

If I had to guess, I'd suspect that being old it may have
corroded up somewhat so that it can no longer fully
open to meet the higher demand. Another possibility is
that it was sized incorrectly to begin with. What pressure
is it set to? And have you checked to see what it is
maintaining? Can you check the pressure/flow rate
ahead of the regulator? That's another lesser possibility,
ie that the restriction is not the regulator but before it for
some reason.

On 4/11/2013 8:10 AM, wrote:
On Apr 11, 8:50 am, wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

If I had to guess, I'd suspect that being old it may have
corroded up somewhat so that it can no longer fully
open to meet the higher demand. Another possibility is
that it was sized incorrectly to begin with. What pressure
is it set to? And have you checked to see what it is
maintaining? Can you check the pressure/flow rate
ahead of the regulator? That's another lesser possibility,
ie that the restriction is not the regulator but before it for
some reason.

Since he says it's been that way for 25 yrs already, I suspect the more
likely culprit is just does't have enough capacity in the supply to the two.

Would be interesting to know what the pressures actually are, but
whether the second regulator would help would depend on where it's
placed in relation to feeding the two. If it's still in front of the
small line it won't make much difference.

Was a thread not too long ago on dual regulators -- I posted a link to a
site that had pretty good description of when would help a problem and
how if OP wants to search back a couple months...

--

--

On Thursday, April 11, 2013 5:50:47 AM UTC-7, mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water

mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is

low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of

water pressure from the city.



When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to

have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two

showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just

not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal

level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water

pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned

the house for 25 years.



I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/1001754...7#.UWbGh1Hn_IU

"mcp6453" wrote in message
...
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the
water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water
pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty
of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made
sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding
two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is
just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a
normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the
water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've
owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any
thoughts?

Water regulators have a flow rate at the outlet pressure. It may be that
the regulator is not rated for enough flow for two showers at the same time.
You need to look at the flow rate of the regulator and then see how much
flow you are using at one shower at a time. If no other way, let the shower
run in to a bucket for a given time, say one minuit and see how much water
is collected and calculate the flow per miniut or hour.

If it is not rated for the ammount of flow you want , then it will need to
be replaced with a larger one. It may also be the pipes in your house will
not support that flow rate. You may be able to find charts on the internet
that tell how much flow a given size pipe is rated for. No mater how much
pressure you have, a given size pipe will only let a certain ammount of
liquid flow.

On Apr 11, 10:40*am, "Ralph Mowery"
wrote:
"mcp6453" wrote in message

...





At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the
water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water
pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty
of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made
sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding
two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is
just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a
normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the
water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've
owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any
thoughts?

Water regulators have a flow rate at the outlet pressure. *It may be that
the regulator is not rated for enough flow for two showers at the same time.
You need to look at the flow rate of the regulator and then see how much
flow you are using at one shower at a time. *If no other way, let the shower
run in to a bucket for a given time, say one minuit and see how much water
is collected and calculate the flow per miniut or hour.

If it is not rated for the ammount of flow you want , then it will need to
be replaced with a larger one. *It may also be the pipes in your house will
not support that flow rate. *You may be able to find charts on the internet
that tell how much flow a given size pipe is rated for. *No mater how much
pressure you have, a given size pipe will only let a certain ammount of
liquid flow.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Another option might be to see what the flow rate of the
showers are. Might be very free flowing heads and the answer
is to put in new heads that flow less water.

mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

I thought about doing two, but you need two water heaters.
The branches must be separate, feeding from meter. Might need two meters
also ??

Greg

On Apr 11, 10:52*am, gregz wrote:
mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

I thought about doing two, but you need two water heaters.
The branches must be separate, feeding from meter. Might need two meters
also ??

Greg

Look at it like this. Think of a garden water hose. If you have very
high water pressure, a kink in the hose will not reduce the presssure
at the nozzle as long as the flow is not very great.

You may have a restriction in the water line on the supply side of the
regulator. No matter what you set the regulator at, if there is a
"kink" in the supply line going to the regulator, no matter what you
do at the regulator, the "kink" will not allow sufficient water flow
for two showers. You need to establish where the restriction is in
the process. If it is before the regulator, there is nothing you can
do except call the City to complain and be prepared to spend $$$ for a
new supply line.

mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on
the water mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time,
the water pressure is low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just
aggravating. We have plenty of water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it
made sense to have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators
instead of feeding two showers off of one regulator. Now I'm
wondering whether the regulator is just not doing its job. It's doing
its job to keep the water pressure at a normal level for a single
shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water pressure
with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should.
Any thoughts?

Why do you suspect the regulator? Have you tested the pressure under both
circumstances right after the meter? Could small or corroded pipes on the way
to the water heater be causing the problem? Do you not get enough cold or hot
water, or just hot water?

On Apr 11, 1:50*pm, mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

It's probably just stuck.
Remove and dismantle it and free the parts off. Clean up with fine
wire wool. If there are any severe wear marks/grooves you will have
to replace it.

The other possibility is that your pipes are semi-blocked with crud/
limescale/corrosion. If the pipe is iron/steel this is quite likely.
If so the pipes will need replacing.

On Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:50:47 AM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of water pressure from the city. When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned the house for 25 years. I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

Regulators do have a flow rate and yours may be low. That's not that common though. Before doing anything measure the actual water pressure below and above your regulator. You may simply be able to adjust it higher at the regulator. A higher pressure will result in higher flow through the same size pipes. Giving you more water at the two showers even when they are both on. I like to see something around 70-80psi in residential but you can run it up to 90 or 100 without ill effect. Higher does tend to increase leaks at fixtures.

On Apr 11, 1:23*pm, jamesgang wrote:
On Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:50:47 AM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of water pressure from the city. When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned the house for 25 years. I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

Regulators do have a flow rate and yours may be low. *That's not that common though. *Before doing anything measure the actual water pressure below and above your regulator. *You may simply be able to adjust it higher at the regulator. *A higher pressure will result in higher flow through the same size pipes. *Giving you more water at the two showers even when they are both on. *I like to see something around 70-80psi in residential but you can run it up to 90 or 100 without ill effect. *Higher does tend to increase leaks at fixtures.

And burst weak pipes and hoses!!!!

mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

Never been in a house that doesn't loose pressure. First thing, measure
pressure.
Like said, measure both sides at same time, while running showers, etc.
Read flow rate on regulator and compare to others. I hooked up a regulator
to the feed hose on the trailer last year. Bought one with high flow and
good so far. 60 pounds is a good maximum pressure.

Greg

On Apr 11, 8:49*pm, gregz wrote:
mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

Never been in a house that doesn't loose pressure. First thing, measure
pressure.
Like said, measure both sides at same time, while running showers, etc.
Read flow rate on regulator and compare to others. I hooked up a regulator
to the feed hose on the trailer last year. Bought one with high flow and
good so far. 60 pounds is a good maximum pressure.

Greg

too many shut off valves of the standard type can decrease flow. the
passages are very small. sometimes a washer can fragment and decrease
fow too..

ball valves are better

On Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:16:18 -0700 (PDT), bob haller
wrote:

On Apr 11, 8:49*pm, gregz wrote:
mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

Never been in a house that doesn't loose pressure. First thing, measure
pressure.
Like said, measure both sides at same time, while running showers, etc.
Read flow rate on regulator and compare to others. I hooked up a regulator
to the feed hose on the trailer last year. Bought one with high flow and
good so far. 60 pounds is a good maximum pressure.

Greg

too many shut off valves of the standard type can decrease flow. the
passages are very small. sometimes a washer can fragment and decrease
fow too..

ball valves are better
Up here (waterloo Ontario Canada) we don't have regulators and if
I'm in the shower and the wife runs the washer or flushes the john I
don't see or feel any difference at all..
one inch feed, 3/4" to the softener. 1/2" to the water heater.

wrote:
On Apr 11, 1:23 pm, jamesgang wrote:
On Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:50:47 AM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the water mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water pressure is low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty of water pressure from the city. When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made sense to have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding two showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is just not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a normal level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned the house for 25 years. I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any thoughts?

Regulators do have a flow rate and yours may be low. That's not that common though. Before doing anything measure the actual water pressure below and above your regulator. You may simply be able to adjust it higher at the regulator. A higher pressure will result in higher flow through the same size pipes. Giving you more water at the two showers even when they are both on. I like to see something around 70-80psi in residential but you can run it up to 90 or 100 without ill effect. Higher does tend to increase leaks at fixtures.

And burst weak pipes and hoses!!!!

Hmmm,
Regulator w/o pressure gauge? My house water pressure is set at 60psi
according to the gauge reading when water is flowing.

At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on the
water
mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time, the water
pressure is
low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just aggravating. We have plenty
of
water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it made
sense to
have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators instead of feeding
two
showers off of one regulator. Now I'm wondering whether the regulator is
just
not doing its job. It's doing its job to keep the water pressure at a
normal
level for a single shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the
water
pressure with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've
owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should. Any
thoughts?


*What size is the water service pipe coming into your house? I suspect that
you have a problem with the volume of water, and not the pressure. Maybe
your water main is too small for multiple showers or perhaps you have
galvanized pipes with restrictions.

You could try adjusting your existing regulator to increase the pressure to
see if that makes a difference.

mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on
the water mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time,
the water pressure is low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just
aggravating. We have plenty of water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it
made sense to have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators
instead of feeding two showers off of one regulator. Now I'm
wondering whether the regulator is just not doing its job. It's doing
its job to keep the water pressure at a normal level for a single
shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water pressure
with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should.
Any thoughts?

Do you NEED a regulator?

If your municipal supply is derived from pumps, you probably DO need
regulators inasmuch as pumps and such may not be getting the kind of
attention and maintenance that's appropriate.

If, on the other hand, your local water supply is gravity fed (think water
towers), the pressure is almost solely determined by the height of the
tower, not by any downstream regulators. That means the pressure delivered
to your house is virtually constant.

Measure before and after the regulator to be sure...

On Apr 12, 2:23*pm, "HeyBub" wrote:
mcp6453 wrote:
At my home, I assume as it is in most homes, we have one regulator on
the water mains. However, if we take two showers at the same time,
the water pressure is low in both showers. It's not bad, it's just
aggravating. We have plenty of water pressure from the city.

When I first started writing this post, my question was whether it
made sense to have the incoming mains branch to two water regulators
instead of feeding two showers off of one regulator. Now I'm
wondering whether the regulator is just not doing its job. It's doing
its job to keep the water pressure at a normal level for a single
shower or for sink water, but it's not maintaining the water pressure
with the demand of two showers. It's been that way since we've owned
the house for 25 years.

I'd hate to replace it only to find that it's working as it should.
Any thoughts?

Do you NEED a regulator?

If your municipal supply is derived from pumps, you probably DO need
regulators inasmuch as pumps and such may not be getting the kind of
attention and maintenance that's appropriate.

If, on the other hand, your local water supply is gravity fed (think water
towers), the pressure is almost solely determined by the height of the
tower, not by any downstream regulators. That means the pressure delivered
to your house is virtually constant.

Measure before and after the regulator to be sure...- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sure, a gravity fed system is "constant" but it may be higher than is
safe for residential plumbing.

I wonder if the OP (or others) are confusing the term "pressure
reducer" with "pressure regulator".

I have gravity fed water and need a PRV (pressure reducer valve). The
street pressure is well over 80 and makes my pipes bang. The PRV
brings it down to about 60 which is fine for 2 showers at once. There
is a decrease in the strength of the shower when both are running, but
it's barely noticeable.

One way to solve the 2 shower pressure issue is to share the same
shower.