How does water pressure in your home impact you and your family?
There are Codes that regulate how little and how much water pressure your house’ plumbing system needs to function properly. Most Codes specify a minimum static water pressure of 40 PSI. These same codes specify a maximum of 80 PSI static pressure.
‘Static water pressure’ is simply the term used to signify the water pressure to the plumbing system in your house when there is no water use occurring at the time of the pressure test. This differs from the reduction in pressure that occurs when bathtubs, sinks, and other fixtures are operated.
Currently, there is a requirement for Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) licensed Real Estate Inspectors to measure and record the water pressure. If the pressure is outside the allowable range of 40 to 80 PSI, the inspector is required to report this as a deficiency.
If the water pressure is too low there is the increased likelihood that contaminants can enter the system and/or the system will not function properly.
If the water pressure is too high, damage to plumbing lines, fittings, fixtures, the water heater, and other appliances can occur. If any of these parts, components, or systems should fail, flooding of the house can occur.
What is ironic is that TREC, who oversees the Residential Service Contract (RSC) industry that provides ‘Home Warranties’ commonly purchased by consumers when purchasing a home, would even consider removing this requirement.
Many a homeowner has had their ‘Home Warranty’ claims ‘denied’ when the RSC Contractor came out to the house and immediately checked the water pressure and determined that it was ‘not within Code’.
There are members of the Inspector Advisory Committee at (TREC) that are recommending to the Commissioners that this pressure reporting requirement be removed from the Inspectors’ reporting requirements (known as the ‘Standards of Practice’ or SoP).
My question is… Will the Commissioners at TREC be duped into believing that the requirement to alert homebuyers that their water pressure is outside the safe operating range should be removed?
Water is one of the utilities that every homeowner can’t go without. Consumers shouldn’t be made sick as a result of low water pressure, or have their home flooded due to plumbing disasters caused by excess water pressure.
