PLV’s & PRV’s are a bit like an insurance policy for your pipes, flexi hoses, fixtures and appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. As their names state, they reduce or Limit and control the water pressure from the water main going into your property’s pipes which reduces the pressure on your pipes, fixtures, fittings an appliances. These work as a bit of an insurance policy as they prevent water pressure exceeding limits that our plumbing pipes can handle before it hits fixtures, fittings and appliances that are only built to withstand a certain amount of pressure.
If your property does not have a pressure limiting valve and a fixture or fitting becomes faulty due to water pressure, your appliance may not be able to be fixed or replaced under warranty.
What is the difference between a Pressure Limiting Valve (PLV) and a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)? A PLV is only able to reduce the pressure to a set pressure, usually 350Kpa, 500Kpa or 600 Kpa, where as a PRV can be set to a pressure usually raging from 150Kpa to 600Kpa. So the difference is a PLV has no or a set adjustment in the pressure however the PRV does.
We have found recently that a lot of homes in and around the Bonogin and Mudgeeraba area have been having issues with burst pipes and or water hammer, and it has not been their first experience with a leak or two. Upon investigation a lot of these properties have not had a Pressure limiting valve or Pressure reducing valve and this has meant their pipes, fixtures and or fittings have not been able to withstand the amount of pressure.
Some people are hesitant to put them on as they don’t want to have reduced water pressure in their homes, but these valves are more than sufficient in producing enough pressure for your home.
Have more questions about pressure limiting valves or pressure reducing valves? Get in touch by filling out a contact form or give us a call on 0420 882 629.
