Water Pressure Regulator Replacement
We test your water pressure and set your regulator to 65 to 70 PSI
Big job? Financing is available, with 0% APR options through Wisetack.
See Financing Options →Pressure Check
What Should My Water Pressure Be?
We set every pressure regulator we install to 65 to 70 PSI, which is where your fixtures are meant to run. In Ontario, a house without a working regulator typically sees 90 to 100 PSI, well above that range. We check the pressure on our service calls, because high pressure does its damage quietly until something gives.
- ✓Water pressure testing
- ✓Pressure regulator replacement
- ✓Regulators set to 65 to 70 PSI
- ✓Thermal expansion tanks on every water heater we install
- ✓Washing machine hose and shutoff valve replacement
- ✓Free estimates
Written by Nick Moore, Owner and C-36 Licensed Plumbing Contractor, CA Lic. #1097482
Third-generation plumber, 20+ years in the trade.
What We Cover
Services We Provide
Pressure Testing
We read your water pressure so you know where it stands. Unregulated homes in Ontario typically read 90 to 100 PSI.
Regulator Replacement
When a regulator has failed or is missing, we replace it and set it to 65 to 70 PSI.
Expansion Tanks
A water heater with no thermal expansion tank can push pressure far past safe levels. Every water heater we install includes one.
How We Work
Why Choose Regal?
Free Camera After We Clear It
On a drain call we cable the line first, then we typically run a camera through it free of charge as a courtesy, so you can see why it backed up.
Shielded Bands, Not Rubber
On sewer repairs we typically use a heavy-duty Husky band with a full metal shield, not the rubber Fernco band held on by two hose clamps.
30 Minutes to an Hour on Emergencies
A real person answers around the clock, and we can typically reach an emergency call within 30 minutes to an hour.
1-Year Warranty on Labor
Our labor comes with a 1-year warranty. Anything we note on your invoice as not covered by warranty isn't included.
Explore
Other Services We Offer
Emergency Plumbing
Rapid-response emergency plumbing for Ontario, CA and surrounding cities. We’re on call around the clock.
Learn More →Drain Cleaning
Professional clearing of kitchen, bathroom, and main sewer line blockages.
Learn More →Sewer Line Repair
Camera inspection, trenchless repair, and full sewer line replacement.
Learn More →Water Heater Services
Installation and repair of tank, tankless, and heat pump water heaters.
Learn More →Slab Leak Detection
We find slab leaks with acoustic equipment, by pressurizing the line and with thermal equipment, then reroute most of them through the attic.
Learn More →Hydrojetting
High-pressure water jetting to scour pipe walls and restore full flow.
Learn More →Gas Leak Detection
Gas line leak detection and repair.
Learn More →Water Filtration
Whole-home water softeners and filtration systems installed.
Learn More →Pipe Repair
Expert pipe repair and replacement for copper, PVC, and galvanized systems.
Learn More →Commercial Plumbing
Commercial plumbing service for businesses.
Learn More →Service Coverage
Cities We Serve
We serve these cities from our shop in Ontario.
Unregulated Pressure
How High Is Water Pressure Without a Regulator?
In Ontario, a home without a working regulator typically runs 90 to 100 PSI. That pressure sits on every supply line, valve and hose in the house, all day.
A regulator brings it down to the 65 to 70 PSI we set on every install. That is the range your fixtures are meant to run at.
Smart water shutoffs like the Moen Flo are rated for 80 PSI max, so when we install one on a home with a bad or missing regulator, we put in a new regulator as part of the job. See our smart water shutoff installation page.
Warning Signs
How Do I Know My Water Pressure Is Too High?
If you love your water pressure, it's probably too high. When a customer tells us how happy they are with their pressure, it's usually higher than it should be.
The other sign is water hammer. When a valve shuts, the water slams back through the piping, and you hear it bang in the walls.
Either one is worth a pressure test. We put a gauge on the system and tell you exactly where it reads.
Pricing
How Much Does Regulator Replacement Cost?
For most homes, $400 to $900. A typical house has a 3/4-inch or 1-inch regulator, and the price inside that range depends on what the replacement involves.
It can run higher when the whole water service buildup around the regulator has to be replaced too. Larger regulators, 1 1/4 inch and up, are a big jump: they start around $850 and can reach $3,000.
A typical replacement takes 1 to 2 hours, and estimates are free.
Lifespan
How Long Does a Pressure Regulator Last?
About 5 to 10 years. Two things decide where yours falls in that range: how hard your water is and how much pressure the city pushes into your house.
If your regulator is in that age range and nobody has checked your pressure, it's worth a test before a supply line makes the decision for you.
Real Damage
What Can High Water Pressure Do to a House?
It can flood it. A pipe that breaks under full pressure can put water through an entire house in minutes.
On one call, we found high pressure in a customer's home and recommended replacing the regulator. Regulators aren't cheap, and he decided to wait. A week later, the supply line to the toilet in the upstairs master bathroom burst while the family was out at the movies.
A neighbor called them to say water was running out of their front door. The house flooded from top to bottom, and the damage passed $150,000, including drywall, paint, furniture and new kitchen cabinets. If a line has already let go, our emergency plumbers can usually be there in 30 minutes to an hour.
Expansion Tanks
Can a Missing Expansion Tank Raise My Water Pressure?
Yes. We installed a Moen leak detection device for one customer, a unit that tracks water pressure and usage and detects leaks. The next day he called us: the device was reading 170 PSI.
When we went back out, we found the water heater had no thermal expansion tank. Without one, the stress doesn't stop at the tank. It reaches the whole plumbing system in the house.
Every water heater we supply and install includes a thermal expansion tank. See how we handle the rest of the install on our water heater repair and replacement page.
Appliance Hoses
Does Water Pressure Affect Washing Machine Hoses?
Yes. Washing machine hoses last a long time when the pressure is below 80 PSI and the water is softened. High pressure and untreated water cut their life down sharply.
We recommend replacing the hoses every 5 to 7 years. Steel braided hoses last a little longer than rubber, but not by much, and rubber hoses tend to turn brittle and crack.
When we replace hoses, we also recommend replacing the laundry shutoff valves. With water this hard, those valves often won't shut off all the way, and a worn seal can leak for days or weeks before you see a puddle under the washer.
Burst Pipe
What Should I Do If a Pipe Bursts?
Shut off the main water valve to the house, then open the hose bibs outside. That relieves the pressure in the lines and lets the water drain outside instead of into your home.
Then call us. We carry a ProPress tool for copper, so we can cut out the damaged section and press in a repair without waiting for the whole system to drain. For lines that need more than a spot fix, see our pipe repair and replacement service.
Real Photos
From Recent Jobs
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask about our current specials when you call.