What water pressure should a home have?
NationwideReviewed October 2026
EPA WaterSense recommends incoming service pressure between 45 and 60 psi for efficient use and good fixture performance. Most U.S. plumbing codes require a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) when the supply exceeds 80 psi, because high pressure wastes water and shortens the life of fixtures and appliances. You can check pressure with an inexpensive gauge screwed onto an outdoor hose faucet or a washing machine cold water connection, with no other water running. If a PRV is installed, the system may become closed, so ask whether thermal expansion control is needed for the water heater. Very low pressure may point to a supply, pipe size or pump problem.
Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.