Have it checked annually and expect to replace it roughly every seven to twelve years. Hard water shortens that range, and Albuquerque’s mineral content is hard on the internal seat and diaphragm.
Why Annual Checking
A pressure reducing valve fails quietly. When it does, one of two things happens: it sticks open and stops reducing pressure at all — so the house runs at full municipal pressure, stressing every joint and fixture continuously — or it closes down too far and you get poor pressure everywhere. The first failure mode is the dangerous one, because nothing feels wrong until leaks start appearing in unrelated places.
Checking is simple: a gauge on a hose bib, read with no water running. Worth doing at night too, since municipal pressure typically rises overnight when demand drops.
Signs Yours Has Failed
- Pressure reading high despite having a PRV installed
- Banging pipes (water hammer) that did not happen before
- Repeat leaks appearing in different locations
- A water heater relief valve weeping or discharging
- Low pressure throughout the house, which is the opposite failure
- Pressure that fluctuates noticeably
Why Hard Water Shortens Its Life Here
The valve works by a diaphragm pressing against a seat. Mineral deposits build on that seat and on the internal components, preventing a clean seal and eventually causing the valve to stick or fail to regulate. This is the same mechanism that pits faucet valve seats — and it is why a PRV in Albuquerque may not reach the upper end of its expected service life. A water softener helps here as it does everywhere else in the system.
Adjustment vs. Replacement
Sometimes a valve just needs adjusting back to spec. Often, particularly on an older valve with mineral buildup, adjustment does not hold and replacement is the real answer. We check both.
Bundle It
Pressure gets measured as part of every plumbing inspection. Care Club members get those on schedule.
Contact B. Carlson about pressure reducing valves in Albuquerque.
