Adjusting pressure reducing valve

[Scuzi]

On the water inlet to my house there is a pressure reducing valve fitted. It’s a relatively new build (~18 months). The chap who fitted the water softener suggested they are fitted for environmental reasons and can be removed or adjusted to increase the water pressure in the house.



If possible, I would like to increase the pressure coming into the house. When one outlet is on, any simultaneous use causes a drop in flow to the point it is useless. E.g. if the washing machine is on, the shower upstairs is terrible.

Can this valve be easily adjusted, and if so, how?

 

[Scuzi]

Thanks. I’ve turned the screw clockwise and the gauge now shows 3 bar. Can’t say I’ve seen any discernible difference from that so I’m guessing I’m **** out of luck!

 

[Scuzi]

Have you tried turning it up to 11 and ripping the knob off?

I kept turning until it stopped increasing on the gauge. It will turn further but there is no increase gained. If it doesn’t work I usually progress to hitting it harder with a bigger hammer. I’ll be back later for emergency plumber numbers.

Righty tighty lefty loosy, isn’t turning it to the right causing it to reduce the pressure, hence the gauge increasing to show its reducing the pressure by 3bar?

Edit - I think I am wrong but worth a shot if it’s not done anything noticeable.

I was working on the same logic as you but the marking on the screw indicate clockwise “+” and anti clockwise “-“. Turning clockwise increased the pressure from 2.5 to 3 bar.

 

[Scuzi]

It’s a 22mm pipe throughout so I’m guessing the flow coming into the house from the main is just a bit rubbish?

I did have a brown trousers moment this morning. After fiddling with the valve, all pressure disappeared with zero flow. Thinking I had somehow totally screwed up, the neighbour texted to ask if our water was off. The whole area had coincidentally lost supply due to a burst main.

 

[Scuzi]

Possibly. It will have an effect on the pressure even when fully open but it shouldn’t be drastic.

Silly question but I take the main valve is fully open and the valve at the meter is fully open too?

Not a silly question as I haven’t checked! Let me go do that this evening.

 

[Scuzi]

I think that’ll be my next port of call. The taps in the bathrooms have a screw in aerator and each of those had a considerable amount of small grit/gravel and what looks like compound in them. If that has made its way through, then I expect there might be bigger bits caught in the inlet filter.