worlds dumbest question

[dspencer]

I know this is going to sound like a dumb question but I have too ask. Do water pressure reducer's ever wear out to the point that they restrict the water flow to much? I was looking at it yesterday when I unhooked it from the park hydrant and I noticed that the screen is pushed it but I wouldn't think that would effect anything. I use the brass type however it doesn't have a gauge on it. I have been using it for about 7 or 8 years now and it seems like that the pressure isn't what it used to be.

[wa8yxm]

Water pressure regulators come in some different types
Standard: (3/4 inch brass or plastic cylinders female & male hose conneciton on end)
These do regulate pressure to around 50 PSI, but they can not handle full flow and thus restrice.

HI-Capacity or HI-Flow,, like above but either wings on body (Camco) or bright plastic grip on female end,, Better, but not much

Sur-Flo, often used as the inlet regulator on Motor Homes and trailers with built in pressure regulators.. Much better when new, but read on Still not 100%

Watts, Valterra or Zurin.

Valterra is an adjsutable with gauge sold for RV use, I have not had a chance to test one but others say it is good and I trust them.

Watts, the smallest one is basicaly the same as the sur-flo, Good, but not quite 100%,, Mine was 3/4 inch New it was very nice.

Zurin, mine is a 3/4 inch (See note below).

Testing: Hooked up the Sur-Flo, as I recall it went down to 10 or 20 PSI under load (Adjusted for 50 static), Now I recall testing 3 regulators, But my Watts is damaged and missing a part (must have had the part that day).

The watts held at 20 under load (50 static) it is nearly 9 years old, it worked much better new.

The brand new ZURIN Rock solid at 50 under load

Load was the outside shower Full open.

So the answer is yes.. They do wear out and begain to restrict flow.. The Watts I have taken apart so I can describe it.

A spring presses on one side of a diaphragm. Water pressure on the other side. (Outlet side pressure) when the spring pushes harder it opens a valve, When outlet presure goes back up the valve is closed.

THEORY: The Diaphragm gets "Stiff" with age. and thus is harder to bend, This will not affect static pressure, but as the outlet pressure drops it means the valve does not open as far.

Why 3/4 inch instead of 1/2 inch.... Turns out they cost less, plus the adapters are easier to fit. But lower cost is the prime factor on the last one.

[dspencer]

JAXFL wrote:
Yours is not the world’s dumbest question… Here are some that beat you…
I sold my only car to help pay for gas money, but now gas has come down in price. How do I get my car back?"
“HOW DO I TURN OFF CAPSLOCK? I ACCIDENTALLY TURNED IT ON YESTERDAY AND I DONT KNOW HOW TO TURN IT BACK OFF."
"My mouse stop working every time i lift it up from the table why is this
"If I get married in Florida, am i married in any state?
Then at the National Parks the questions really get hard….
GRAND CANYON:
• Was this man made?
• Do you light it up at night?
• Is the mule train air conditioned?
• So where are the faces of the presidents?
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK:
• Are the alligators real?
• Are the baby alligators for sale?
• Where are all the rides?
• What time does the 2 o'clock bus leave?
MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK:
• Did people build this, or did Indians?
• Why did they build the ruins so close to the road?
• Do you know of any undiscovered ruins?
• What did they worship in the kivas - their own made up religion?
• Why did the Indians decide to live in Colorado?
CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK:
• How much of the cave is underground?
• So what's in the unexplored part of the cave?
• So what is this - just a hole in the ground?
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK:
• Where are the cages for the animals?
• What time of year do they turn on Yosemite Falls?
• What happened to the other half of Half Dome?
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK:
• Does Old Faithful erupt at night?
• How do you turn it on?
• When does the guy who turns it on get to sleep?
• We had no trouble finding the park entrance but where are the exits?
DENALI NATIONAL PARK:
• What's so wonderful about Wonder Lake?
• How much does Mount McKinley weigh?
• What time do you feed the bears?
• How often do you mow the tundra?

Now those are good. :B

[JAXFL]

Yours is not the world’s dumbest question… Here are some that beat you…
I sold my only car to help pay for gas money, but now gas has come down in price. How do I get my car back?"
“HOW DO I TURN OFF CAPSLOCK? I ACCIDENTALLY TURNED IT ON YESTERDAY AND I DONT KNOW HOW TO TURN IT BACK OFF."
"My mouse stop working every time i lift it up from the table why is this
"If I get married in Florida, am i married in any state?
Then at the National Parks the questions really get hard….
GRAND CANYON:
• Was this man made?
• Do you light it up at night?
• Is the mule train air conditioned?
• So where are the faces of the presidents?
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK:
• Are the alligators real?
• Are the baby alligators for sale?
• Where are all the rides?
• What time does the 2 o'clock bus leave?
MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK:
• Did people build this, or did Indians?
• Why did they build the ruins so close to the road?
• Do you know of any undiscovered ruins?
• What did they worship in the kivas - their own made up religion?
• Why did the Indians decide to live in Colorado?
CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK:
• How much of the cave is underground?
• So what's in the unexplored part of the cave?
• So what is this - just a hole in the ground?
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK:
• Where are the cages for the animals?
• What time of year do they turn on Yosemite Falls?
• What happened to the other half of Half Dome?
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK:
• Does Old Faithful erupt at night?
• How do you turn it on?
• When does the guy who turns it on get to sleep?
• We had no trouble finding the park entrance but where are the exits?
DENALI NATIONAL PARK:
• What's so wonderful about Wonder Lake?
• How much does Mount McKinley weigh?
• What time do you feed the bears?
• How often do you mow the tundra?

[boogie_4wheel]

dspencer wrote:
it is just a standard brass pressure reducer and it is not adjustable.

I had one of those. It failed and choked water flow down to almost nothing.

[dspencer]

Thank You all for your replies, I will check for it being clogged and replace or clean as needed. It is not the watts it is just a standard brass pressure reducer and it is not adjustable.

[mbopp]

Is it a Watts-type full regulator, or one of the cheapie in-line regulators? I had a cheapie regulator but had very low flow out of it so I replaced it with a Watts.

On occasion the Watts won't work, but if I disassembled and reassembled it the flow would return.

[darsben]

The screen could be part of the hose washer. Remove hose washer and the screen may come with it. Check to see if clogged with debris. Replace as needed.

[grampachet]

He who asks a question is a fool for a moment. He who remains silent is a fool forever.

[Dog_Folks]

The world's dumbest question is the one that is not asked.

You are smart enough to ask so you don't qualify.

[Mich_F]

That's far from being the world's dumbest question. :B
That happened to me once, when the water flow was reduced to almost nothing. I removed the water pressure regulator, connected the hose directly to the park faucet, and all was good. I just replaced the regulator before the next outing.

[midnightsadie]

when a person doesn,t know the answer? there,s no dumb question. the screen could be clogged.

[Community Alumni]

They don't wear out but some do end up with blockages over time. Grit and other stuff like calcium deposits can slow down the flow; had this happen to me while wintering in Myrtle Beach.

[Water-Bug]

Anything connected to city or well water can get calcium build-up. If you don't have a water softener, your shower head would be a prime example. A simple cure is to soak the device in lime-away or vinager for several hours. Lime-away works better. Or, buy a new pressure reducer.