Understanding your pressure
Too Low, Too High —
What Does Normal Look Like?
SA Water delivers mains pressure meant to sit between 150 and 500 kilopascals (kPa) at your property boundary. What you actually feel inside depends on your internal plumbing, and both ends of the scale cause trouble:
Low Pressure
Weak Flow & Trickles
An isolation or water meter valve not fully open
Scale build-up narrowing the bore inside older pipes
A supply pipe too small for the property's actual demand
A hidden leak siphoning pressure off the line
A PRV that's failed or set incorrectly
A supply issue on SA Water's side of your street
Ideal range: 200–350 kPa at fixtures for comfortable flow
High Pressure
Banging Pipes & Surges
No PRV fitted on a naturally high-pressure supply
A PRV that's failed or been set incorrectly
Water hammer from taps or valves closing too fast
Thermal expansion building up in a closed hot water system
Risk above 500 kPa: faster tap wear, appliance damage, pipe stress and burst risk
What we fix
Pressure Problems
We Sort Out Regularly
PRV Install & Repair
Fitting a new pressure reducing valve or servicing a faulty one to bring pressure back in range.
Water Hammer Fixes
Arrestors or expansion chambers fitted to stop the banging caused by hydraulic shock.
Pressure Testing
Actual pressure readings taken at key points around the property to diagnose properly.
Scale & Sediment Flushing
Mineral scale cleared from restricted pipes and fittings to restore full flow.
Expansion Vessel Fitting
Thermal expansion vessels fitted to closed hot water systems to control pressure build-up.
Supply Pipe Upgrades
Undersized supply pipework replaced to deliver proper flow for high-demand properties.
Our process
Tracking Down &
Fixing a Pressure Fault
1
Measuring the Actual Pressure
We test real readings at your meter, at the PRV if there is one, and at key fixtures around the property — building a clear picture of where pressure's being lost, gained or fluctuating.
2
Finding the Actual Cause
Those readings tell us whether it's the mains supply, a faulty PRV, internal pipework, a hidden leak or scale restriction — each needing a different fix.
3
A Fixed Price, Explained
We walk you through the cause and the fix, then give you a clear price before anything starts — no guesswork, no surprises.
4
Repaired or Installed
Whatever it takes — installing or adjusting a PRV, fitting water hammer arrestors, replacing a scaled pipe section, or chasing down a pressure-draining leak.
5
Re-Tested Before We Leave
We measure pressure again around the property to confirm it's actually fixed and every reading sits in the right range.
Common questions
Water Pressure FAQs
When it's isolated to one fixture, the cause is almost always local — a blocked aerator screen, a partly closed isolation valve under the sink, or a kinked flexi hose. All quick, cheap fixes. If it affects several fixtures on the same line, scale build-up in that section of pipe is the more likely culprit.
Yes — that's water hammer, caused by moving water's momentum getting stopped dead when a tap or valve snaps shut. It's worse under high pressure, and left alone it gradually stresses pipe joints and fittings. Usually solved with a water hammer arrestor, or by bringing supply pressure down to a sensible range.
Yes — anything above 500 kPa wears out tap washers, O-rings and cartridges faster, pushes up your water use, stresses pipe joints, and can void warranties on dishwashers or washing machines with a maximum inlet pressure spec. It's also a factor behind burst pipes. A PRV is a cheap, effective fix.
A sudden, unexplained drop across the whole property is a strong signal of a significant leak or burst somewhere in the supply line. Check the water meter — if it's still ticking over with everything off, you've got an active leak. Call us on 08 8123 4567 straight away.
A PRV sits on your main water supply and automatically brings mains pressure down to a safe, steady level for use inside the property. SA regulations require one where supply pressure exceeds 500 kPa, and plenty of Adelaide properties in elevated supply zones benefit from one even under that threshold.
Yes — right across the metro area. Check our service areas page, or call 08 8123 4567 to confirm your suburb.
Also available