Water pressure / reducing valve

kuepper

I recently has a replacement pressure reduction valve fitted (see photo) after the old one started leaking. I never thought to ask the plumber about what the pressure should be and he never left any leaflet etc. The pressure is much less than it was so bath takes longer to fill etc but maybe it was too high before. I assume it's been set at around 2 bar looking at the gauge , what should it be and what is the red hand indicating?

DullGreyGuy

The black hand shows what the current pressure is, the red hand shows the peak that the black hand has gotten to, assuming it's been set properly. You can turn the redhand to be aligned to the blackhand, it should go further, to ensure the next time you look at it it shows the peak... ie the black hand pushes it higher at peak pressure but the red hand stays in place when the pressure drops. 

The black element sticking out of the valve itself would be what you use to adjust the amount of restriction you are applying and then use the gauge to judge the impact

housebuyer143

You probably want it at 3 bar, maybe 4. Mine is at 4 and that's fine for my house as it's big, but I think 3 is what they are normally set to. 
I would turn it up and see if your bath is better. I think it's got a screw on top you need to turn to adjust it.

I was told the red hand was the target pressure, and black is actual pressure. 

Belenus

The pressure is much less than it was so bath takes longer to fill etc but maybe it was too high before.

Have you checked that the stop !!!!!! or any service valve etc has been fully opened after installation of the PRV? You might have a reduced flow problem rather than a reduced pressure problem.

Our PRV is set to 3 bar which is fine for our standard 4 bed two story house.  As suggested above, try adjusting yours to 3 bar.

housebuyer143

Also, did they change the valve for the exact same? It might be this one has a reduced flow for some reason. 

ThisIsWeird

Hi Kuepper.
As far as I know, that type requires a hex key or similar to be inserted in a hole at the end of that black cap. 
Also ditto, the red pointer is just set manually to indicate the desired pressure, and then you adjust the valve to match - line up the black needle with it. Then any change is easy to spot. 
Yes, check the mains stopcock has been opened fully (Ie, all the way, and then closed a half-turn to make it less likely to seize), and then up the pressure to 3bar - see how that works for you.

kuepper

Sorted, it was just a screwdriver needed to turn the slot head screw on top of the black cap clockwise

Mutton_Geoff

DullGreyGuy said:

The black hand shows what the current pressure is, the red hand shows the peak that the black hand has gotten to, assuming it's been set properly. You can turn the redhand to be aligned to the blackhand, it should go further, to ensure the next time you look at it it shows the peak... ie the black hand pushes it higher at peak pressure but the red hand stays in place when the pressure drops. 

The black element sticking out of the valve itself would be what you use to adjust the amount of restriction you are applying and then use the gauge to judge the impact

I doubt the red pointer is pushed by the black one. It's just a manually adjustable indicator.