WELCOME TO OUR Fitting pressure reducing valves. PROJECT
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Summary: pressure reducing valve fitting for a mixer shower.
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What is a pressure reducing valve and how does it work? Another question we get asked all of the time at DIY Doctor. In its simplest terms a pressure reducing valve, or PRV, allows water to flow into it and, controlled by a spring loaded internal diaphragm, reduces the pressure to one pre-set by the owner.
The mains pressure coming into a property is usually between 1 and 4 bars. If this water is to be mixed with water from a hot water tank which only has a pressure of 0.2 bars then the chances of any of the hot water being felt is minimal. Installing a mixer shower or mixer tap under these circumstances is a waste of time.
To reduce the pressure of the cold water a PRV can be installed into a horizontal cold water pipe as easily as fitting an isolation valve. See our project on repairing a burst pipe to get a better idea of cutting pipes and the principles of copper compression joints. A PRV is inserted into the pipe and the fittings tightened to both keep it in place and stop it leaking. Some pressure reducing valves, Comap in particular, come with a stainless steel filter and a water pressure gauge. Click on the image to find out more about PRVs and to buy.
Most PRVs come present to 3 bars but this can be altered to suit the pressure you need to get down to. It is important that the direction of flow is followed with the valve and this is usually marked with an arrow on the valve itself. Nowadays the spring loaded diaphragm operates a ceramic disc which is raised or lowered according to the pressure required. PRVs can be used on all sized pipes. Clicking on the image will take you to 15mm PRVs but 22mm are available by following the link you will find there.
Fitting the PRV is simple enough. As mentioned before, do this in conjunction with our projects on copper compression joints, isolation valves and repairing a burst pipe.
Find a suitable length of pipe to cut into and make sure you have turned the water off and drained down first. We have shown two methods of cutting 
into the pipe here. The one on the left is a wheeled pipe cutter and the one on the right is commonly called a pipe slice. Both of these, although slightly more expensive than a hack saw are far more advanced, quicker, neater and easier to use. There are no burrs left on the end of the pipe and olives and other fittings can be used immediately without having to file down the end of the pipe. Click on either of the links above to get to these tools. The image on the right shows the pipe with the section cut out. As you will see from the projects mentioned above, the distance between the cuts depends on the item being inserted but, with compression fittings, unless they are slip couplings, there is always a lip which the inserted, cut pipe sits up against. Measuring between these lips gives you the distance to cut out of the pipe.
Apologies for the quality of the image but it does give the idea! When the pipe is cut, remove the compression nuts from either
side of the PRV. Slide them onto the pipe and then slide the olives on. An olive is a circular brass fitting thicker in the centre of its width than at the edges. As the compression nut is tightened the olive is squeezed between the body of the nut and the fitting itself. This makes the joint watertight. The right hand image shows how the olive fits into the fitting. Double check the direction of flow arrow is pointing in the right direction and tighten everything up. You can now set the pressure to that required and enjoy your shower. Pressure reducing valves can be inserted after the house stop cock to reduce the water pressure throughout the home if it is too great. Reducing water pressure can actually reduce wastage and therefore save you money.
For another way to reduce wastage and increase efficiency in the home go to our video section on showers and watch a film about "installing an high-efficiency showerhead".
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