Any plumbing experts?

[RoyBell]

I was working on the house this weekend when I noticed something funny with the plumbing. It appears the water line from the meter has a 1/2" T which then opens back up to a 3/4" and feeds the rest of the house from there.

Will this 1/2" valve and 90 slow the flow of water enough to where it would make sense to change it to a 3/4"

The pressure is fine for running 2 showers at once, and even the 3 shower isn't that bad. But, I have to wonder what the difference would be if that 1/2" valve wasn't there. Any thoughts?

 

[Toomanytools?]

Not an expert , it will slow it down a bit, not sure how much. That must be the whole house shut off. Would be a pain to change, if you can run 2 showers fine and a 3rd ok not sure I would bother unless you you have a large family. You could put a ball valve near the floor and swivel that Tee to "everything" and reconnect. Not sure it would make that much difference.

 

[RoyBell]

The main shutoff is by the water meter under my front stairs. The line then goes underground and comes up in this closet. I think the 3/4" valve behind it may have been original secondary shutoff. Maybe it froze? That 3/4" line is capped off and it looks like someone stuck that T and smaller valve after the fact since it's not painted like the rest of them.

 

[sberry]

Only hurts a little and only a concern if you need a little more and ain't getting it. For a short section probably couldn't notice it.
That isn't worth fixing, the valve hurts more than the t but the object isn't to use as much as you can but to get as much as you need. A little pressure loss saves quite a bit of water. Biggest way to make it work better is low flow fixtures, shower heads and toilets.

 

[Boilerhouse]

Pressure loss vs 3/4 would be minimal on a short section like that. No way I would touch it. If the 1/2 in ever fails, then I would consider up-sizing it.

 

[RoyBell]

I was mainly concerned about the valve. Not sure which type it is but stepping down to 1/2" and the insides are even less. The pressure is remarkable as is considering the 3/4" main service, but if it can be improved, why not? I already have 1.1GPF toilets and the shower heads I imagine are throttled already since they are all within 5 years old. Maybe I will put it on my winter list of things to do if I get bored.

Actually, looks more like the Stop style vs the gate style.

 

[sberry]

A lot of common valves use the same internals for 1/2 as 3/4 the only difference being threads. If its running 2 showers well and 3 not bad,,, how often do you run 3 and how much is it going to help? How often do 2 run and for how long?

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

The only reason I'd mess with that is if it were leaking-

Then I'd change to a ball valve!

 

[engineer2]

I had a similar situation in my old house. If the in-ground sprinklers were running, water flow to the upstairs was poor. I found a restriction similar to yours, upgraded to 3/4" and solved the problem.