Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Beware of high pressure?


We are writing this letter to alert residents living in the Woodside area, especially Winterhaven Drive, regarding high water pressure. High water pressure can cause damage to pipes, appliances, sprinkler systems and an increase in your utility bill—let alone the cost of repairs from the damage done.

After four water damage issues (two burst water pipes, three sprinkler blowouts, refrigerator and dishwasher leaks), a plumber checked the water pressure. It was above 95 psi. The water pressure should be 60-75 psi, at the most. The plumber said that "water pressure regulator valves" should have been installed by the contractor's plumber when the townhomes were built. It was recommended that these be installed as soon as possible to prevent even more serious damage. We had this done at the cost of $1,300 for the four units.

So, who is responsible? The Idaho State Plumbing Bureau says state code reads that "the contractor's plumber is responsible to check the pressure and install regulator valves if it's too high." The city of Hailey is aware of high water pressure in the Woodside area. Shouldn't the city building inspector know of this before issuing an occupancy permit? Shouldn't the contractor check this as part of the punch list? No one claims responsibility for this. The city says they know of the water pressure regulation but can't find the document. The contractor said he wasn't aware of it. The plumbers were "subbed out" so we can't get a hold of them. There needs to be some accountability here. It should start with the city of Hailey Building Department in regulating permits.

Please ask about water pressure before buying. Existing homeowners should have theirs checked if the pressure seems high. Don't let what happened to us happen to you. Unfortunately, it seems that it is caveat emptor, which shouldn't have to be the case.

Ed and Cathy Lind

Dora Brennan

Joann Mickelson

Hailey




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