Drain Clearing and Pressure Reducing Valve Replacement in San Diego

Our team at Happy Plumbing recently tackled a multi-faceted plumbing issue in a two-story home. The homeowners reported a backed-up drain in their upstairs hallway bathroom and a persistent imbalance in water pressure throughout the house. The hallway bathroom’s shower drain was clogged, likely due to long hair buildup, causing slow drainage. At the same time, the malfunctioning pressure regulator caused inconsistent water pressure. The shower with the clogged drain had excessively strong water flow, creating loud noises in the pipes, while another bathroom upstairs experienced low water pressure.

Our technicians used professional tools to clear the clog in the shower drain, ensuring smooth water flow. We dismantled the P-trap under the sink, removed obstructions, and ran a 3/8” auger if necessary. After clearing the blockages, we reassembled the pipes and tested for leaks to confirm functionality.

 

The home’s existing pressure reducing valve was faulty and leaking, causing the water pressure to spike to 77 psi—far above the state-recommended level of 55 psi. We removed the old 1-inch valve and installed a durable dual-union pressure reducing valve to restore proper water pressure regulation. The new valve was set to 55 psi to ensure balanced water flow throughout the home and to prevent future pipe stress or noise issues.