Watts LFN45B Pressure Regulator

[pd417]

Just installed a new Watts LFN45B pressure regulator. According to the specs, the regulator is set to 50 psi from the factory, but when I put a pressure gauge on a hose bib that's adjacent to the regulator, it reads 75 psi, same with a second one in our side yard. I adjusted the set screw counterclockwise to reduce the pressure, but it's still at 75 psi.

Why is this happening and how can it be fixed?

 

[havasu]

Is the arrow on the regulator pointing from the meter to the house?

 

[Mr_David]

Are you 100% sure the hose bib you are checking it on is after the PRV?

I have seen some water services to a home that the tee for hose bib is hidden inside the wall between the shut off valve and the PRV.

 

[pd417]

Yes, it is. I took a picture of the original regulator before I disassembled it.
Is it possible the regulator is bad?

And I am uncertain if the hose bib is after the PRV, as a "T" is possibly hidden in the wall.

 

[Mr_David]

with the gauge on have someone open a faucet to relieve any excess pressure.
what does it read with faucet open and then how does the pressure read after it is closed. does it go directly up to 75 or does it creep up to that slowly?
could be some debris on the seal in the prv.

 

[Mr_David]

P.S. the arrow looks like it's in right

 

[havasu]

I see the arrow is correct. It sure looks to me that the nut is threaded all the way in. I just took a pic or my pressure regulator I installed 5 months ago and look at the adjustment nut. Sure is different....

If that was mine, I'd pull it out and return it as defective and get another one that is preset from the factory.

 

[frodo]

I see the arrow is correct. It sure looks to me that the nut is threaded all the way in. I just took a pic or my pressure regulator I installed 5 months ago and look at the adjustment nut. Sure is different....

If that was mine, I'd pull it out and return it as defective and get another one that is preset from the factory.

^^^yepper^^^

 

[pd417]

That's probably what I will do.

By the way, when I turned on a faucet inside the house and the hose bib, the new PRV started to hum.

 

[havasu]

Do you happen to know your incoming water pressure before the pressure regulator?

 

[pd417]

Unfortunately not, no pressure gauge at the meter.

 

[Mr_David]

I see the arrow is correct. It sure looks to me that the nut is threaded all the way in. I just took a pic or my pressure regulator I installed 5 months ago and look at the adjustment nut. Sure is different....

If that was mine, I'd pull it out and return it as defective and get another one that is preset from the factory.

You have a wilkens PRV. The long screw on OP is the adjusting screw.
That nut is a lock nut.

 

[pd417]

I spoke to Watts this morning and explained the issue, they said it sounded like the regulator was bad and to return in, which I did.
Installed a new one, and didn't touch the adjusting screw (since it's factory set at 50 psi). Checked the pressure again at the adjacent hose bib and like before, still read 75 psi.

Mr_David...I think you may be right when you said there may be a "T" in the wall bypassing the regulator to the outside hose bib. That's the only thing I can think of that would cause the pressure to remain that high. If that's the case, then 75 psi must be the pressure from the main line.

Since I'm most concerned about the pressure at the cold water bib on our washing machine, I'll check that next.

 

[havasu]

Do you have a hose bib in the backyard? That is a sure pressure checker.

 

[pd417]

I do. I just checked it, 48 psi.

 

[havasu]

Perfect.....

 

[pd417]

Thanks to all for the advice, much appreciated.