Water Pressure

• 1). Find a suitable faucet for the water pressure gauge. The gauge will need a faucet with a threaded end. Possible options include: hose bibb, drain connection on a water heater or a washing machine hot or cold water connection point.
  
  
• 2). Thread the water pressure gauge onto the faucet until it is finger tight.
  
  
• 3). Turn on the water supply and read the pressure on the gauge. A typical residential home will have a water pressure between 60 and 80 psi. If the pressure is too high or too low you can install devices to raise or lower the pressure.
  
  

Flow Rate

• 1). Place the 5 gallon pail under the faucet you would like to determine the flow rate for.
  
  
• 2). Turn on the water fully and start the stop watch at the same time.
  
  
• 3). Stop the stop watch when the pail is full. Divide the time by the amount of gallons. If it took one minute to fill the 5 gallon pail then the water flow rate is 5 gpm. Different flow rates will be found on different faucets. A number of factors affect the rate including pipe length and diameter, elevation and faucet restrictions.