6 Best Pressure Reducing Valves For Adjusting Water Pressure To Protect Your Pipes
Protect your home’s plumbing from damaging high pressure. Our guide reviews the 6 best pressure reducing valves for consistent and safe water flow.
You turn on the hose to fill the chicken waterer, and the connector fitting explodes, spraying water everywhere. Later, you notice your new drip irrigation system has a dozen tiny geysers where emitters have blown clean off the tubing. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re symptoms of a single, powerful problem: water pressure that’s too high for your farm’s plumbing.
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Why Your Farm Needs a Pressure Reducing Valve
High water pressure feels like a good thing until it isn’t. Municipal water suppliers or powerful well pumps often deliver water at pressures of 80 PSI or higher. While that sounds great for washing mud off the tractor, it’s a silent killer for your plumbing infrastructure.
Every pipe fitting, valve, and appliance on your property has a maximum pressure rating. Exceeding it constantly puts stress on the entire system. This leads to premature failure of washing machine hoses, leaky faucets, and, in the worst-case scenario, a burst pipe inside a wall or under the barn floor. For a farm, the stakes are even higher. High pressure can damage sensitive irrigation controllers, blow out drip emitters, and cause livestock waterers to malfunction.
A Pressure Reducing Valve, or PRV, is the simple, mechanical solution to this problem. Installed on your main water line after the meter or well pump, it acts like a gatekeeper. You set a desired downstream pressure—typically between 50 and 60 PSI—and no matter how high the incoming pressure gets, the PRV ensures everything in your house, barn, and fields receives water at that safe, consistent level. It’s a small investment that protects your entire water system from costly and time-consuming failures.
Watts LFN45B: The All-Around Workhorse Valve
When you need a reliable, no-nonsense PRV for your main water line, the Watts LFN45B is the one you see most often, and for good reason. It’s built like a tank with a lead-free bronze body, designed to last for decades. This is the definition of a "set it and forget it" component.
Think of this as the perfect valve for the main supply line coming into your property or feeding a primary outbuilding like the main barn. Its internal design is simple and robust, capable of handling the constant demands of a busy farm without fuss. The sealed spring cage and stainless steel components resist corrosion, which is a huge plus in damp barn environments.
Installation is straightforward for anyone with basic plumbing skills, using standard threaded connections. Adjusting the pressure is as simple as loosening a lock nut and turning a screw. The LFN45B is the dependable, all-around choice that provides peace of mind, ensuring everything from the house dishwasher to the automatic stock tank filler is protected.
Zurn Wilkins 600XL: Top Choice for High Flow
Sometimes, pressure isn’t the only concern; flow rate is just as critical. The Zurn Wilkins 600XL is engineered specifically for systems where you need to move a lot of water without a significant drop in pressure. This is the valve you want when you might be running the irrigation for the market garden at the same time someone is hosing down the barn.
The key benefit of the 600XL is its high-performance design, which minimizes pressure loss as water flows through it. Cheaper or smaller valves can create a bottleneck, starving downstream fixtures when demand is high. The Zurn ensures that the last sprinkler head on the line gets nearly the same flow as the first, making your irrigation patterns more consistent and effective.
This valve is built for durability with a corrosion-resistant bronze body and a composite cartridge that can be easily serviced or replaced without removing the whole valve from the line. While it might be overkill for a single spigot, it’s the top choice for a main supply line where maintaining a high flow rate is essential for your daily operations.
Apollo 36ELF: Lead-Free and Easy to Install
The Apollo 36ELF series is another fantastic, all-purpose PRV that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the top brands. Its main selling points are its robust, lead-free certified construction and its straightforward, user-friendly design. For a hobby farmer, "reliable and simple" are two of the best words you can hear.
This valve is a great option for protecting the water supply to a specific area, like a greenhouse with a misting system or a workshop with a utility sink. It often comes factory pre-set to a standard 50 PSI, which means for many installations, you can simply install it and be done. If you do need to adjust it, the process is quick and intuitive.
Built with a bronze body and stainless steel strainer, the Apollo 36ELF is designed to handle the rigors of farm life. It’s a solid, dependable choice that provides excellent pressure regulation without requiring specialized knowledge to install or maintain. It’s a true workhorse you can trust to protect your pipes and equipment.
SharkBite EB45-DSB: Push-to-Connect Simplicity
Not everyone is a master plumber, and that’s where the SharkBite EB45-DSB changes the game. This valve combines a reliable pressure regulator with the incredible convenience of push-to-connect fittings. If you need to cut into an existing line of PEX, copper, or CPVC pipe, this is by far the fastest and easiest way to add a PRV.
Imagine you discover the pressure going to your automatic chicken waterers is too high and causing the valves to leak. Instead of dealing with torches or crimpers, you can simply cut a section of pipe, deburr the ends, and push this valve into place. The connection is secure, permanent, and takes seconds to make.
While some traditionalists may be wary of push-fittings, the SharkBite system has proven itself to be exceptionally reliable. For a quick repair, an emergency fix, or a project you need to get done between other chores, the convenience is unmatched. This is the ultimate DIY-friendly solution for modern farm plumbing.
Cash Acme EB-45: Compact and Durable Design
Space is often a luxury, especially when you’re retrofitting plumbing in an old barn or a tight utility room. The Cash Acme EB-45 is a compact PRV that delivers reliable performance in a much smaller package than many of its competitors. When every inch counts, this is the valve to reach for.
This valve is perfect for those awkward spots—under a sink, behind a washing machine, or tucked into a tight manifold for an irrigation system. Its small size doesn’t mean it compromises on quality. Made by the same parent company as SharkBite, it features a durable all-bronze and stainless steel construction you can depend on.
The EB-45 is a half-union design, which simplifies installation and future servicing. It’s a testament to modern engineering, proving that you don’t need a massive, heavy valve to effectively control your water pressure. For targeted applications in tight quarters, it’s an excellent and reliable choice.
Valterra A01-1122VP: RV & Hose Bib Protection
Not all pressure problems require cutting into your main plumbing. Sometimes you just need to protect a single, specific piece of equipment. The Valterra A01-1122VP is a simple, hose-thread regulator designed for exactly that purpose.
This isn’t a permanent valve for your whole farm. Instead, you screw it directly onto a hose bib or spigot. It’s perfect for protecting a delicate drip irrigation system for your vegetable beds, regulating pressure for a power washer, or ensuring the water supply to a temporary stock tank doesn’t damage the float valve. It’s also the standard for protecting RV plumbing systems.
The Valterra is typically pre-set to a safe pressure (around 40-50 PSI) and is not adjustable, which is part of its appeal—it’s pure plug-and-play. While it’s not built for the high-flow, continuous-duty demands of a main line, it’s an essential, inexpensive tool to have in your toolbox for specific, hose-connected tasks.
Choosing the Right PRV for Your Farm’s Needs
The "best" pressure reducing valve isn’t about a single brand; it’s about matching the right tool to the right job on your farm. A valve that’s perfect for the main line is overkill for a garden hose, and a hose regulator can’t handle the demands of the whole property. Your first step should always be to test your pressure with a simple screw-on water pressure gauge to confirm you have a problem.
Once you know your pressure, you can choose the right valve based on its intended location and your plumbing skills. The decision process can be broken down easily:
- Main Supply Line (High Flow Needed): The Zurn Wilkins 600XL is your best bet to ensure strong flow everywhere.
- Main Supply Line (Standard Use): The Watts LFN45B or Apollo 36ELF are the reliable, all-around workhorses.
- Easy DIY Installation/Repair: The SharkBite EB45-DSB is the clear winner for its push-to-connect speed.
- Tight Installation Space: The Cash Acme EB-45 offers a compact design without sacrificing durability.
- Hose-End Equipment Protection: The Valterra A01-1122VP is the simple, portable solution.
By thinking through where the valve will go and what it will be supplying, you can make a smart choice. Don’t just buy the cheapest option. Investing in the right PRV for the application will save you from burst pipes, damaged equipment, and major headaches for years to come.
Ultimately, controlling your water pressure is a fundamental part of responsible farm maintenance. It’s a proactive, one-time fix that prevents a cascade of expensive, frustrating problems. By installing the right PRV, you’re not just protecting your pipes—you’re ensuring the reliability of the most critical resource on your farm.
