Randy Kwiatkowski, Chief Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired), SaddleBrooke Resident
My wife and I chose SaddleBrooke as the place we wanted to call home after I retired from nearly 33 years of service in the United States Air Force, culminating as a Chief Master Sergeant. After a lifetime of moving, putting down roots here is meaningful.
Throughout my military career, we learned that taking care of people often begins by paying attention to things that affect their everyday lives. Retirement did not turn that instinct off. We care about this community, our neighbors, our homes, and our quality of life.
That is why I am writing about something most of us rarely consider: water pressure.
Recently, a water pipe broke in the attic of our approximately 25-year-old SaddleBrooke home. Afterward, we installed a whole-home water monitoring and automatic shutoff system so that, if another pipe failed, the water could be shut off quickly.
What I did not anticipate was what the system would teach me.
Our household pressure generally registered in the 60 PSI range, but I noticed fluctuations. On at least one occasion, the system recorded over 80 PSI around 3 a.m. That got my attention and started me asking questions.
One number became particularly important during my research: 80 pounds per square inch, or PSI. Pinal County lists the 2018 International Plumbing Code among its adopted building codes. That code requires a pressure-reducing valve when static water pressure within a building exceeds 80 PSI.
A single reading around 80 PSI does not prove that something is wrong with a home’s plumbing or our community water system. Pressure can fluctuate, and conditions within an individual home can affect it. But my readings convinced me this was worth understanding.
I raised my observations with SaddleBrooke leadership and appreciated that my concerns were taken seriously and passed along for consideration. I also asked what I could do as a homeowner.
Ultimately, I elected to have a pressure-reducing valve installed and our household pressure regulated to approximately 60 PSI. That was my personal decision to add another layer of protection to our older plumbing system. But the experience left me wondering: Do you know the water pressure inside your home?
If not, it may be worth finding out. You can attach an inexpensive pressure gauge to an exterior hose connection, or a licensed plumber can evaluate your home’s pressure and determine whether a pressure-reducing valve is present and functioning properly. I would also encourage every homeowner to know where the home’s main water shutoff is and how to operate it quickly.
None of this is intended to create alarm. It is about awareness.
After serving nearly 33 years in uniform, I learned that taking care of people does not always involve grand gestures. Sometimes it means noticing something, asking questions, taking appropriate action, and sharing what you learned.
SaddleBrooke is our home, and you are our neighbors. If our experience encourages even one homeowner to check their water pressure or helps prevent a future plumbing problem, then sharing it was worth it.