mag,

I recommend hiring a plumber who is familiar with the pressure problems in your neighborhood. He can answer all the questions you have asked and make many economical and logical recommendations from his experience. 140 psi is very high even for a irrigation system. Do you have a shut off valve on the irrigation line? Preferably just after the tee connection from your house mainline. If not the plumber will have to shut the whole house down as well to install the PR and you should put a gate or ball valve for an irrigation mainline shutoff. JMHO Aloha

As I described above:

- They've run a separate line out for the irrigation. It first runs through a shut off valve that is accessible under a plastic box in the front lawn.
- The water company employee told me 140 is normal for my area.

I'm going to buy a brass pressure regulator and swap it for what I assume is the blown plastic one after the shut off valve.

- Some places have a Watts model online for $50-60
- Home Despot and Lowes have a Wilkins double union for $80 (single union is $70)
- The local Ewings wants $150 for theirs.

Any recommendations?

Magi,

You pay for what you get. If you can afford it buy better quality. Ask your water company/plumber what brand gives the best value or check on the internet. Put in tee w/hose bib(faucet)fitting to put on a pressure gauge to adjust your new pressure regulator and later can be used for a higher pressure hose source for cleaning stuff. JMHO Aloha

McMaster-Carr has a selection of regulators with good descriptions. Try page 486 in the linked catalog.

Zeuspaul

Here is a link that might be useful: regulators

Mageus, when connecting pvc to metal it's best to use a male thread on the pvc adapter threaded into female on the brass.

Also it's a good idea to use sch 80 pvc adapters due to the significant reduction in pvc pressure ratings when threaded pvc connections are used.

Zeuspaul