Pressure Reducing Valve Station Logger
PRV vault rounds — inlet/outlet pressures, pilot condition, vault flooding, bypass position and noise; the log that keeps zones stable.
New PRV station inspection
Quarterly rounds with pressure readings are common; annual teardown of pilots/strainers per manufacturer.
Field guide: Pressure Reducing Valve Station Logger
A pressure zone is a promise: customers at the bottom of the hill get survivable pressure because a PRV station upstream eats the difference. When the valve drifts, the failure is sneaky — outlet creep shows up as main breaks and blown water heaters in the lower zone weeks later, and an open bypass quietly defeats the valve entirely while everything 'works'. The three numbers this log captures every round — inlet, outlet, setpoint — are the zone's vital signs.
Valve behavior observations carry the diagnosis: hunting points at the pilot circuit or air; creep means the main valve isn't sealing (worn seat or debris); chatter is usually cavitation from too much pressure differential across one stage. Vault findings matter for the day repairs are needed — a flooded vault with a corroded ladder turns a 2-hour pilot swap into a confined-space project.
Field tips
- Log pressures at the same time of day; diurnal demand swings can masquerade as valve drift.
- Outlet 5+ psi above setpoint at low demand is the classic seat-leak signature — catch it before the lower zone's leak rate tells you.
- Crack the pilot's isolation cocks gently when sampling behavior; slamming them introduces the very instability you're diagnosing.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Pressure Reducing Valve Station Logger — PRV vault rounds — inlet/outlet pressures, pilot condition, vault flooding, bypass position and noise; the log that keeps zones stable. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Pressure Reducing Valve Station Logger
A pressure zone is a promise: customers at the bottom of the hill get survivable pressure because a PRV station upstream eats the difference. When the valve drifts, the failure is sneaky — outlet creep shows up as main breaks and blown water heaters in the lower zone weeks later, and an open bypass quietly defeats the valve entirely while everything 'works'. The three numbers this log captures every round — inlet, outlet, setpoint — are the zone's vital signs.
How to use Pressure Reducing Valve Station Logger
- 1Enter the station id and tap 📍 GPS to pin the PRV station's exact location (or type coordinates).
- 2Work through the PRV station checklist — every field matches what a real inspection program records.
- 3Pick a condition on the Normal / Drifting — adjust / Malfunctioning / Failed / bypassed ⚠ scale; actionable findings are tallied automatically.
- 4Add notes and log the inspection — it saves instantly to your device, even with zero signal.
- 5Export the round as CSV for your asset system, GeoJSON for the GIS, or print a clean report.
Why use Pressure Reducing Valve Station Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with AWWA M51
Frequently asked questions
Why does PRV outlet pressure creep upward?+
At low/zero demand, even a slight leak across the main valve seat raises downstream pressure until something relieves it. Causes: worn seat disc, debris scoring, or a pilot that doesn't fully load the diaphragm. Creep is most visible overnight — which is why a reading at the right hour beats three at noon.
What causes a PRV to hunt or oscillate?+
The pilot control loop is unstable: trapped air, a sticking pilot stem, wrong needle-valve (speed control) setting, or oversizing (the valve operating nearly closed at typical flows). Hunting hammers the system — log it with the pressure swing range and let the mechanic tune speed controls or downsize.
Is a cracked-open bypass really that serious?+
Yes — the bypass is an uncontrolled path around the PRV. Cracked open 'temporarily' during a repair and forgotten, it feeds high-zone pressure into the low zone at every low-demand period. Bypass position deserves explicit logging on every visit precisely because the failure is invisible while demand is high.
What's the maximum pressure drop one PRV should take?+
Practice keeps each stage's reduction within about a 3:1 inlet:outlet ratio (and watches for cavitation beyond ~30 m differential) — beyond that, use two stages in series or anti-cavitation trim. Chatter and rapid seat wear in your log are field evidence the station may be over-worked for its design.
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