Mine reads 16. I had a pump for 14 years and it read 18. It all depends. The thing you should make note of is what YOURS reads after you've backwashed it and the water is clear. Then the thing is to keep an eye on it and ensure that it stays pretty much there. When you see it climb (for me, it was never), backwash. If the pressure drops, you could be sucking wind, er, air somewhere. For me, that usually meant the skimmer basket got outta place, and the water was coming in funny. Remember the old (very old) Haley's MO commercial: Normal is what's normal for YOU. Yes I'm old. It takes a big man to admit it!