Do you recall the last time you considered backflow prevention? Many homeowners probably aren’t aware of this plumbing service. The water supply in your home can get contaminated over time. It happens when the water pressure becomes weak, such as during pipes freezing and water main bursting. A backflow testing and prevention is essential, as it will avert the contaminants spoiling the water supply.

Here’s a scary fact! Today, plumbers come across more than 10,000 complaints of backflow contamination annually. A few such cases are severe. Let’s understand this process.

What is a backflow?

Simply put, backflow is a flow of gas, liquid, or solid from a source that flows in the opposite direction and gets back to the portable water system or supply. Here you also need to know about back siphonage, which occurs due to the negative pressure in the water supply pipe system. The causes for this are:

  • The pipelines experience high-velocity.
  • There’s reduced primary pressure owing to increased water withdrawal rate, for instance, water main flushing or firefighting.
  • There’s a break or line repair much low to the service point.
  • There is minimized suction supply pressure because of the booster pump.

The other common cause is backpressure, which gets caused when a portable water system gets connected to the non-potable supply. Usually, it is under increased pressure due to a boiler or pump. The risk of non-potable water getting forced into the potable system is high. It happens when the interconnections aren’t secured. To know more about this, you can check out an expert plumber North Shore has.

The various types of backflow prevention equipment

When you put an expert plumber to work, they make use of the best backflow testing and prevention devices. The basic types are:

1. Air Gap

It is one of the simplest tools to use! The gap is an open space exiting between any equipment which gets connected to your plumbing system. It gets located anywhere the water pools or accumulates.

2. An advanced backflow preventer valve

It is a handy equipment to use. You can get it installed in strategic locations within the plumbing system, depending on the risk of contaminated fluids that can enter the water pipes.

Reasons for using backflow prevention equipment

The backflow testing and prevention devices help to keep the water clean. It removes the pollutants away from the water supply through the backflows. It occurs when the water moves in the opposite direction. And when this takes place, you get exposed to several contaminants, which can cause health issues.

Drinking water gets infected by the backflow from commercial boiler systems, fire sprinkler systems, anti-freeze boiler systems, and underground lawn irrigation. The backflow prevention can assemble all the parts which can get worn out and also result in backflow infection. Hence, investing in backflow prevention equipment is crucial.

Last but not least, you need to adhere to specific regulatory requirements. Abiding by the state/country law and locality regulations is essential. You should also comply with the building or plumbing codes.  You can ask an expert plumbing service provider to help you.