Are You Using The Best Plumbing Backflow Prevention?

Backflow is a serious plumbing issue that should always be taken seriously. It is important to install the best plumbing prevention devices, to protect your family from the dangers associated with backflow, and to have that device routinely tested at least once a year.

How can you tell when backflow has occurred? Look for the following signs:

A decrease in water quality, as evidenced by drinking water that is discolored, oily, soapy, cloudy, or foamy. Water may also have unpleasant tastes or smells of salt, medicine, fuel, or other chemicals.

Lowered water pressure, which is likely the reason the backflow occurred. Perhaps we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here. You may have some important questions like “what the heck is backflow?” or “what kind of prevention device should I install?” so let’s examine those things.

Do You Know What Backflow Is?

Backflow is when the water that is supposed to flowing away from your home flows in the wrong direction and mixes in with the potable water flowing into your home.

This brings with it all manners of contaminants including human waste, dirt, soap residue, and other bacteria and chemicals that can cause severe illness and even hospitalization.

One issue that can cause backflow is a broken water line. When a line breaks, that instantly changes the pressure in your pipes, and when the pressure in a pipe is lost, the water is no longer being pushed out of your home so that it can slide back into your water supply lines.

How Can an Air Gap Help?

One option for backflow prevention is to install a tundish to create an air gap in your system, through which contaminated water cannot flow through.

Tundishes are usually installed near or on a pressure relief valve. They are convenient because they come in a range of sizes and angles to fit just about any pipe system.

Creating an air gap are can also protect against backpressure, another form of backflow.

Try a Pressure Vacuum Breaker!

Pressure vacuum breakers are another affordable backflow prevention system option you may consider.

As said earlier, backflow is often caused by a change in the pressure within your pipes. Pressure vacuum breakers have a check valve that will usually allow water to pass through.

If something goes wrong though, and the air pressure becomes higher than the water pressure in the water pipes, the devices vented chamber will begin to open and close the check valve to prevent backflow.

So What is The Right Device For Your Home?

This question should be answered after an in-depth evaluation of your home’s unique plumbing system.

Living in Reno, NV, where our winters don’t get very cold, a pressure vacuum breaker should do just fine, unless there are other issues with your pipes that are better handled by an air gap device like a tundish.

Remember that air gaps are especially helpful in preventing backpressure, so if this is a concern for you, keep that in mind. We leave you with this:

Whatever backflow device you choose to install, make sure to have it tested and certified by a plumbing professional on a yearly basis. Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing is always available to help our community stay safe from backflow!