What is Backflow and How Can You Prevent it?

Unless you don’t mind coming home one day to find sewage in your drinking water, it’s time you learned the answer to the question, “What is backflow?” And just how important backflow preventers are and what they mean to you.

So what is backflow?

A quick lesson in Plumbing 101 can answer this question and put it into perspective. When a water distribution system is designed, the intention is to keep the water flowing only in one direction. This means that when plumbers are connecting a home to a city line, the water should only flow from the city to the home. Often times, however, pressure changes in the system can cause the water to start flowing the opposite way; meaning now the water, sewage, etc., from the home is flowing into the city line and contaminating the water supply.

So to recap; backflow is when water flows in the wrong direction and could potentially cause contamination.

What do you do about it?

This is where backflow preventers come into the picture. As its name clearly suggests, a backflow preventer prevents backflow. It does so by use of a one way check valve that only lets water flow through one way. When there is a pressure change and water starts flowing the wrong way, the valve snaps shut and does not allow it to pass through. Also, if there is no water present in the line at all, the valve remains completely closed to further reduce the risk of contamination.

Do I really have to call in a pro?

With many plumbing issues, we salute those homeowners who tackle their own issues, but in this case we highly advise calling in a professional. For one thing, once a plumber has installed a backflow preventer it has to be tested by someone who has completed the extra training required to become backflow certified. Plus, the device could potentially do more harm than good if not installed correctly and the damage caused by contamination is not worth trying to save money by doing it yourself.

Proper testing should be done at the time the backflow preventer is installed, if it’s relocated or reinstalled, and each year just as a precautionary measure.

What does all of this mean for me?

More and more locations are starting to make a backflow preventer a mandatory part of the plumbing for any location and it’s safe to assume that soon they will be required everywhere. These devices are a safety precaution that protect us all from the potentially devastating hazards of water contamination.

Every year there are over 10,000 reported cases of contamination from backflow; the time and money it takes to make sure your family is protected is more than worth it when you consider that often the results of contamination can even be fatal.