What Is Backflow Prevention?

When it comes to gravity: what goes up must come down. When it comes to your plumbing: what goes down might come back up. Backflow is an unsightly occurrence that can fill your toilets, sinks, and tubs with filthy waste or wastewater. This situation poses health risks as well as inconveniences. Fortunately, Neighborhood Plumbing has some solutions and we are available to help no matter the time of the day or the day of the year. If you are dealing with water or sewage backups, then give Neighborhood Plumbing a call to get connected with a live representative. We can schedule a flexible appointment or arrange an emergency dispatch. With that said, here is some basic information on backflow prevention.

What Is Backflow?

Before we get to the prevention of it, let us quickly summarize what is backflow. As you know, your plumbing is designed to bring clean water to your building through the water line and discharge waste and wastewater through the drain line. This is supposed to be a one-directional flow. However, pressure change as well as other issues can disrupt the water flow and even reverse it. Essentially, backflow is when used and contaminated water flows back through your plumbing and into your living space. The water is filthy and is certainly not safe to consume.

Backflow Prevention

Obviously, you want to prevent filthy wastewater from flowing back into your sinks, tubs, and toilets. The health hazards alone are enough to warrant an investment in backflow prevention, but backflow can also damage your plumbing system and overall property. Neighborhood Plumbing offers backflow prevention installations and are happy to first inspect your system to determine the cause of the backflow. Sometimes, a quick repair might be necessary and the more cost-effective option.

Types of Backflow Preventors

There are several types of backflow preventors. Some of these might be required by law and must be installed in accordance with plumbing and building codes for your area. The common types of backflow preventors include:

• Double Check Valves (DCV): A double check valve uses a ball or gate valve on each end that ensures water only flows in one direction. This type of valve allows normal flow as well as reverse flow.
• Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB): This elbow-shaped device has a valve on the inside that prevents backflow. The AVB can be placed on a faucet valve, toilet, or flush valve.
• Reduced Pressure Zone Device (RPZ): An RPZ has a chamber between two independent check valves that is maintained at a lower pressure than the supply pressure. An additional drain relieves any excess pressure so that the chamber remains at a lower pressure than the supply pressure.

Call Neighborhood Plumbing

Backflow can be gross and unsafe. You do not have to wait overnight or through a weekend to get in touch with a local plumber. Call Neighborhood Plumbing any time to get connected with a live representative. Our staff and plumbers are available around the clock and can be dispatched to your location in as soon as within the hour.