Wastewater can back into your water supply line and contaminate your home's fresh water because of floods, storms, or water main breaks. Sewage backflow can enter your pipes and home without a backflow prevention device, making the conditions unsanitary and dangerous to your family's health. This device keeps backflow from entering your supply whenever a change decreases the water pressure on your freshwater side. Here's some information from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® about backflow, its dangers, and how to prevent it from occurring.
What Is Backflow?
Backflow is a plumbing term that refers to when the regular water flow direction reverses in your water supply line. It happens when the water main has a lower pressure than your internal plumbing system, causing back siphonage to occur. This can happen when a water main ruptures or during periods of excessively high demand. It can also happen if your connected water pump pumps water at a higher pressure than the water main's pressure. The reversal of contaminated water into your clean water lines can cause serious problems. It can happen wherever there is a cross-connection between your clean and dirty water lines.
Why Backflow is Dangerous
Backflow is serious because of what it can do to your home and your health, including the following:
- Flooding your home with water
- Causing sewage to back up into your home
- Causing pipe leaks
- Causing other plumbing system problems
- Creating serious health risks
Out of these issues, the biggest problem is the risks that backflow can pose to your health. Wastewater from Lafayette's municipal sewer system contains dangerous chemicals and human waste. Dirty water from backflow might contain pesticides, chemicals, feces and other contaminants. When your family is exposed to these substances, you can suffer multiple health problems.
What is a Backflow Prevention Device?
Backflow prevention devices keep water flowing in a single direction. Several backflow prevention devices exist for different applications. Regardless of their type, backflow prevention devices prevent wastewater from entering clean water lines. The three most common backflow prevention devices include:
- Air gap backflow preventers
- Atmospheric vacuum breaker backflow preventers
- Check valves backflow preventers
You should test any backflow prevention devices you have installed annually for defects and wear. Our licensed plumbers can install your backflow preventers and test them annually for you. How each type of backflow prevention device works depends on its intended application. Each type uses different mechanisms to keep clean water free from contamination by preventing wastewater backflow.
Air Gap Backflow Preventers
Air gap backflow preventers avert backflow in sinks and dishwashers. They create an air gap between your dishwasher's flood level and your faucet. These devices prevent contamination from dirty water draining from your sink and backing up into your dishwasher. Air gap backflow preventers separate the hose that runs to the drain from the hose that runs dirty water. Since these hoses are separated, contamination can't happen because they don't intersect, effectively creating an air gap between them. Air gap devices are fairly inexpensive and come in different finishes. You can use a dual inlet air gap backflow preventer to connect your dishwasher and water filtration system at the same time. This type helps to avoid contaminating your appliances when you have a reverse osmosis filtration system installed under your sink.
Vacuum Breaker Backflow Preventers
Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB) backflow preventers are used to prevent backflow from spigots, faucets and hoses. Vacuum breakers have a check valve that causes an air vent to open when your system's pressure drops. When the air vent opens, it breaks the vacuum and seals off your water supply line. This prevents back siphonage when your supply line loses pressure. To be effective, your plumber will install AVBs a minimum of six inches above the ground. If you have a consistent pressure water system, an AVB won't be effective and shouldn't be installed upstream from a shutoff valve.
Check Valve Backflow Preventers
Check valve backflow preventers keep water flowing in a single direction. They continuously measure the pressure on both sides of the valve. When the pressure on the incoming side is higher than the outgoing one, the valve will stay open and allow water to flow normally. However, when the pressure on the outgoing side is higher than the incoming one, the valve closes. This keeps dirty water from being pulled into your clean water line. Check valve backflow preventers are used in continuous pressure systems. They should be installed in the orientation for which they're designed.
Is Backflow Prevention Really Necessary?
Under state and local law, you must install a backflow preventer if you use a lawn irrigation system or have a well. For lawn irrigation purposes, your preventer must get installed at the meter. Backflow preventers are required if you get water from a well that's also connected to the public water supply. If your water smells of sulfur, is discolored or has a bad taste, you should call us to check your system. We recommend backflow preventers anywhere that your clean and dirty water lines connect. Without backflow prevention, your water's cleanliness and purity will be at risk. If a water main bursts, contaminated water could enter your home's water supply lines and your house without warning.
Why Choose a Professional
Good backflow prevention keeps your water, home and family safe. You shouldn't try to install backflow prevention devices yourself. Instead, this job should be left to the licensed plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Lafayette. Our plumbers can help you choose the right type of backflow prevention device and make sure it's the right size. We'll seal it properly to eliminate sewage backflow into your clean water supply lines. You don't want to risk your family's safety by hiring an unlicensed person or attempting to install it yourself. State law also requires you to choose a plumber who is licensed by the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBL) to install or work on a backflow preventer. An improperly installed backflow preventer will likely fail its annual test and will need replacement. Choosing a licensed professional for backflow prevention can save you money and time.
Rely on Our Punctual Plumbers
Backflow prevention devices keep dirty water from backing into your clean water lines and contaminating your water. They also prevent sewage from backing up into your house, damaging your property, and threatening your family's health. For these reasons, it's important to install backflow preventers to keep your water, property, and family safe. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Lafayette, we are proud to be a top plumbing company in the community. In addition to backflow prevention, we provide numerous plumbing services. Count on us for plumbing repairs, backflow prevention, drain services, outdoor and emergency plumbing services, and more. We comply with all local and state building codes and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. For help with backflow prevention or any other plumbing needs, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® today!
