Continuous and clean water supply is essential in our homes. Lack of clean water can wreak havoc in our daily lives. Having fully functional plumbing is, therefore, crucial.
Backflow is unwanted or unclean water flowing back and contaminating the supply. It usually occurs in multi-family residences or commercial buildings. Another issue with backflow is that contaminated water is not always immediately identified. So, the problem goes unnoticed till it's too late.
Water lines, both potable and non-potable, are interlinked at different places in a commercial building. Public water supply is also linked to your water supply at one point. In the case of backflow, water utilized for irrigation, cleaning purposes, fire systems, and many other uses can come back, mix with drinking water and contaminate it, leading to various illnesses or death. Backflow and cross-connections, therefore, must be identified as soon as possible and repaired.
Spotting them when they first appear and calling promptly for repair is the key. There are several signs you need to look out for. Here, we discuss the most common.
Water discoloration: Your tap water changing color and smelling foul is the most apparent backflow signs. The water could also taste bad. You may also see sediment or rust in the water. All these signs point to possible backflow in your water system.
Leaks and discharge: Sometimes, the water shows no signs, looking clean and tasting normal. But you may notice leaks or water discharge in different places. Or maybe tap water is not coming with as much force as it used to.
Rather than waiting for backflow to happen and then repairing it, it is better to prevent it altogether. You can install a device known as a backflow preventer to resolve this issue.
It is a safeguard added to the plumbing to ensure that your building's non-potable water doesn't flow back to the public water supply and contaminate it. A professional backflow technician can use various devices such as a double check valve, a reduced pressure assembly, an atmospheric vacuum breaker, or a pressure vacuum breaker assembly to prevent backflow.
How long has it been since your last test:
If your facility or home has a backflow prevention assembly installed, remember to have it tested annually by a licensed technician.
However, just installing a backflow preventer will not solve all your issues. Backflow prevention assemblies are mechanical devices that can fail so, maintenance service is required from time to time for the proper functioning of your device and everyone's safety in the building and locality.
Your search ends here. Backflow Testing & Repair should be your one-stop destination for all your backflow related problems. We offer the best backflow repair, testing, and maintenance, ensuring that the water you use is safe and clean. You can reach out to us at (979) 215-1169 or fill our online form for any queries, and we will get in touch.
