Backflow prevention devices are a vital part of your property’s plumbing system. They ensure that water entering your home only flows in one direction, preventing contaminants from entering the public drinking supply.
Unfortunately, these devices can malfunction, allowing contaminated water to flow in the opposite direction. This is why it’s essential to have backflow testing done regularly.
Protects You and Your Family
Backflow testing Lufkin, TX, protects you and your family from the risks of contaminated water. If you go years without having your backflow device tested, contaminants from your home could enter the public water supply and spread illness in your community.
During backflow inspections, a plumber will test the integrity of your backflow preventer. They will temporarily disconnect your water service and open and close the valves on the backflow device while taking pressure measurements. When the inspection is complete, the technician will reinitiate your water service and submit your results directly to your municipality.
In addition to protecting you and your family from contaminated water, backflow testing helps preserve overall water quality. Without proper testing and prevention, toxins from fertilizers, cleaning agents, and pesticides can enter the water supply and cause serious health issues. The best way to ensure the safety of your drinking water is to stick to a routine testing schedule and keep up with maintenance.
Saves You Money
Many local plumbing codes and statutes require backflow testing to keep your home in compliance. Keeping up with these tests prevents backflow and can save money on costly plumbing repairs.
During a backflow test, your plumber will shut off your water. Then, they will turn on the backflow test device and close valves while using a gauge to see if they are opening and closing correctly. This process is quick, easy, and completely safe to perform.
When your water is contaminated, you and your family are at risk for diseases like dysentery, typhoid, giardia, and E coli. Backflow can also cause heavy metal contamination, which leads to symptoms such as muscle aches and fevers. By having regular backflow testing, you can be sure that your home’s clean water is free of fecal matter and harmful bacteria.
Saves the Environment
Backflow testing helps the environment by ensuring dirty water doesn’t enter your clean water supply. A properly functioning backflow assembly will stop any used, unclean, or contaminated water from entering the system. This is especially important in communities with limited water resources.
Backflow prevention devices help to keep your home’s filtered drinking water safe, but they can be broken or fail if not maintained correctly. With annual testing, these devices may work as they should.
Imagine turning on your tap to brush your teeth and finding brown water flowing from your faucet. This could happen if someone uses a bucket of fertilizer concentrate and shuts off their backyard hose, creating a sudden shift in water pressure. Without a backflow assembly, this contaminated water could backflow into your home’s plumbing, and your family would be at risk of severe health issues. Annual backflow assessments help to prevent these problems and ensure that your water is always safe for everyone in your household.
Saves You Time
Backflow testing might seem like one more thing on your to-do list, but it can save you considerable time in the long run. By scheduling regular tests and keeping up with the results, you’ll be able to relax knowing that your water is safe and clean.
Typically, your plumbing pipes are designed for water to flow in just one direction, but specific pressure imbalances or suction can cause the water to reverse. If this happens, dirty wastewater from your bathtub or dishwasher could contaminate the clean drinking water you and your family consume.
Certified technicians will close and open valves during the backflow test to determine whether the backflow preventer works appropriately. They may also use gauges to check for changes in pressure and other clear signs of contamination. Then, they’ll tag your backflow device to show you and the authorities when it was tested last. This way, you can rest assured that your backflow test is current and ready for the following year.
