Backflows in Your Plumbing System? Here’s What to Do

Backflows in Your Plumbing System? Here’s What to Do

The health of your local water supply — and the water in your home, as well — depends on the prevention of backflows. Drinking water should never come into contact with water meant for other purposes. When it does, the quality is at risk. Read on to learn what conditions cause a backflow and what you can do prevent contamination.

What is a backflow?

A region's residential and commercial plumbing systems and local water supply are designed with the goal of preventing contamination. The local water supply must maintain a higher pressure than the water supplies of individual buildings. This pressure difference also must exist between buildings to uphold the integrity of the water supply, as well as the rest of the plumbing system.

Backflow occurs when pressure becomes higher in an outlier, causing sewage and other contaminants to move in the wrong direction, toward the drinking supply. It can also happen when the pressure of general plumbing pipes becomes higher than the potable water pipes within a building.

What causes backflow?

Two primary causes make conditions ripe for a backflow:

  • Back-siphonage occurs when negative pressure is created within the plumbing system's supply pipes. For instance, turning off the water supply at one end of the block to make repairs creates negative pressure. Meanwhile, in another home, a hose is submerged in water to fill a small wading pool. The pressure differences cause a backflow, and the nonpotable water from the pool is sucked back into the household's plumbing system, possibly contaminating the general water supply.
  • Back-pressure occurs when the pressure in a home's plumbing system becomes greater than the pressure in the local supply. When this happens, the plumbing system succumbs to the pressure, causing nonpotable water to contaminate the water supply.

Prevention

If your home's sewers and drains never have been tested for backflows, hire a plumber to inspect the system. The plumber will most likely recommend either of the two most common methods for preventing contamination: installing an air gap (AG) to maintain the integrity between potable and other plumbing lines or employing a mechanical prevention device.

Friendly and punctual

Jason has come to my house three times. Each time he was friendly, punctual, and very clear about the cost of repairs and what kind of work was required. At every step he kept me informed. Outstanding service. Would definitely call on Rooterplus again.

Chris S.

7/21/22

Came through for me I needed to service my septic tank prior to sodding my backyard. I called 2 other companies prior to RooterPLUS, Both showed up with equipment that couldn't do the job. With only a couple day window available, RooterPLUS came through for me the next morning with the right...

Came through for me

I needed to service my septic tank prior to sodding my backyard. I called 2 other companies prior to RooterPLUS, Both showed up with equipment that couldn't do the job. With only a couple day window available, RooterPLUS came through for me the next morning with the right equipment and a professional and pleasant crew.

Doc and Kory assessed the situation and got right to work. They knew exactly what to do and completed the task perfectly. They explained everything throughout the process and pointed out potential issues as they worked. Everything was done to my complete satisfaction and I'll definitely use RooterPLUS in the future for my septic tank needs.


Jim P.

9/7/21

Amazing Experience

From Customer service (Amanda) to plumber (Kurt) my experience was amazing! Thank you for helping me to solve my issue quickly and affordably. I will recommend this company to anyone needing a plumber in the future!

Laura A.

9/23/20

Neighborhood rockstars We had an issue in my neighborhood where a water main pipe burst, leaving a giant mess of a leak spewing into the street. We called numerous plumbing companies who all said they couldn't get out in a timely manner. RooterPlus! said no problem, we'll be out asap.Josh...

Neighborhood rockstars

We had an issue in my neighborhood where a water main pipe burst, leaving a giant mess of a leak spewing into the street. We called numerous plumbing companies who all said they couldn't get out in a timely manner. RooterPlus! said no problem, we'll be out asap.Josh came out, assessed the situation and said he had to go get some more supplies. He came back with the necessary supplies and got to work. And he worked and worked and worked from 6pm until 4:30 am! He had to call in reinforcements (Josh 2) and they worked hard as a team to repair the issue. Then they came back out only 5 hours later to put the finishing touches on the job.I think I speak for the entire neighborhood when we say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for being absolute rockstars and getting our neighborhood back up and running.


Matt S.

7/14/22

Contact Us Today!

770-888-1931