Backflow is more of a problem than you might think.
Backflow is more of a problem than you might think. Used and dirty water (such as the water in the toilet after you’ve used it and other sewage should be carried away. Meanwhile, fresh and clean water comes in; at least, that’s how it should work. When the contaminated water ends up flowing back into your home’s plumbing, it can make everyone sick. In some cases, the illnesses could be fatal.
Dealing with Backsiphonage
Back siphonage is one of the primary causes of backflow-related issues. Dropping pressure levels force the water to go backward. Most of the time, the culprit behind this mishap is when a water main breaks. Keep an eye on your garden hose. Compared to the other elements of your home’s plumbing system, this one component is the most likely to cause back siphonage problems. What does this entail? It means that the filthy water you used up in the garden flows into your clean water supply instead!
Dealing with Back Pressure
Another issue related to backflow is, unsurprisingly, called backpressure. Unlike back siphonage, this change comes from higher water pressure, not lower. Clogs, pump malfunctions, and boiler pressure levels are all to blame for this, generally speaking.
Arranging for Backflow Testing
Backflow testing itself is pretty simple. It’s an inspection of your home’s plumbing to see if flow-related problems are taking place. The master plumber you hire comes to your house and looks at the preventers. These preventers are like crossing guards. They make sure the water keeps moving in the right direction while stopping traffic (dirty water) that might get in the way.
It can be hard to tell where the preventers are if you don’t know what you’re looking for; this is why it’s so important to have a certified plumber do it for you. They’ll open and close the valves to confirm that the devices are operating correctly. Then they check the valves to verify that there are no leaks or gauge movements that could lead to disaster. If something is wrong, don’t worry about it! The plumber can make a few quick repairs and fix everything back up again.
Why Does Testing Matter So Much?
One of the major benefits of backflow testing is disease prevention; sewer backups won’t make everyone in your household sick. Dysentery, typhoid, and salmonella have been proven to come from polluted water. Besides, other extremely unpleasant side effects brought about by other microbes could give you flu-like symptoms!
All of Your Plumbing Needs from Master Plumbing
Give Master Plumbing a call at (301) 650-9100, or contact us online to get more information on how our expert plumbers can help you with just about anything plumbing-related! We have received Angie’s List Super Service Award recognition for plumbing and drain cleaning every year since 2007, in addition to the Best Plumber award from Best of Bethesda. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and our service is unparalleled. Give us a call today—you won’t regret it! To see examples of our projects, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!