The pipes in our homes are designed to let water flow through them, both in from the water lines here in Atlanta, GA, and out to the sewer system when transporting waste away from your household. But for all our technological advances over the years, we still can’t make pipes that flow in one direction only. What flows down one length of pipe will flow back up the other length of pipe, and that can lead to backflow in your home: contaminated water from the sewers backing up into your pipes and faucets. The best away to combat that is with a backflow prevention device installed by a professional plumber at the apex of your system. How do backflow prevention devices work? Read on for the answers.
WHY IS BACKFLOW A PROBLEM?
Backflow can occur for many reasons, most of which are out of your hands. Flooding during the rainy season, a change of pressure caused by gas in the sewers or even something as mundane as the fire department using a hydrant in the vicinity, all can create the conditions of backflow. When that happens, the water moves form the sewer system into your home, entered through the faucets and leaving contaminated water in its wake. It’s an ugly situation. The good news is there’s a solution.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES
A backflow prevention device is simply a valve placed at the apex of your plumbing system leading into the civic sewer system. The valve remains open when water is flowing out of your home to the sewer, but the moment it detects a pressure change or similar conditions leading to backflow, it snaps closed, allowing water to continue to pass out of your home, but preventing any of it from coming back in.
Backflow prevention devices require a trained plumber to install, so call the experts at Quick Action Plumbers today!