Many property owners in Tuskegee, Alabama, and the surrounding areas may not understand how dangerous plumbing issues can be for their homes. Discover the causes of backflow, reverse water flow through plumbing, and steps you can take to prevent backflow from occurring.
What Is Backflow?
Backflow occurs when water flows through pipes in the reverse direction of how it should flow. While this reverse direction may not seem like a big deal, backflow can cause serious problems. If the plumbing connects to a sewer line, backflow could lead to contaminated water or waste flowing into your home through toilets or faucets.
What Causes Backflow?
When pipes share connections, the potential exists for one pipe designed to carry water flow in one direction to allow water to flow in the opposite direction. Backflow can also occur when the pressure in a water trough or tank drops too low, putting that pressure at a lower level than the level of a larger water system. This situation could also occur if the pressure within a fire protection system is higher than usual, pushing contaminated water into a public or shared water system.
Backflow can lead to serious health concerns, particularly if the impacted water is the source for drinking water for a community.
How Can I Prevent Backflow?
As a property owner, you are responsible for preventing backflow. But you don’t have to handle the situation alone. Plumbing experts can install and maintain backflow prevention devices, which will restrict water from flowing in the wrong direction.
To prevent this issue, a plumber will come to your property and assess any cross-connections. These areas will require installation of backflow prevention devices, but the process is simple. Once the installation process is complete, you’ll need to have a plumber return for routine plumbing maintenance to make sure the devices are working properly.
In Tuskegee and in surrounding cities, you can rely on our team at Air Conditioning by Luquire for backflow prevention and maintenance. As a full-service plumbing contractor, we invite you to call us at 334-230-5870 for more information about our plumbing services.
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