Backflow used to be an enormous problem for homes and businesses alike. It could result in harm to the pipes, and even generate a biohazard for those who live in the home on rare occasions. Fortunately, the vast majority of new homes and businesses constructed in the last several decades are automatically equipped with backflow prevention devices. These systems are designed to ensure that any backflow that occurs will not make it into your home’s plumbing system. Those systems still need to be maintained, though, if they are to remain effective. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of steps you can take to ensure that your home remains properly protected against the effects of backflow.
Schedule Maintenance
If you want to know how to keep pretty much any home system healthy for as long as possible, the answer is pretty much always “schedule preventive maintenance.” Most of the problems that can prevent your backflow device from working properly are not the sort of thing you’re going to notice. If the one-way valve somehow gets stuck open, for example, you would have no way of knowing that until a backflow event occurred. That’s why the best thing you can do to keep your backflow prevention device in good shape is to schedule maintenance for it at least once every couple of years. A professional plumber can inspect your backflow prevention system, identify any issues, and resolve them before they have the opportunity to cause further harm to the plumbing system.
Install a Backflow Preventer!
As we said, most of the homes and businesses constructed since the latter half of the 20th century are already equipped with backflow prevention devices. There are still a few, though, that do not have that kind of protection. These homes and businesses are in a precarious position, one that should be rectified as soon as possible. If you have any reason to believe that your home does not currently have a backflow prevention device installed, you should contact a professional and have them confirm whether you do or not. If not, you should have one installed as soon as possible. Trust us when we say that you really don’t want to find out what a bad backflow incident can do to your home.
So that’s it. Those two steps are often all you need to ensure that your home is properly protected from backflow for many years to come. Of course, there are times during which your backflow prevention device might be in need of repairs. If you’re careful about scheduling preventive maintenance on a regular basis, though, you won’t need to worry about that. So call a professional plumbing contractor you trust today, and make sure that your home is protected from the effects of backflow.
