Being a homeowner or company owner, you might well be familiar with backflow testing. You might be notified to provide your testing findings to the city authorities or water provider as most cities necessitate yearly testing and routine maintenance of the backflow preventer.
However, while you peruse the document, your understanding of what it entails and everything you must do to accomplish it becomes increasingly unclear. Fortunately, we are available to address any queries you may have. What exactly is a backflow test, and what makes it essential to have one?
The Process of Backflow Testing
Whenever dirty water flows backward into the supply lines intended for pure water, this is known as backflow. A major shift in the flow of water, similar to that generated by blown drainpipes, could cause this problem at any point where pure and contaminated water lines meet.
Polluted water is extremely dangerous to drink since it could be contaminated with fecal matter, chemicals, or insecticides. Pipes designed specifically to transport uncontaminated drinking water into the house and pipelines designed specifically to transport wastewater away from the home are both components of every water system.
Backflow happens in a water system whenever the usual flow of water is disrupted due to lower levels of pressure. Backflow can be dangerous. Because of this drop in water pressure, tainted wastewater (from a toilet or hose, for example) flows out via the clean water pipes rather than via waste pipelines as it normally would. This poses a health risk to those who use the water.
Backflow Prevention and Testing
Backflow is avoidable by installing a protective device in the system at the appropriate location. The equipment will prevent contaminated water from accessing the pure supply of water in the event that there is an unanticipated or significant shift in the pressure of water.
Having said that, this gadget must have a correct installation and then be tested in order to guarantee that the pure water line will not become contaminated. To guarantee whether backflow prevention equipment is in good working order, municipal ordinances mandate that they be tested on a yearly basis.
If somehow the testing is not conducted within the given timeframe, you may be subject to fines, or supply of water to your home or place of business may be turned off. Because of this, we strongly advise making test appointments as far in advance as possible.
How to prevent water backflow?
Checking your backflow preventer allows you to first discover whether or not you have such a backflow issue and afterward figure out what the core of the issue is. In most cases, you will need to momentarily suspend the water service in order to do appropriate testing.
Certified businesses and service providers are the only ones allowed to conduct backflow testing, which is why they will also handle the disconnection for you. It is essential that you are aware that if you do not carry out the backflow test, you run the possibility of getting your water supply cut off forever.
On the day of your backflow test, the backflow testing specialist will momentarily turn off your water. Your professional plumber will then open and close the backflow prevention levers. The plumber observes pressure fluctuations while obtaining pressure readings.
Inside the final step, the tester would verify that the activation process goes well. When they are done, the plumber would reactivate your water supply, fill out the relevant documentation, and promptly send your results to the appropriate authorities.
Different Kinds of Backflow Preventers
Backflow Prevention Devices
Backflow prevention devices are able to restrict the stream of water in a plumbing system from moving in the opposite direction.
However, after they have been fitted, it is not viable to test them since they do not have intake valve shutoffs, exit valve shutoffs, or test valves.
Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers
The term atmospheric vacuum breaker refers to a specific kind of backflow prevention device. Vacuum breakers for hose connectors and freeze-thaw wall hydrant valves are two typical examples. Backflow prevention assembly is more dependable and efficient than atmospheric vacuum breakers, which are less trustworthy as well as efficient backflow preventers.
A device that breaks the vacuum of space using air pressure instead of water pressure is called an atmospheric vacuum breaker. If water is flowing in the right channel, the valve that allows air in will stay closed. The air intake valves will activate if the water flow is reversed to avoid back-siphonage.
Because of their inability to prevent backpressure or perform adequately in high-hazard conditions, assemblies like PVBs offer increasingly restricted applications.
Nevertheless, in homes, the same level of robust functioning that might be required in, say, a clinic or factory might not be as important. Choosing the ideal backflow prevention assembly would depend on how much safety you feel you need in your home.
Why Backflow Testing Is Important
The backflow of water is a dangerous health concern as your drinking water supply may be contaminated, so consistent testing of your plumbing system is crucial. It’s advised to have your plumbing system annually tested so you’re constantly having a healthy flow of water.
I hope we have provided enough details related to the backflow testing and prevention process. Just keep in mind that this sort of testing is done to check the backflow cause and to find the initial problem. This sort of procedure requires the water supply to be switched off for a while so it’s best to inform residents before the testing gets underway.
For all backflow prevention and detecting water leaks, give Austest Pipeline Solutions a call today. Our team of experts is here to assist you right away. Feel free to send an online enquiry for a quick call back from one of our friendly staff.