Backflow Prevention and Devices

Backflow can be bad news. Whether it’s backflow siphonage or backpressure backflow, when non-potable water is flowing back into your usable water supply it becomes a serious health situation. If water pressure changes due to a water main burst, freezing pipes or multiple fire hydrants being opened at once, the chance for flow reversal becomes even greater.

To prevent a situation like this from happening, a backflow prevention device and regular maintenance is required. Backflow testing should be part of your business’ annual maintenance plan.

What is a cross-connection?

In North Carolina backflow prevention assemblies must be installed on all cross-connections, and those assemblies must be tested and certified every year to ensure they are working properly and keeping the water supply safe.

A cross-connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a public water system or your potable water system (drinking water) and a source or system containing non-potable water or other substances. Common examples of cross connection hazards (source of contamination) that need to be protected with a backflow preventer include:

• Fire sprinkler system
• Lawn irrigation/sprinkler systems
• Auxiliary water supply (wells)
• Hot tubs / Spas
• Swimming Pools
• Boilers

Since commercial sprinkler systems are included in this category, it is important that they are tested annually and inspected by a certified backflow inspector, such as Eastern Plumbing.

Here is what you can expect during your inspection.

Types of backflow prevention devices that will be inspected:

In terms of the equipment that your backflow inspector will be checking, there are three options: reduced pressure zone assembly, pressure vacuum breaker assembly and double check valve assembly.

To prevent a backflow situation from occurring, you should have a certified professional, like the professionals at Eastern Plumbing, determine if there are any places within your potable water system that could possibly cause a cross connection to occur.

What else should you know?

When a certified professional is testing the device, they first will turn the water off to the home or business, then they will test the pressure in your system by hooking up test kit hoses. The plumbers at Eastern Plumbing would be looking for places where the pressure isn’t what it should be.

To ensure contaminants from pesticides, fertilizers and animal feces are not getting into your  drinking water it is important to partner with a company that has been in business for a long time and has experienced certified backflow professionals on staff.

Eastern Plumbing has been in business for over 25 years and provides service to Greenville and Pitt County and New Bern and Craven County. We offer quality, reliable service to our customers for any plumbing need – including backflow prevention. Our expert plumbers are trained in installing, testing, repairing, and replacing these backflow prevention devices.

Read more about backflow services and why backflow devices and inspections are crucial for public health and safety, here. 

Contact the professionals at Eastern Plumbing for all your commercial plumbing and backflow inspection needs, 252-758-7579.