When Are Back-Flow Testing Plumbing Services Needed?
BY MET Plumbing LLC | July 31, 2017
Anytime you are building a new home or updating the plumbing in your existing home, backflow testing plumbing services should be used. These services test to verify the flow of water only flows in a single direction.
When the water and sewage system in your home is functioning properly, the main water supply brings water into the home, which then branches out through cold water lines to the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room. One of these cold water lines connects to the water heater and branches out on the output side. Hot water lines then run to the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room. When you turn on the hot or cold water, it flows out and eventually drains through a series of pipes within the walls of your home, which are connected to the main sewer line, leading to either a septic tank or the city’s sewer system.
Backflow preventers should be installed at various connections in the water and sewer plumbing system to prevent water, wastewater, and raw sewage from flowing backward. These devices serve the purpose of stopping water from running backward, as water pressure can sometimes change direction, causing the water to flow out of the home. This can be particularly concerning when it comes to raw sewage, as it could potentially contaminate the freshwater supply.
For example, if you have ever experienced raw sewage coming up the drain lines in your home due to a sewer line break, it could be because backflow preventers were not installed in the right locations. When pressure is decreased, wastewater and sewage can no longer move in one direction, causing it to flow backward and out of the home.
How Do I Know if My Home Has Backflow Preventers?
The easiest way to find out if your home has backflow preventers is to schedule an inspection and testing from an experienced plumber. Your plumber uses various tools and equipment to find out if you have backflow preventers installed.
In addition, they will review your entire plumbing system to evaluate if the backflow preventers are installed in the right locations; if they are not, they will not work right. You could still end up with water flowing back into the home.
Besides getting backflow testing when building a new home or installing new plumbing lines, it is also highly recommended to get backflow testing performed annually. Doing so helps identify potential problems and fix them before they become a major headache—like waking up to raw sewage coming up the shower drain.
To learn more about backflow testing for your Katy or Greater Houston Area home, please feel free to contact MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning at 281-603-9949 today! We also offer drain cleaning, plumbing repair, installation, and maintenance services.