Backflow Detection Boston MA

Backflow Prevention and Repair

Backflow prevention systems stop the water in your system from flowing back into the public water supply. It’s clear how vital backflow prevention systems are to keeping drinking water safe and why public health services are concerned with making sure your Boston area plumbing system is operating properly. Waldman Plumbing’s prompt service and experience ensures the backflow certification requirements and backflow codes set by these municipalities are met.

What is Backflow?

Backflow is the unwanted reversal in the flow of water from a real or possible source of contamination or pollution back to the public clean water supply.

There are 2 types of backflow:

• Backpressure: Occurs when the user system is at a higher pressure than the supply water systems, allowing undesirable substances to be “pushed” back into the potable water system.
• Backsiphonage: Occurs when negative or reduced pressure exists in the supply piping, allowing undesirable substances to be “drawn” into the potable water supply.

How Can Backflow be Avoided?

A number of simple devices are available to ensure water can only pass through a pipeline the correct direction.

• Reduced Pressure Backflow Preventer: A reduced pressure backflow preventer is used to protect water supplies from contamination by controlling the pressure and directing the water flow.

• Non-Return Valve: A non-return valve, when properly fitted, ensures water flows through a pipe in the correct direction, where pressure conditions may otherwise cause reversed flow.

Why Test Backflow Preventers?

Mechanical backflow preventers, like many plumbing systems, have internal seals, springs and many moving parts.  Like any tool of this nature, fouling, wearing out and breaks are possible.  Not only are these systems subject to damage but they can also be bypassed. This is why it is necessary to ensure they are functioning properly. Sometimes a visual check will do, but all mechanical backflow preventers have to be tested with specialized, properly calibrated equipment.