What is Backflow Testing?
Depending on your home or business’s elevation and location, your space can be susceptible to backflow. Backflow is a process where wastewater in the main water supply line flows towards the drinking water supply instead of away from it.
Backflow is dangerous because it can cause wastewater filled with sewage, fertilizers, chemicals and other contaminants to re-enter a home or building’s potable water supply. This is why the State of Michigan takes backflow testing so seriously, and local cities and associations often require backflow tests on a regular basis to prevent backflow from occurring.
Under the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regulates public water supplies to ensure that they are complying with state and federal requirements to provide clean water. Water supplies must meet these safety standards, or else whoever controls the water supply has to take corrective action and notify the public.
It is highly recommended that you have a certified professional test your backflow devices annually to ensure that you have and are providing clean drinking water.
What Causes Backflow?
Backflow is caused by either back pressure or back-siphonage in a plumbing system.
Back pressure is when the pressure in the system rises above the water supply pressure. For example, when a boiler heats up, the pressure inside the boiler can rise above the water supply pressure. This excess water will back up into the water supply line if there is no backflow prevention device on the boiler.
Back siphonage is when the opposite happens. The water supply pressure may drop lower than the system pressure, creating a vacuum in the system and drawing water backward. This can occur during a water main break or when a fire hydrant is flowing.
How to Fix and Prevent Backflow
Backflow can happen in multiple places throughout your home or commercial space. Sometimes the backflow prevention devices you already have in place aren’t enough to sufficiently protect your clean water supply.
Backflow is commonly solved by a backflow preventer, a valve that is installed onto pipes that only allows water to flow in one direction. Backflow preventers are mechanical devices with internal seals and moving parts, so they can wear out over time just like any other machine.
Even if you’ve never had problems with backflow in the past, getting your backflow devices tested is still a good idea. You don’t ever want to risk getting traces of sewage or dangerous chemicals in your drinking water.
Because backflow prevention is so crucial to health and safety, it is required that plumbers are certified through the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE). At Lenox, our testers are ASSE certified in the State of Michigan and experienced in all things related to backflow testing. We provide backflow testing services for homeowners, business owners and property owners alike.
Our ASSE Certified Plumbers Are Here to Help
To ensure that your drinking water is 100% safe from backflow, call Lenox Plumbing at (734) 294-0959, or fill out a contact form on our website to get your appointment scheduled as soon as possible.
When it comes to backflow, you can trust Lenox. Our ASSE certified plumbers will test your home or commercial space’s backflow for cleanliness, as well as make any needed repairs to ensure that your water is safe.
If our plumbers find any issues during the backflow testing process, don’t worry. We will assess the situation, and make any needed repairs to your backflow preventer or main water and sewer lines to keep your water clean and safe.
Visit the Backflow Testing and Repairs page on our website to learn more about the services we offer, as well as for answers to frequently asked questions about backflow and the backflow testing process.
