Why Brentwood Homes Need Backflow Prevention
Most homeowners in Brentwood take clean water for granted. They turn on the faucet and get fresh water flowing out. But what if this clean water suddenly became unsafe? This is what can happen when backflow occurs. Homeowners who care about their family’s health and safety should understand this issue and know when to contact a plumber in Brentwood. Every homeowner in the city should consider backflow prevention. Learn more about this below:
What Is Backflow?
Backflow happens when water flows in the opposite direction than it is supposed to. Dirty water can flow back into your water supply instead of clean water. This reverse flow can occur for a few reasons, usually involving changes in pressure in your plumbing system. Here are two main types of backflow:
- Back-siphonage. This often happens due to a sudden drop in water pressure, like during a main water break or if firefighters use a nearby hydrant.
- Back-pressure. This occurs when the pressure from inside your home’s plumbing is stronger than the pressure coming in from the city’s supply, pushing contaminated water backward.
Either way, the result can be harmful to your home’s drinking water and your health.
Why Brentwood Homes Are at Risk
Brentwood has beautiful homes, mature landscaping, and well-kept neighborhoods. But with these features come plumbing setups that can be vulnerable to backflow. Homes with sprinkler systems, pools, or certain types of water heaters are at risk of backflow when not properly protected.
Even newer homes can be at risk. Some plumbing codes require backflow prevention devices in specific cases, but not all homes have them installed. Sadly, the plumbing system in older homes was built before backflow prevention became standard practice. Even connecting a hose to a garden sprayer without a backflow preventer can allow chemicals to flow back into your home’s water supply.
Health Risks You Cannot Ignore
Contaminated water that makes its way into your drinking water can carry bacteria, pesticides, and cleaning chemicals. Also, sewage might be in the water. In severe cases, this can lead to serious illness.
You might not feel the effects right away, but drinking or bathing in contaminated water can pose long-term health risks, especially for children, the elderly, or anyone with a weakened immune system. That’s why property safety plumbing systems should include the proper safety measures.
How Backflow Prevention Works
A backflow prevention device is a small valve installed on your plumbing system to stop water from flowing in the wrong direction. It only allows water to flow into your home.
There are different types of backflow preventers. The one you need depends on your home’s setup. A licensed plumber can inspect your system, determine where the risk points are, and recommend the right device. These devices need to be tested regularly once installed to make sure they work correctly, especially if required by local regulations.
Brentwood Homeowners Trust Hosack Plumbing
Homeowners who want to keep their water safe work with a team that knows what they are doing. That is why they usually turn to O’Fallon-based Hosack Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. The team at Hosack combines old-fashioned customer service with modern plumbing know-how. They understand the importance of backflow prevention for homes and the entire community’s water system. They will walk you through the process and make sure your system is up to code and running safely.
Backflow might not be the most noticeable plumbing issue, but it should be prevented at all costs. Homeowners should not second-guess clean water. Brentwood homeowners can rest easy knowing their water is safe and their system is protected with expert help from Hosack Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
