What Is Backflow And How Does It Happen?

Backflow is a significant concern for homeowners. Understanding how it happens is essential for maintaining a safe and sanitary water supply. Your local plumber in San Jose, CA can give you advice on its occurrence. But you’ll also want to grasp the basics of backflow and the potential risks it poses to your home’s plumbing system.

The Backflow Phenomena

Backflow occurs when contaminated water flows in the reverse direction, entering the clean water supply. This can happen due to changes in pressure within the plumbing system.

If there’s a sudden drop in water pressure, such as from a burst pipe or a significant water main break, it creates a vacuum. This pulls contaminated water from sources such as pools, irrigation systems, or even sewage into the clean water supply.

Understanding how backflow occurs helps highlight the importance of regular maintenance. During routine inspections, a professional plumbing company will check for any vulnerabilities in your system that could lead to backflow. They will also install or inspect backflow prevention devices. These are essential for safeguarding your clean water supply from contamination.

Dealing With Backflow

In situations where backflow has already occurred, immediate plumbing repairs are necessary. This prevents further contamination and potential health hazards. These repairs involve fixing the underlying issue that caused the backflow. They come from a burst pipe or pressure issues within the plumbing system. The plumbing professional will do thorough drain cleaning and sanitize the affected areas so the water supply is safe.

To prevent backflow, regular maintenance by a qualified plumbing company is essential. They will ensure that your plumbing system is functioning and backflow prevention devices are in good working order. Developing leaks and pipe damage needs immediate action or else, they can cause some of these issues.

Backflow happens from unchecked plumbing issues. You can take proactive measures to protect your home’s water supply and avoid the costly and potentially dangerous consequences of contaminated water. Call EJ Home Services for backflow issues and plumbing maintenance works. We’ve been the most trusted and reliable local plumbing specialists in the industry for more than 20 years.