What is a water backflow preventer?

A backflow preventer is a device that’s installed on your home’s water pipes that allows water to flow in one direction but never in the opposite direction. Its sole job is to prevent drinking water from being contaminated due to backflow.

But what, then, is backflow?

To answer that question, one must understand how the water system in any city works.  Usually, when everything is working properly, water flows from the city water supply to your home or business by means of water pressure.  Clean water is essentially pushed towards homes and businesses by pressure exerted in one direction.  Back flow can happen, however, when that water pressure reverses; in other words, when there is a drop in water pressure allowing water to flow backwards.

How can this happen?

Think a sudden drop in pressure . . . think a water main leak, or a fire hydrant being opened . . . these are happenstances which are certainly possible in any city, and if they should occur the water pressure will drop.  Thus we have a need for a water backflow preventer.

How does a water backflow preventer work?

Think of a backflow device as a one-way gate.  It will only open one way, allowing clean water to flow to your business or home.  It will not allow back flow of contaminated water.  The valve shuts down once water pressure drops so that contaminated water will remain in the pipes and go no further until proper water pressure is once again maintained.

What if the water backflow preventer malfunctions? Rest assured that does not happen often, and the reason it does not happen often is because cities are required, under Federal Law, to require annual backflow testing of all backflow devices.  Each city has a list of certified, licensed, and trained backflow testers who check every backflow device to make sure it is working properly, and who replace those devices if they are malfunctioning.  It is one of those fail safe procedures which happens annually without any fanfare, but thank goodness it does happen.

For example, we are City Backflow Testing, serving the Greater Fort Worth area with backflow inspections and repair.

We use USC 10^th Addition Testing Procedures:

• Notify- Notify the customer we are here for testing
• Identify- Make sure serial number is correct and that we have the right assembly
• Inspect- Make sure there are 4 test ports and 2 Shut off handles
• Observe- Attach test equipment and follow proper testing  procedures  for this assembly
• Test Reports- Enter values for the  assemblies
• Turn in all test Reports to the local water Purveyor or City

And then each year we notify our customers of upcoming backflow service and make sure their backflow preventers are working properly.

No matter which city you call home, the procedures are pretty standard regarding backflow prevention.  If you have questions you can call your city’s water department, or if you have general questions about backflow you can call us at (817) 996-2000 and we will be happy to answer them for you.  When backflow is a problem, City Backflow Testing is the answer.  Accurate backflow testing is what we do.