An anti-backflow valve is exactly what is says, a shut-off valve which prevents polluted water from flowing back to the potable water supply.  It can come in industrial strength or residential strength, and it comes in a variety of designs and sizes, but the primary purpose, no matter which kind is used, is to protect your home or business from polluted water gaining access to pure water.

What is back flow?

To answer that question we must first understand how the supply of water works in any city.

Under normal conditions, and we’re talking better than 99% of the time, water flows from the city’s water supply to your home or business by means of water pressure. The water pressure is higher at the source of the flow, meaning that water pressure pushes the clean water from the city supply tank to your home. That’s how things should work and that’s how things work almost all the time.

But what if that water pressure decreases? What if it decreases so much that the water pressure at your home is higher than the water pressure supplied by the city?  If that were to happen it is only logical that the contaminated water from your home and from your irrigation system will reverse flow . . . “backflow” . . . and that means contaminated water will flow back into the pure, or potable, water supply.

And that means major problems for all concerned.

Think of a backflow preventer as a one-way gate for water. As long as water is flowing in the correct direction, the preventer is not necessary, but when water reverses direction, the gate clanks shut and does not allow the water to flow.  If you are still having a hard time with this concept, think of a turnstile at a store entrance or at a subway station.  Push it one way and you enter, but it won’t allow you to go in the opposite direction.

Anti backflow valves come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from multiple check valves to water release back flow valves to air vents, air systems and rpz valves, but their purpose is all the same: to protect you.

In the Texas area, for affordable backflow testing, call City Backflow Testing, licenses and certified in all manner of backflow preventers and backflow devices. When the health and welfare of your family is at stake, call the very best, City Backflow Testing.  You won’t be disappointed and that’s a guarantee!