Although there are occasional alarming problems with municipal water, for the most part the United States has some of the cleanest water in the world. One of the reasons for this is the special precautions taken to avoid contaminating the fresh water supply by allowing sewage water to flow into it. The major guard against this is a device that you may not even know about: a backflow preventer. Backflow—a reverse of the direction of water flow in plumbing that pulls or pushes wastewater into the fresh water pipes—can occur in homes and businesses without these special prevention devices.
You almost certainly have a backflow preventer already on your property since it is required by law. If you own or operate a business in Burlington, VT or elsewhere in Northwest Vermont and Northeast New York, you have to make certain that your backflow prevention device has regular testing to meet local codes. If it fails the test, it may be necessary to repair or replace it. Red Rock Mechanical, LLC has the licensed plumbers who can do the work: call us any time!
Thank you for installing the furnace! So far, so good. This weekend will be the test!
- Courtney Kaup
What a Backflow Prevention Device Actually Prevents
Backflow occurs when there is a change in pressure on either the freshwater or wastewater side of the plumbing. A common reason for this change is if there is a massive drain on the freshwater system because of the Fire Department using a fire hydrant, or a sprinkler system coming on. The drop in water pressure will suck the sewer water through any cross–connections in the plumbing, and this can create contamination in the fresh water supply. This can also cause pipes to draw up nearby liquids, such as a hose that’s lying in a bucket of brackish, pesticide–filled water. The backflow preventer is a check valve at the cross–connection that automatically closes to prevent wastewater moving the wrong direction.
We Offer Backflow Testing
Commercial properties need to have backflow prevention testing done annually. If you are a homeowner, you will receive a notice whenever you need to have backflow prevention scheduled. In either case, we will send one of our licensed plumbers to test the device with a gauge that will see if the pressure in it is at the right level. The plumber will also make a check on the assembly and valve to see that all is functioning correctly.
This is important: the plumber must be state–certified for this job! Our plumbers are all fully certified for backflow prevention testing.
Look to Us for Backflow Prevention Devices and Services in Burlington, VT
No matter what type of backflow preventer services you need, Red Rock Mechanical, LLC can take care of them. We are experienced with both commercial and residential plumbing, and we have all the necessary licensing and certifications. If we do your backflow testing and the device doesn’t pass, we will do all that’s required to fix the problem: repairs, replacements, etc.
We’re a family–owned and operated business with more than 23 years of history helping homes and businesses in the Burlington, VT area. Count on us for personalized and exceptional customer service.
