A backflow preventer stands sentry against dirty water, like a fire hydrant to treacherous flames — but not quite as visibly, recognizably or even attractively. An unsung safety hero to most folks, we love to sing its praises here at READY Plumbing & Fire Protection.
For one thing, a backflow preventer has a name that clearly describes what it does well: Prevent the backward flow of grey (or, dirty) water into potable (or, clean) water lines.
Imagine the consequences if it didn’t.
What is backflow?
Throughout the Greater Orlando area and surrounding counties, potable water flows pressurized through municipal water mains to area homes and businesses.
When there’s enough incoming water pressure in your home or building’s plumbing, everything works great. The potable water in your clean water supply lines flows in one direction only — toward your shower heads, faucets, toilets, sprinklers and other plumbed fixtures, appliances and equipment.
But when your incoming water pressure suddenly drops (causing backsiphonage) — or when the pressure of your plumbing system otherwise exceeds your incoming water pressure (causing backpressure) — things could turn disastrous.
The grey water in your plumbing systems — such as soapy water from washers, herbicides attached to your garden hose, swimming pool water, and so on — will naturally want to take the path of least resistance, traveling from areas of high pressure (your plumbing system) to areas of low pressure (clean water supply line).
This is known as backflow. We stand READY to help you understand and prevent it as a homeowner, as a commercial property owner, or both.
For COMMERCIAL backflow preventer testing services, click here.
For RESIDENTIAL backflow preventer testing services, click here.
What is a backflow preventer?
A backflow preventer is a mechanical device or assembly that’s installed in your plumbing systems’ cross connections. Through a series of check valves, it thwarts the backflow of dirty water into clean water pipes during times of unequal or fluctuating water pressure, enabling water to flow in only one proper direction.
A cross connection is a point in your plumbing system where your potable (clean) water supply connects to a non-potable (dirty) water source. Where your property connects to a water source is a cross connection, as are most plumbing fixtures and appliances — such as toilets, dishwashers, clothes washers, ice makers and so on.
What if every backflow preventer vanished tomorrow?
1 Potable water would cease to be potable at the first significant drop in water pressure. It wouldn’t matter what caused the fluctuation – a water leak in your house or burst pipe in your building, a break in your water service, the use of a nearby fire hydrant or a municipal water main breakdown.
The drop would effectively suck or siphon back the used or stagnant water in your plumbed systems into your potable water supply. These include used or stagnant water from your irrigation and fire sprinklers, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters or boilers, swimming pool, attached hoses and so on.
2 You, your family or co-workers would begin to drink contaminated water unknowingly. With luck, you’ll be stopped by a foul smell or strange taste, but previously used water isn’t always plainly noticeable.
3 Your neighbors and community would also begin to consume contaminated water. Their clean water supply source would likewise be dirtied by the grey water flowing back into it from various area businesses and households — laced with cleaning chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers and yes, human waste.
4 Waterborne illnesses and serious health hazards would spike – at home, at work and throughout your community. And, some 844 million people globally who, according to experts, don’t have access to safe water today — would welcome you into their fold.
Down with backflow!
Call (407) 960-1234.
Backflow testing is mandatory in Florida
When you think about the potential doomsday consequences of no backflow prevention, you can understand why it is required and closely monitored on a state and local level. No, it isn’t just another way for your city or county to make money. Backflow prevention is essential to everyone’s safety and welfare in and around Central Florida.
Hence, by law:
- Florida mandates the use of backflow preventers as outlined in the Florida State Plumbing Code and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. All city and county governments, as well as water utility companies must comply. To safeguard their respective community’s potable water, these authorities issue and enforce Cross Connection Control ordinances and policies.
- All commercial property owners, as well as many residential property owners must install and maintain backflow prevention devices. Local codes exact different backflow prevention requirements on homeowners and businesses, so it pays to become familiar with the Cross Connection Control or Backflow Prevention regulations that apply to your home or business. Check your county, city or water utility website for information and helpful contacts. Or, call our certified READY backflow plumbing specialists for assistance.
- All property owners are responsible for the regular backflow testing, repair and replacement of their devices. They must also officially update their backflow testing records accordingly. Your water authority will typically send you a letter with a backflow test report form, usually about a month or so before it’s due. Failure to comply could be met with fines and an interruption of water service.
- Only a licensed plumber with a backflow certification license, such as READY Plumbing, can test and certify the proper operation of backflow preventers. Once your backflow prevention device/s are tested, we will forward the certification paperwork to the requesting authority.