Backflow Inspections St. Louis
Regular Backflow Inspections ensure that your water is safe to use both inside and outside of your home.
To ensure that the drinking water inside your house doesn't mix with the water your sprinkler system uses to keep your lawn green, you install a backflow preventer. This keeps the two water systems from mixing. Regular inspections of a backflow preventer ensure that the equipment is working as intended and that your water is safe to drink. To have your backflow inspected, contact our backflow inspectors in St. Louis at (314) 450-0342.
Backflow Inspections St. Louis
Just like any other system connected to your water line, backflow preventers will periodically be needed to be inspected to ensure they are safe.
Why is a Backflow Preventer Required on a Lawn Sprinkler System?
Backflow valves are required when a house or building is equipped with an irrigation system. Contaminants can enter an irrigation system from fertilizer or pesticides that are sprayed onto lawns. Water sits stagnant or trapped in these systems, which leads to a build-up of bacteria and increased mineral content.
There is a water leak in the house, house water service break, city water main break, hydrant flushing, or hydrant use due to a fire, the water pressure in the house or city water mains can drop lower than the water pressure in the system. This can cause water from the system to back-up into the drinking water supply. The next time you or a neighbor turns on a faucet for a drink of water, the water received could contain contaminants. Even small fluctuations in city water mains that occur due to uneven water use from one neighborhood to the next can cause drops in pressure large enough to cause a back-flow and therefore contamination to occur.
A little dirt or bacteria backing up into your drinking water may seem innocuous, but there are documented cases of illness and even death from the backflow of contaminated water.
How Backflow Testing is Done
A backflow preventer is installed in your irrigation system to prevent bacteria and other contaminants from entering your drinking and city water. Our Licensed St. Louis Backflow Testers can perform a backflow test to see if there are problems with your irrigation systems backflow device. This test includes shutting off water supply to allow for investigation of the plumbing system and observing the valve to see if the water is running backwards (which is good), or if the relief valve opens, which is an indication that it needs to be replaced. After testing to see if the water is running backwards, the pressure of the water will be checked. If the water pressure rises as the water flows backwards and seems to be struggling, this could mean that the valve needs to be replaced.
Types of Backflow Preventers
There are various types of backflow preventers available for your irrigation system, and the type that is used is determined by what kind of backflow situation you need to prevent in your area.
Three of the most common backflow valves are:
- Double Check Valves
- Reduced Pressure Zone Devices
- Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers
Double Check Valves are typically found in lawn sprinklers and fire sprinklers. There is a ball valve on each end of this device that will prevent backflow. Reduced Pressure Zone Devices are commonly used in areas that a city might deem as having “hazardous” backflow. Every city has a different idea of what is hazardous, so it can vary from city to city. This device includes four valves such as an inlet shut-off valve, two spring-loaded check valves, and an outlet shut-off valve. Lastly, Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers have a valve on the inside of the device that prevents backflow. These systems are based on pressure and are placed 6 inches from where the downstream is for your home.
It can seem overwhelming to figure out what type of backflow preventer is the best fit for your home. Our Licensed Professionals at Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis have the experience and knowledge needed to assess your home and quickly choose which valve will be best for your home’s needs. Installation will be prompt, and any worries about backflow will be banished.
As Licensed Backflow Inspectors, we have the experience and equipment needed to do safe and efficient backflow testing and installation. We understand that irrigation problems can be difficult to deal with, so we aim to make the lives of St. Louis residents easier by providing top-notch service.
If you’re in St. Louis and need a backflow testing and installation professional, Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis can help. Contact Us today to learn more about St. Louis backflow testing and installation services.