Find Local Backflow Testing and Prevention in West Hobart

What is a Backflow System and How Does it Work?

A plumbing device called a backflow system is made to stop tainted or contaminated water from recirculating into pure water sources, such as potable water systems. Plumbers play a crucial role in installing and maintaining these systems to ensure water safety. Because they guarantee that water only flows in the desired direction, these systems are essential to preserving the safety of drinking water. Backflow can occur for two primary reasons:

• Backpressure: When the downstream pressure is higher than the upstream pressure, backpressure develops.
• Backsiphonage: This is the process by which water from a contaminated source is syphoned back into the clean water supply due to a drop in pressure inside the water supply system.

How a Backflow Prevention System Works

Water flows in one direction only—into the building direction—thanks to a backflow prevention device. These devices ensure that contaminated water cannot reach the pure water supply by automatically turning off the main connection supply when back pressure or back-siphonage occurs.

Types of Backflow Prevention Devices

You have many options to set up backflow prevention. Here are the top options:

Devices for Reduced Pressure Zones (RPZ)

• These mechanical valves are intended to stop back pressure as well as back siphonage.
• Two separate check valves with a relief valve in between are features of RPZ devices.
• And, the relief valve opens to release any backflowing water in the case that either check valve fails. It can protect the clean water supply.

Air Spaces

• A physical separation between any potential source of contamination and the potable water supply is known as an air gap.
• To ensure that clean and polluted water does not come into touch, there should typically be an open vertical space; (often twice the diameter of the pipe) between the water exit and the fixture's overflow point.
• This type of backflow protection, which is frequently utilised in sinks and faucets, is the most basic and efficient.

Check valves

• Check valves restrict the direction of water flow and shut off automatically in the event of reverse flow.
• These are frequently employed in less complex systems with reduced contamination risks.
• They work well to stop backflow, but in high-risk scenarios, they are not as dependable as RPZ devices due to the absence of a relief valve for additional security.

Signs You Might Have a Backflow Issue

Backflow problems can pose serious health risks, so it's important to know what to look out for. Here are some common warning signs that could indicate a backflow issue in your plumbing system.

Discoloured Water

If your tap water looks brown, yellow, or has a rusty tint, it may have been contaminated by another source—often due to backflow drawing in non-potable water.

Unusual Taste or Smell

Water that smells off or has a strange taste—metallic, salty, or even musty—can be a sign of chemical or waste contamination. This could mean polluted water has entered your clean supply.

Low Water Pressure or Slow Flow

A sudden drop in water pressure, or a constant weak flow, could suggest there’s a blockage or backflow problem in the pipes.

Bubbles or Sputtering from Taps

If water spits, bubbles, or makes unusual noises when flowing from your taps, it might mean there’s air in the lines—often caused by backflow drawing air into the system.

Dirt or Sediment in the Water

Seeing particles like dirt, sand, or debris in your water could indicate it’s been compromised by backflow from an external source.

Frequent Blockages or Slow Drains

Ongoing issues with slow drains or recurring blockages may also point to a backflow issue or contamination in your plumbing system.