3 Important Tips When Dealing With Backflow Issues On Commercial Properties

Backflow can be a huge problem for your commercial property. It can happen for many reasons and if it's not addressed, your property's water source could get contaminated. To prevent these issues from affecting your company -- and the surrounding community -- keep these tips in mind. 

Monitor Garden Hoses 

Garden hoses are a natural source for backwater as bacteria and chemicals spread around the nozzles. That's why it's so important to keep an eye on garden hoses. Always make sure they are used appropriately, and don't just leave them out when they aren't in use. 

Ideally, you need to choose a dry, secure zone to keep them fully protected from possible contaminants. Also make sure your garden hoses are not submerged in the ground at any point, as this only turns the nozzles into breeding grounds for various bacteria and toxins. 

Utilize Backflow Prevention Devices 

If backflow is present on your commercial property, you can deal with it appropriately by having the right prevention devices set up. Today, you have several to choose from that include atmospheric vacuum breakers, reduced pressure zone devices, and hydrostatic loops.

Hydrostatic loops are particularly effective because pipes are arranged in a vertical form. This unique design prevents backflow from affecting your water system. Reduced pressure zone devices are intended for high-level hazardous waste. Atmospheric vacuum breakers are bent at a 90-degree angle to prevent backflow.

In order to choose the right device for your property, think about what design would work best long-term and keep in mind your budget.  

Have Property Inspected

You probably don't have a lot of time on your hands as a business owner, nor the experience to deal with backflow issues. In this case, you should contact a plumber who has a backflow certification. They'll inspect your property quickly and run a series of tests to see if backflow is an issue.

If it is, they'll proceed by assessing your property's cross-connections and backflow prevention devices, making sure they are in good condition and working correctly. If they aren't, they'll replace them before your property's water supply is significantly compromised. 

When backflow issues surface, so many people could get sick. That's why it's so important for your company to always keep prevention a top priority. Take proactive measures, like testing integral prevention devices and hiring certified plumbers, to combat backflow issues before they cause irreversible damage that could have easily been prevented. 


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