Sewer Backflow and Backflow Device Facts From Reliable Contractor Services
A Cleveland, OH Sewer Backflow valve can prevent waste water backups, particularly from a public sewer. Sewer backflow is a term used in plumbing for unexpected and unwanted flow of water in reverse direction. Normal plumbing allows wastewater to flow from a home to the city sewer, but backflow is the exact opposite. Backwater damages property, structures, and poses health concerns. When backflow happens, there can be a serious health risk due to contaminated waste water entering your premises. Backflow occurs when the municipal drainage system or city sewer overflows, and sends water back through a sewer pipe into your home. Immediate proper clean-up is required to prevent risk of disease and further damage to property. To prevent this problem, many homes would benefit greatly from a sewer backflow valve.
Causes of Sewer Backflow
Sanitary sewers work by the force and principal of gravity So wastewater flows in the direction of the natural slope of the pipe. This is the main reason that the sewer mains owned and maintained by the city are typically located between 10? and 15? deep. In many areas they are much deeper than that. Sewer backflow can be triggered by a number of different situations, some examples follow: A blockage (in either a private or city sewer pipe) caused by tree roots, construction mishaps, plumbing system deterioration.
? Insufficient capacity due to residential growth? Cracks in the pipe? A back-pitched drain system
Surcharges due to heavy rain or a large snow melt In an office and home plumbing system, blockages are often caused by accumulation of grease, hair, and any physical obstruction in the pipe. It may even include napkins, diapers, cigarette butts, toilet paper, and more. When your sewer pipe is blocked, wastewater has no chance of flowing in the right direction, hence backflow. But the most serious and damage causing sewer backflow conditions occur when a public sewer system becomes surcharged. Sewer surcharge Proper building and plumbing design can prevent backwater. If the backflow comes from your city sewer, the most common culprit is a flood or any massive amount of water either from rain or a snow melt. Failure of a sump pump can also possibly lead to sewer backflow, but nowhere near as severe as that of a public sewer surcharge. Because the backflow contains wastewater from many different unsanitary sources (after all, it is a public sewer), it does not only damage properties, but also create severe health hazards. You have no control over the functionality of a city sewerages system, but you can prevent backflow by adding a sewer backflow valve device to your own plumbing system.
Different Types of Backflow Valve Devices
Reliable Contractor Services uses Clean Check products manufactured by Rector Seal.For more information on Clean check visit their website:
Clear Check Website Page
Clean Check PDF Brochure Link
Sewer Backflow Valve Devices
The price range to purchase and install can vary greatly, depending on the valve. And the effectiveness of the valve can likewise vary greatly. Each sewer backflow valve has its own attributes, which must be considered carefully before installation. As sewer valves go, a check valve is the least expensive, and the type most often installed. A check valve does not prevent backwater 100%, so it is ideal for short-term backups lasting less than a full day. Like all sewer valves, once the flapper closes, water use inside the building must be limited. When a public sewer backup recedes, the check valve will automatically allow the waste water from your home to escape and run out to the public sewer. A check valve should be cleaned once a year to ensure the flap opens and closes fully.
An automatic flood gate valve is the most sophisticated and 100% effective way to stop waste water and the damage associated with it. An automatic flood gate valve works on air pressure, and (as its name implies) is fully automatic. Once closed, its stainless steel knife edge stops backwater 100% over prolonged periods of time. Like all specialized plumbing devices, it should be installed by a licensed plumber like Reliable Contractor Services in the Cleveland, Ohio area.If installed incorrectly not only will it not work properly, but the product warranty will be void. Because an automatic flood gate valve is larger than the typical sewer backwater valve (mainly due to the air chamber), the installation must be considered and planned out carefully. A manual sewer valve must be opened and closed manually. That means one must anticipate when a backwater condition will arise. And likewise, one must know when the backwater has receded. While a dependable device, the chance of misuse and backwater damage occurring regardless, make sit a device for only very particular situations.
Air Gap Backflow Preventer
It is the simplest yet reliable way to prevent backflow. As the name suggest, an air gap is an unobstructed vertical space between any device that connects to a plumbing system (such as faucet or valve). The best example of an air gap is the open space between a water outlet (a faucet) and flood level of a kitchen sink. In normal circumstances, water cannot flow from the sink to the tap, even when there is no water pressure present in the water supply. There are no moving parts in an air gap, except flowing water. Many plumbing codes specify minimum air gap distance for different plumbing fixtures. Specialized Backflow Preventer Commonly installed within close proximity to a residential water meter; a backflow preventer device can be installed right after the shut-off valve. Many models are available including but not limited to RP (Reduced Principle), PVB (Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly), DV (Double Check Valve Assembly), and RDC (Residential Dual Check Valve). These valves are installed when there is no sufficient vertical space to add air-gap separation.Hire a state licensed plumber like Reliable Contractor Services in the Cleveland, Ohio area to Install Backflow Prevention Devices.Specialized backflow preventer can have many moving parts, and needs to be both tested for efficiency and periodically cleaned. Almost all States allow only a licensed professional plumber to do the test and compile the report for backflow preventers on the drinking water supply. Although a skilled individual may be able to install such device, there is always a chance that the installation does not meet standard plumbing code. In which case you have wasted your money and efforts to acquire and install the device, and have possibly endangered the health of your family and yourself. For more sewer back up and back up device information, call (440) 641?22123 or go to https://www.reliabledrain.com to see service descriptions and photos.
Reliable Contractor Services in the Cleveland, Ohio area is your one stop shop. We also perform plumbing drain cleaning and repair/installation, basement waterproofing, excavation, and pipe video inspection/recording along with high pressure water jetting Residential and Commercial services are available 24/7! Call us at 440?434?3713Reliable Contractor Services provides expert Northeast Ohio residential, commercial, municipal and industrial plumbing, drainage and foundation waterproofing services. With Over 10,000 customers since 1999, we have a Better Business Bureau A+ rating and are a multiple recipient of the Angie?s List Super Service award. OH license #23730.
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