You know you can never notice or tell what the water water pressure is until something changes. As one morning all of a sudden the shower slows to a trickle. 

Another day the kitchen faucet spits air before the stream levels out and most people think no big deal and shrug it off. 

But every time pressure shifts there is a hidden risk most homeowners never think about and that is the hidden plumbing risks of backflow.

Backflow is when water moves the wrong way. Instead of clean water pushing forward, the system pulls dirty water back into your lines.

And it can start to drag in lawn chemicals, pool chlorine or bacteria from the soil. You won’t always see it and sometimes you don’t taste it. But it’s there. 

And it happens most often when seasons change and pressure jumps around.

Why Seasons Mess With Pressure?

One thing is that water demand isn’t steady even when it comes all year round. 

Because in summer, sprinklers, pools and hoses push the system to its limit and that makes the pressure sag up real tight. 

And then September comes and all demand falls and municipal supply rebounds. That rebound creates surges. 

Finally winter brings its own problems where pipes contract and emergency breaks cause sudden drops.

Each shift is a chance for seasonal backflow risk to sneak in. And it doesn’t take long because just a few seconds of reverse pressure is enough to cause trouble.

Where Does Contamination Slip In The Most?

The usual culprits aren’t complicated:

• Garden hoses are left connected especially if the end is dipped in fertilizer, soap or even a bucket of dirty water.
  
• Lawn irrigation mains that still carry soil bacteria when shut down.
  
• Pool plumbing lines that weren’t capped during winterizing.
  
• Boiler or irrigation pumps that push against the main supply.
  

All of these create a cross connection and if pressure drops then the whole system sucks in whatever is at that connection. And that is how a glass of tap water ends up tasting like chlorine or dirt.

A Hamptons Trouble

Well there was this family in East Hampton who winterized their irrigation late. But they forgot one important thing and that was that their valves weren’t closed right. 

And when a cold snap hit the whole town’s main lost pressure for a few hours and the irrigation line back siphoned. By the time they turned on a tap the water already had a really foul odor and when it was tested it showed serious contamination.

So in the end they had to flush the system and replace the backflow preventer. It was a stroke of luck that the repair costs weren’t in thousands in repairs but it did cost them more than a simple fall inspection would have.

Why Testing Isn’t One and Done?

Most towns require annual backflow testing services. But hang on think about the timing here for a bit like if you test in spring that is fine but what about fall or when the biggest pressure swings happen? 

Because even one test a year leaves you exposed for months and that is why many plumbing pros recommend testing before and after the heavy use season. 

And if you want a bit more know how on just how dark this issue is then here is a guide from Hydro Corp.

Pressure shifts aren’t rare. They happen every fall. So protect your home’s water before contamination sneaks in. 

Backflow Joe’s offers certified testing and maintenance to keep preventers working when demand changes so come on and Book your seasonal backflow test today.

Signs You Already Have A Real Backflow Problem!

Backflow doesn’t always wave a red flag. But here are things you should never ignore:

• Water that suddenly tastes off like metallic, chemical or earthy.
  
• Cloudy or discolored water after irrigation shuts down.
  
• Faucets that cough or sputter when first turned on.
  
• A preventer that hasn’t been tested in over 12 months.
  

So please if you catch one or more of these then you really need water safety backflow testing right away. Because if you ignore then you are really gambling with your precious life.

What a Tester Actually Does?

Homeowners sometimes think testing is just like looking at the box well that is a big mistake because it isn’t. A certified Backflow Joe’s tester will do the following things:

• Locate the backflow assembly and any cross connection points.
  

• Run pressure tests to make sure valves and seals hold.
  

• Inspect irrigation, pool and boiler tie ins for unsafe setups.
  

• File the results with the local water authority.
  

And finally if the device fails they will recommend repair or replacement because it is a quicker way compared to dealing with contaminated lines.

Small Habits That Make A Big Difference

Backflow isn’t complicated to prevent. In fact it is more about discipline so always make sure to:

• Always disconnect garden hoses and don’t leave them on the spigot.
  
• Close and drain irrigation lines before winter.
  
• Cap pool connections when the system is shut down.
  
• Replace any old aging backflow devices like rubber seals and springs that fail over time.
  
• Don’t wait for annual testing if you have had odd smells or pressure swings.
  

These are simple and low cost steps that reduce hidden plumbing risks before they become real emergencies. 

And for your information here is a much better detailed guide from the lads at WSSC WATER who talk a lot more about how you can stay safe by drinking clear safe water.

So Why Backflow Joe’s?

Well I will say this that Backflow Joe’s isn’t just another plumbing company. Backflow is their specialty. 

Their techs are certified and they know the seasonal pressure patterns on Long Island and they handle the paperwork your town requires.

And more importantly they understand that most homeowners don’t have time to think about pressure changes. 

That is why their backflow prevention solutions cover testing, repairs and new installations so come on and choose them and trust me you won’t regret making that choice.

Conclusion

Seasonal pressure changes are normal. But backflow doesn’t have to be. 

Because the risk is highest when demand shifts at the end of summer, early fall and first freezes. You can’t control the pressure in the city mains. 

But you can control whether your water stays clean when those shifts happen.

So make sure to disconnect hoses. Shut down the irrigation right. Test your device before and after heavy use. And if you would rather not gamble then let’s stay ahead with seasonal maintenance and testing from the experts at Backflow Joe’s.