Backflow Prevention

Gaithersburg Commercial Backflow Prevention

Proudly Serving Customers In Parts of Maryland & D.C.

A basic but critical part of plumbing is backflow prevention. Backflow is the accidental reverse flow of water through the plumbing. This may not sound like it’s a serious problem, but when backflow happens, wastewater can mingle with the freshwater drinking supply — and that’s not something you want to happen!

Your system should have a number of backflow preventers attached to appliances that might allow backflow. These include handheld showerheads, boilers, radiators, and especially irrigation systems. Count on the professional plumbers at Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. to take care of your commercial backflow preventer in Gaithersburg. We can install backflow valves on the fixtures that need them, so your health is protected.

Backflow Prevention

Regardless of the cause, the outcome is similar: non-potable (undrinkable) water moves the wrong direction through the building’s plumbing. The places on a property where backflow can occur are handheld shower heads, lawn irrigation (such as sprinklers), radiators, and boilers. Water from any of these appliances can potentially flow backward in the plumbing because of pressure changes. This places stale water from the common system in the fresh drinking water. One of the major areas of concern where a house needs backflow prevention devices installed is on irrigation systems, such as sprinklers and hose bibs.

When a backflow prevention device detects a change in pressure in the plumbing, a check valve shuts to stop water from flowing in the wrong direction. The check valve isn’t the only type of backflow preventer available. If you’re a property owner and are unsure if you need to have backflow prevention or which backflow preventers will do the job, call on our certified plumbers for assistance.

If you have questions about backflow prevention or want to learn more about your options, call (301) 804-6759 to speak with a knowledgeable staff member. 

What Causes Backflow?

Backflow isn’t common, but it still occurs more often than people think. What causes it is either an increase in pressure on the wastewater side or a drop in pressure on the supply side.

This change in pressure could result from:

• A broken water main
• Work on a property’s plumbing that requires draining down the entire property
• A widespread power outage
• Firefighters placing a large demand on the local water supply to put out a fire
• A new piece of water-using equipment