Backflow Prevention Broomfield

A newly passed statute in Colorado requires that property owners with backflow prevention systems have those systems tested annually. By whom, you ask? Why, it must be done by a "certified backflow tester," of course! You can't just have anybody poking around in a backflow system, after all. The test must be done, per Colorado law, to ensure the prevention system is doing the job it was installed to do—in short, not allowing backflow to happen. And why don't we want backflow to happen? Because it's bad, as in really super-duper bad, for the public water supply.

Depending on the type and size required for your specific plumbing in Broomfield, a backflow preventer can cost anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars. That's just the price for the device itself; you also have to think about the cost of installation. When you add up all the potential costs, you could be looking at a significant investment, particularly since the device needs to be maintained and tested every year to ensure it's working as it should.

Determine whether your house has a backflow preventer by first checking the area near your main water shut-off valve, an oft-used mounting location for these devices. If you don’t see the preventer there, inspect your plumbing system, looking for a valve or device that might be styled like a check valve—something that typically prevents water from flowing backward. Look also in the documents you have associated with the plumbing of your house; if a backflow preventer was installed, that detail might be noted somewhere in the records. And if you still can't figure it out, hire a licensed plumber or have your local water utility help you out; they can inspect and tell you what you have.

The Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) assembly is the most fail-safe device for preventing backflow. It protects against both backpressure and backsiphonage, making it appropriate for applications where the consequences of backflow could be serious. The RPZ is the best choice when people, property, or the environment could be endangered by the contamination of our drinking water.

In Broomfield, local regulations require that backflow preventers be tested every year to ensure they are working as they should.

The enhanced backflow prevention measures are the result of the new plumbing law in Colorado, which came about from the successful passage of House Bill 19-1086. The new plumbing law has a specific focus: It commands the installation of backflow prevention assemblies where they are most needed—that is, in plumbing contexts that jeopardize the cleanliness of our drinking water. You might think of these as zones where the risk of contamination is too great, e.g., places where there's a gradient making it possible for water to flow in a direction opposite to its intended (and germ-free) route. These measures "shall apply" not only to new construction but also to significant plumbing alterations made to pre-existing structures.

In Broomfield, backflow preventers usually last between 5 and 15 years, depending on the kind of device, the quality of the water, the care it receives, and the environmental conditions it must withstand. Inspections and maintenance can lengthen a device's life, but we can't count on that alone.

Several signs can help you pinpoint a backflow preventer that may be going bad. One clear indication is leakage. If you see water dripping or flowing from the device, it's a sign that the backflow preventer is not doing its job and may need to be replaced. Another potential indicator is a drop in water pressure throughout your plumbing system. If the preventer is malfunctioning, it may be causing pressure problems for the whole system, and the backflow preventer could be the root of the issue. Discolored, dirty, or even foamy water could also be a sign that the backflow preventer is malfunctioning and allowing contaminated water to reenter the potable system. The presence of strange noises, like hissing or the sound of a high-pressure hose, could also mean trouble.

Certainly, here is the text rephrased:In Broomfield, the backflow preventer is not just helpful; it is necessary to ensure that drinking water remains uncontaminated and unpolluted. The backflow preventer is like a traffic cop that makes sure water goes only in the direction it is supposed to go. Local regulations require the use of a backflow preventer in any situation where water could be flowing in the opposite direction—into the clean water supply. If you don't want to drink water that's flowed the wrong way, then you want a backflow preventer to be in place.

In Broomfield, a standard kitchen faucet typically doesn't need a backflow preventer. These devices are commonly required for larger plumbing systems or for special applications like irrigation systems, fire-suppression systems, and other setups that might contaminate our public water supply. Virtually all of these systems are much more complicated than a kitchen faucet. That's not to say there aren't special circumstances when it would be prudent to consult with local plumbing regulations or a professional plumber before assuming a backflow preventer is unnecessary.