Buying a first home is always an exciting experience, but can be less wonderful if you discover that your water has a distinct sewage odor or even taste to it. Often, this is the fault of your backflow preventer, meaning you need to understand this element and when it is failing.
Understanding The Backflow Preventer
If you are noticing a strange smell of sewer gas or other strange odors in your water, there is a good chance that your backflow preventer isn't working properly. This valve is typically located outside of the home and is designed to keep your drinking water safe from contaminants and backflow from city water. When it starts to fail, you will notice strange smells and even tastes to your water. In this circumstance, it is important to check your backflow preventer for a leak to see what is happening.
Leaking Is A Common Issue With A Backflow Preventer
Backflow preventers typically last for 15-20 years before any serious problems develop. However, if you are buying an older home that hasn't been upgraded in a few years, it is possible that the preventer may be on its wait to failing. Early symptoms of preventer failure are usually heralded by leaks.
Typically, these leaks occur around the connection areas and the various nuts and bolts that hold these parts together. First-time home owners may not understand how to fix these issues, unfortunately, and may need to turn to professional help to manage it.
Professional Installation And Repair Are Your Best Options
If you find that you notice leaks around your backflow preventer and want to avoid serious leaking issues, it is a good idea to talk to a professional about this problem. While you may be able to replace some of the valves on your own, you are also likely to make a mistake and cause your preventer to let even more waste into your water.
Thankfully, plumbers can assess this problem quickly and treat it by either repairing the leak or installing a new preventer. The installation of a new preventer is typically an option if the leak has become too big to manage. It is also an option if you simply need to get this element upgraded on your plumbing system as quickly as possible.
So don't hesitate to reach out to a professional from a company like Silverdale Plumbing & Heating Inc if you fear that your backflow preventer is about to breakdown. They can keep sewage and other contaminants out of your water and protect your friends and family members from sickness and disease.
Share9 June 2018
My homes have always had either copper or PVC plumbing pipes. But when my plumbing system needed an overhaul last spring, I wanted a piping system for my home that I could work on myself when needed. There were a lot of good reasons to choose PEX piping, but my favorite thing about the PEX piping is that it's easy to work with, even if you're a beginner like me. Now I can make small repairs myself instead of calling the plumber every time I have a minor leak or other small problem. I still call the plumber for the big stuff, but it's more affordable now that I can take care of small issues myself. I started this blog to help others learn how they, too, can do DIY plumbing repairs at home.