Backflow Parts & Repair Kits: Tips On Healthy Backflows!

Backflow Parts & Repair Kits: Tips On Healthy Backflows!

If you're a homeowner living in the United States and your home is under 10 years old there's a good chance when it was built an underground lawn irrigation system was installed.  When these automatic irrigation units started coming down in price many contractors and builders started including them with newly built homes and condos.

The in-ground lawn irrigation systems offer a ton of convenience, especially during very dry and drought conditions.  A lush, green lawn is literally as easys as programming the lawn irrigation controller to fire up at night for a couple hours each day and you are good to go.

Well, almost!  Most of the lawn irrigation installations feature some kind of backflow prevention device which is designed to prevent contaminated water from flowing backwards into the potable water supply.  These backflows are usually made of brass.  FEBCO, WATTS, WILKINS, ZURN, AMES, CONBRACO, and APOLLO ar all popular manufacturers.  The problem with these RPZ devices is that they contain backflow parts made of rubber that are prone to wear.  And if a backflow preventer is left outside during freezing cold conditions well then you may need to buy a bushel basket of backflow parts or a complete backflow repair kit because the freezing water expands and will totally demolish the innards of the backflow prevention device.

It can get pretty ugly!  The best thing to do is to have the backflows tested every year by a certified backflow tester, just to make sure that now backflow parts are necessary to provide proper backflow protection.