Backflows testing and maintenance is important because it helps stop cross contamination which can lead to serious illness or death if the wrong liquid or substance enters the potable water supply system.

Local municipal codes require minimal annual testing by a certified tester.

After your first notice, typically you will have 30 days to have your device tested or your water service could be suspended.

You can be held liable for nuisance and held liable for damages due to negligence. It’s the consumer’s responsibility to prevent contaminants or pollutants from entering the public water system.

Backflows should be disassembled, cleaned and inspected every 3-5 years. Worn parts should be replaced as well.

A device installed in the drain line to prevent sewage from flowing back through the pipes from the main line and flooding your basement. It does this by automatically closing its flapper.

By Code where plumbing fixtures are installed on a floor with a finished floor elevation below the elevation of the manhole cover of the next upstream manhole in the public sewer. A backwater valve is important to protecting your home.

Your home may not have one if built before 1989. Its also common that unknowingly flooring installers cover over the backwater valve. A video inspection can verify if you have one installed.

We do not recommend any chemical drain cleaners. Chemical drain cleaners are made with dangerous chemicals that can be quite harmful to the people using them and your plumbing system. They release harmful fumes which can cause burns on the skin, eyes, and internal linings of the respiratory system. They can also cause serious burns and rashes if they come in contact with your skin. Our plumbers have the tools that they need to effectively clear drains and keep them clear. Let us know if your tub or sinks are clogged, and we’ll be glad to clear them out for you!

3 Benefits of Eliminating the Water Heater Tank

For most homeowners, a water heater is a tall, cylindrical appliance that is full of the hot water they need for showering, washing the dishes, doing the laundry, etc. If that is the end of the line when it comes to your awareness of available water heater systems, you’ve got some homework to do. Specifically, we’re giving you the following assignment—just read the rest of this post. (We didn’t say it was going to be a difficult assignment).

If you are building a new home and need a brand new water heater, or if you’re starting to think about replacing your existing water heater, you definitely want to be thinking about the benefits that a tankless water heater has to offer.

Is the tankless water heater right for everyone? No, of course not. If it were, it would be the only option out there. However, a tank model isn’t right for everyone either, and you may find that it’s actually not ideal for you!

1. First of All, You’re Going to Free Up Some Space

Oh come on, how much space are we really talking about here? Look, we’re not saying that you’re going to be able to fit a king-size bed in some poorly utilized space just because you opted for a tank water heater. However, you can definitely free up some storage space for general storage when you opt for a tankless water heater. That can mean a lot to homeowners who don’t have much space for that type of usage.

Tankless water heaters, as we’re sure you’ve guessed, don’t use a tank to store hot water. They heat water on demand, meaning that the unit itself is much smaller. In fact, these devices can simply be installed on the wall of a utility closet. Maybe not the main benefit of the system, but a noteworthy one nonetheless!

2. You’re Also Going to Save Some Money

Modern water heater tanks are more efficient than ever. The application of additional insulating materials can really cut back on any standby energy loss that your system suffers (meaning that heat transfers through the tank and into the air surrounding it). However,  as long as there is a tank, there is standby energy loss. It’s just physics.  Heat moves to cooler areas.

When you eliminate the tank entirely, however, you eliminate the risk of any standby energy loss. This makes the tankless water heater an incredibly efficient appliance that can save you money in the long run. And we say “long run” deliberately.

3. They Last Longer!

A lot longer. A tankless water heater can give you somewhere in the 20–25 years of service range. That’s pretty incredible, especially when you compare that to the 12 or so years you can expect from a tank water heater. Yes, tankless water heaters are more expensive than tank models, but again—think about the long term, and the savings will really add up.