It’s certainly not unusual to see a garden hose or sprinkler running on Long Island during warm weather months. But you might not be aware that your home water system might be posing a danger to you and your family. That’s because you need a backflow prevention system to prevent water from things like hoses and sprinklers from seeping back into your drinking water. This can create problems and many areas require backflow prevention systems. If you’re unsure whether or not your home or business is up to code, Tragar Home Services can help.

Tragar Can Help With Your Heating Cooling and Plumbing Needs

Many of our customers recognize Tragar as Long Island’s leader in home heating and cooling. We can install and maintain your central or ductless air conditioning system and we can also help you stay warm in the summer by installing oil and gas heaters. We also offer maintenance, repair, and oil heat delivery. We’ll install a radiant heat system in your home during cold winters. We’re also plumbing experts at Tragar and we can handle plumbing installation, emergency repairs and water filtration installation. We know how to keep you compliant with backflow prevention regulations and we’ll keep your home or building safe as well.

Long Island Backflow Prevention Regulations

According to Nassau County’s government website, a backflow prevention device “is a complex mechanical unit that prevents the reversal of water flow and subsequent contamination of the water supply from irrigation systems, etc.” Water flow reversal can occur during a loss of pressure brought on by things like a water main break or over-pumping fire hydrants.
It’s usually not just enough to just have a backflow testing device. Nassau County requires. “annual testing of the unit to confirm proper function.”
Suffolk County also has regulations regarding backflow, according to their website. They “require all commercial facilities where a potential hazard exists to install an approved backflow prevention device.” Residential backflow prevention is not mandated by law in Suffolk County, but they do advise you take steps to protect your water supply.

How to Protect Against Cross Connection Problems

In order to prevent backflow, a very common solution is making certain that you control any cross connection into your home. According to the Suffolk Country website, a cross connection “is a connection between two separate water systems that could cause contaminants to enter the water you drink.” Hoses, sprinklers and other irrigation systems are the most common types of cross connection. Some common problems associated with backflow include using a hose to spray pesticide or fertilizer or leaving any standing water on the ground that’s been treated with chemicals or fertilizer. Leaving a hose in dirty standing water can be dangerous as well because under some conditions this contaminated water can be siphoned back into your home. Backflow prevention devices stop this.

Tragar Can Keep You Safe From Backflow

If you think you need a backflow prevention device or if you need service on your backflow device, Tragar can help. Most of these devices are relatively inexpensive but finding out that you’re not compliant with local regulations can cause worries about your water supply. To get started, contact us today.