Prevent Contamination With A Hose Bibb Vacuum Breaker

The last thing any homeowner wants is a backflow of contaminated water, whether into the home or the home’s water source. An innocent-looking garden hose can turn into a source of contamination.

A drop in water pressure in the home or municipal water system can allow water from the hose to flow backward into the system. This can be caused by a leak, by a system pump failure, or by a sudden heavy demand elsewhere in the system. Even the expansion of sun-heated water in a hose can cause backflow.

This might not seem problematic, but garden hoses are often connected to devices to disburse soap, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers, or are left with the open end inserted in contaminated water. The hoses themselves might be made of material that can break down and contaminate the water.

A hose bibb vacuum breaker is a simple spring-loaded valve that allows water to flow out normally, but vents into the atmosphere in the event of a pressure reversal. Many can be purchased at home improvement stores and screwed on externally between the bibb and the hose.

Any homeowner with concerns about the possibility of backflow can contact a qualified home plumbing specialist such as All About the Pipes Plumbing Inc. for a consultation and help with installing, inspecting, or changing a vacuum breaker.