Backflow is the broad term for water flowing the wrong way, and backsiphonage is one way it happens. Understanding both helps you see why backflow prevention is required on certain fixtures.
The backflow
Backflow is any reversal of flow that could pull contaminated water into the clean supply, and it is the danger backflow preventers guard against.
The backsiphonage
Backsiphonage happens when a drop in supply pressure sucks water backward, the way a straw pulls liquid up.
The backpressure
The other cause is backpressure, when downstream pressure pushes water back, like a boiler or a pump.
The prevention
A vacuum breaker handles backsiphonage, while a double check or RPZ handles backpressure. rain and older housing stock mean corroded fittings and slow drains show up often In Tacoma, the right device depends on the hazard.
The device
A vacuum breaker handles backsiphonage, while an RPZ handles backpressure. Matching the device to the hazard is what the code requires.
The call
Protect the supply from both. Call 888-217-3585 and Tacoma Plumbing Experts will match you with a Tacoma pro.
Plumbing in Tacoma: what to know
In Tacoma, rain and older housing stock mean corroded fittings and slow drains show up often. Pros in our network know the local quirks and bring the right parts on the first visit.
Across Pierce County — from Fircrest, University Place and Fife to ZIP codes like 98402, 98405, 98403 — homeowners deal with the same kinds of issues. The tips above apply locally, and when a job goes beyond a quick fix, a vetted local pro is only a call away.
Need a hand in Tacoma?
If a plumbing issue is beyond a quick fix, don't wait for it to get worse. Call 888-217-3585 and Tacoma Plumbing Experts will match you with a vetted local pro — usually within minutes. Learn more about plumbing help in Tacoma.