A vacuum breaker is a backflow preventer usually mounted near the water source before running into the spout. A hose submerged into a mop bucket or a warewashing sink full of contaminated water may pose serious health hazards. The water in such containers must in no way siphon back into the potable water supply. With a simple device attached to your faucet or hose thread, it is possible to safeguard your water system against back-siphonage.
A commercial kitchen is awash with sinks dispensing water for washing, sanitizing, and food preparation tasks. Continuous pressure applications and cross-connections in such workspaces pave the way for the backflow of dirty or detergent water. A vacuum breaker is one of several types of backflow preventers to avoid back-siphonage incidents.
Atmospheric vacuum breakers are among the simplest and the most inexpensive backflow preventers. They are composed of a check valve and an air vent, and the outside air pressure pushes the valve and closes it when the water is off.
Pressure vacuum breakers are a variation of the atmospheric type. The difference is that their check valve features a spring. The spring pushes the valve open to the atmosphere and blocks the pipe when water pressure is low. Hose connection vacuum breakers are threaded tools that screw on each hose bibb or faucet in your kitchen.
Codes about backflow prevention may vary, so it is advisable to check the plumbing regulations that apply to your state. This is crucial for deciding on the type and installation of the vacuum breakers you might need. Are you leaving hoses in mop buckets or sinks filled with chemicals? It is a moral responsibility to take preventive measures against backflow no matter what the codes demand.
Whether retrofitting or remodeling your kitchen, you need a vacuum preventer to protect your potable water supply. Plus, add a vacuum breaker repair kit into your shopping cart to fix possible faults.