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
A backwater valve and a Blackwater Alert are entirely different. The backwater flow preventer valve, is located inside your sewer line. If it was not installed when the plumbing was installed, significant costs may be involved in retrofitting a preventer into your waste line (~$1,000). A backflow preventer also has movable parts, internal springs and seals that become worn over time. Recommendations direct the user to inspect the preventer every year. Additionally, if the backflow preventer may become stuck (let’s say in a vacation home that has not been frequently used), an open valve does not protect the home. A preventer stuck in a closed position will cause a significant and costly sewer backup into the home/business.
Testing and maintenance of the backflow preventer should be done by a certified technician. The costs associated with annual inspections of a backflow preventer far exceed the one-time cost of a Blackwater Alert, which is reusable even after the alarm warns of a backup, only requires battery replacement yearly, and is easily accessible on your clean-out line.
The Blackwater Alert is a wireless, patented sewer backup prevention system that gives a 95-decibal alarm to a property owner before wastewater enters the home. Blackwater Alert can also send an alert to your smart device through an app such as Alexa Guard if you are traveling iPhone or Android) to indicate that a backup is occurring. This will give you time to call a plumber or family member to assess and repair the cause of the backup before it enters your living space..
The plumber will simply drain the standing sewage in your waste line through our port valve and clear the sewer line into a 5-gallon bucket (no spraying of filthy water). He will then remove the device and snake the blockage in the sewer line. The Blackwater Alert can be easily re-installed without delay and begin protecting your home or business again. The PVC construction is strong and will last for years. Changing the battery through an easy access panel is the only “maintenance” you have to contend with, every 12-14 months. When have had units that last for 18 months on one 9 Volt battery. Simple and rugged offering peace of mind at a low cost.
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