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A back pressure valve is a control valve used on production vessels, such as separators, treaters, and free water knockouts. The valve holds pressure until a set point is reached, and then releases upstream pressure to reset. Back pressure valves are not safety mechanisms. Instead, they are regulators designed to keep the fluid, gas, or liquid mixture in a system at a certain pressure level to prevent bursts and other incidents.

Meanwhile, a backflow preventer is a safety mechanism that kicks in when the pressure has already failed and contaminated water flows in the reverse direction. Most backflow preventers consist of two one-way valves, or check valves assembled together. This design only allows water to pass through in one direction but not the other.

Be sure to consider how often you may need access to your pipes in the future. This can help you decide if you want to install a basic PVC backflow preventer or spring for a clear or removable one. 

If you think you’ll need access to your plumbing often, or if your pipes have a history of problems, it’s probably worth spending a little more for something you can look into without removing the backwater preventer.

Plumbing emergencies might include burst pipes or major pipe leaks, major drain clogs, lack of hot water, a gas leak, or a sewer line backup. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if a plumbing problem constitutes an emergency. If leaving the issue alone until regular business hours means your home will incur more damage or put your family at risk, then it’s typically considered a plumbing emergency—and worth calling up an emergency plumber to come fix the issue as soon as possible. Does home insurance cover plumbing? Many policies will cover sudden and unexpected plumbing emergencies that aren't caused by homeowner negligence.

Applying drain cleaner is a common DIY solution to clogged drains, but it can be extremely harmful to your pipes and lead to corrosion and leaks. It is almost always better to try snaking a clog than using a drain cleaner, but the best solution is to hire a professional plumber. They can locate the clog and gauge the severity using a camera system and then decide if using a plumber’s snake, auger, or drain cleaner is the best option to remove the clog and limit damage to your plumbing system.