Backflow box and method

Abstract

A method of using a backflow box with a water-using appliance comprising providing a backflow box including a backflow preventer and drainage; installing the backflow box in a wall cavity of a building in an accessible and viewable location; coupling the backflow preventer of the backflow box to a water supply and the water-using appliance; coupling the drainage of the backflow box to drain line of the building; inhibiting backflow from the water-using appliance from flowing into the water supply backflow preventer; and draining backflow through the drainage of the backflow box to the drain line of the building.

1 . A backflow box for use with a water-using appliance, comprising:
 a plurality of backflow plumbing components for water supply flow, the plurality of backflow plumbing components comprising a backflow preventer including a drainage outlet, a nipple drain, and a plumbing outlet that the water supply flows out of the backflow box from, the plumbing outlet, the nipple drain, and the drainage outlet all being separate;   a drainage spaced vertically below the nipple drain and the drainage outlet,   wherein the backflow box is configured to be installed in a wall cavity of a building in an accessible and viewable location, the backflow preventer of the backflow box is configured to be coupled to a water supply line and the water-using appliance, the drainage of the backflow box is configured to be coupled to a drain line of the building, the backflow preventer is configured to inhibit backflow from the water-using appliance from flowing into the water supply line, and the drainage of the backflow box is configured to drain backflow there through to the drain line of the building.   
     
     
         2 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow box is configured to be installed at least six inches above a flood rim. 
     
     
         3 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow box is configured to be accessed and drainage there through observed in case of backflow failure. 
     
     
         4 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the building is one of a house, an apartment, a condo, a residential building, a commercial building, a government building, and an industrial building. 
     
     
         5 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the water-using appliance is one of a coffee maker, an ice maker, and a soda fountain. 
     
     
         6 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow box includes a plastic box housing. 
     
     
         7 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow box includes a lateral support bracket that laterally supports and spaces the backflow preventer above the drainage. 
     
     
         8 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow box includes a vertical support that vertically supports and spaces the backflow preventer above the drainage. 
     
     
         9 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage of the backflow box includes a drain funnel spaced from the backflow preventer by an air gap. 
     
     
         10 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow box includes backflow plumbing components and the backflow plumbing components are coupled to the backflow preventer. 
     
     
         11 . The backflow box of  claim 10 , wherein the backflow plumbing components include a ball valve. 
     
     
         12 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer is a check valve backflow preventer. 
     
     
         13 . The backflow box of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer is a dual check valve backflow preventer with atmospheric port and strainer. 
     
     
         14 . A backflow box for use with a water-using appliance, comprising:
 a plurality of backflow plumbing components for water supply flow, the plurality of backflow plumbing components comprising a backflow preventer including a drainage outlet, a nipple drain, and a plumbing outlet that the water supply flows out of the backflow box from, the plumbing outlet, the nipple drain, and the drainage outlet all being separate;   a drainage,   wherein the backflow box is configured to be installed in a wall cavity of a building in an accessible and viewable location, the backflow preventer of the backflow box is configured to be coupled to a water supply line and the water-using appliance, the drainage of the backflow box is configured to be coupled to a drain line of the building, the backflow preventer is configured to inhibit backflow from the water-using appliance from flowing into the water supply line, and the drainage of the backflow box is configured to drain backflow there through to the drain line of the building.   
     
     
         15 . A backflow box for use with a water-using appliance, comprising:
 a plurality of backflow plumbing components for water supply flow, the plurality of backflow plumbing components comprising a backflow preventer including a drainage outlet and a plumbing outlet that the water supply flows out of the backflow box from, the plumbing outlet and the drainage outlet being separate;   a drainage,   wherein the backflow box is configured to be installed in a wall cavity of a building in an accessible and viewable location, the backflow preventer of the backflow box is configured to be coupled to a water supply line and the water-using appliance, the drainage of the backflow box is configured to be coupled to a drain line of the building, the backflow preventer is configured to inhibit backflow from the water-using appliance from flowing into the water supply line, and the drainage of the backflow box is configured to drain backflow there through to the drain line of the building.