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Testing & Certification

Backflow testing & certification, with the paperwork handled

Annual backflow tests by Washington-certified testers using calibrated gauges. We test your assembly, tag it, file the report with your water purveyor and send you a copy.

Schedule a test (206) 549-4992

If your property has a testable backflow assembly, your water purveyor needs proof every year that it still works. That proof is a test report from a state-certified Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT). We make getting it painless.

When is a backflow test required?

Under Washington’s drinking-water rules, a testable backflow assembly must be tested:

  • When it’s installed, before the purveyor will accept it
  • At least once a year, on the due date your purveyor assigns
  • After any repair, reinstallation or relocation
  • After a backflow incident, or whenever your purveyor asks

Your purveyor usually mails a notice several weeks before your test is due. Don’t sit on it: most purveyors follow up with reminders and can eventually suspend water service for non-compliance. Read our full guide to Washington’s testing rules →

Every assembly type, residential to industrial

RPBA

Reduced Pressure Assembly

High-hazard protection for restaurants, medical and dental offices, labs, boilers and chemical-injected irrigation.

DCVA

Double Check Valve Assembly

Low-hazard protection, common on lawn irrigation, domestic services and many fire-sprinkler lines.

PVBA / SVBA

Vacuum Breaker Assemblies

Back-siphonage protection, most often on residential irrigation, installed above the highest sprinkler head.

RPDA / DCDA

Detector Assemblies

Fire-line assemblies with a bypass meter to detect leaks or unauthorized use. We coordinate with your fire-sprinkler contractor.

Not sure what you have? Our assembly identification guide shows how to tell them apart.

What happens during a test

  1. Locate & inspect

    We find the assembly, confirm it matches your purveyor’s records, and check for leaks, damage and correct installation.

  2. Isolate & connect

    We briefly close the shut-off valve and connect a calibrated differential-pressure gauge to the test cocks.

  3. Test each valve

    Each check valve must hold, and on RP assemblies the relief valve must open at the correct pressure, following standard test procedures.

  4. Restore & report

    Water goes back on, the assembly gets a dated test tag, and your report goes to the purveyor.

Complete evaluation & testing

Every full-service backflow test includes all of the following:

  • Check for leaks
  • Confirm the assembly is USC-approved
  • Installation check
  • Orientation check
  • Exercise the shut-off valves
  • Check line pressure
  • Certify air-gap compliance (where applicable)
  • Operational test of check valves #1 and #2
  • Return the assembly to service
  • Attach an ABS test tag to the assembly
  • Submit test results to your water utility
  • Answer your water-safety questions
Line drawing of a reduced-pressure backflow assembly: two shut-off valves, two check valves, test cocks and a relief valve Shut-off #1 Check #1 Check #2 Shut-off #2 Relief valve

Make sure we can reach it. Assemblies in buried valve boxes, locked mechanical rooms or behind landscaping slow things down. If you know where yours is, tell us when you book, and let us know about gate codes or dogs.

Testing FAQs

How long does a backflow test take?

Most residential assemblies take 15–30 minutes. Large commercial and fire-line assemblies can take longer, and multiple assemblies on one property are tested in the same visit.

Will my water be shut off?

Only the line downstream of the assembly, and only for part of the test. For irrigation assemblies you usually won’t notice. For a building’s main service we’ll give you a heads-up first, and buildings with parallel assemblies can keep water flowing throughout.

Do I need to be home?

For outdoor irrigation assemblies, often not, as long as we can reach the assembly and its shut-off. For indoor or commercial assemblies, someone will need to let us in. We’ll confirm when we schedule.

What if my assembly fails?

We’ll show you exactly what failed, explain why, and give you a quote before touching anything. Many repairs can be done on the spot, then we retest and file the passing report. More about repairs →

How much does a backflow test cost?

It depends on the assembly type and how many are on the property, and multi-assembly and multi-property visits cost less per assembly. Call (206) 549-4992 for a straight quote before you book.

More services

Everything backflow, under one roof

Testing, repairs, installs and emergencies, all handled by the same local crew, with the paperwork taken care of.

Testing & Certification

Annual tests by state-certified testers, filed with your purveyor.

Backflow Repair

Failed test? We rebuild or replace, retest and file the pass.

Installation

New, replacement and relocated assemblies, permitted and certified.

Maintenance Plans

Every due date tracked for homes, HOAs and portfolios.

24/7 Emergency

Burst assemblies, freeze damage and shut-off deadlines.

Service Area

39 cities from Mount Vernon to Tacoma.

Serving these cities

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