Are you confused about backflow testing procedures? Well don’t feel alone in that confusion. Most property owners have no clue what happens during a backflow inspection.  We are City Backflow Testing, we have decades of backflow experience, and we are licensed and certified in over thirty cities in the DFW Megaplex. We figure that qualifies us to answer any question about backflow testing procedures.  Call us at (817) 996-2000 if you have any other questions after reading this article.

The backflow testing procedures we follow

We use USC 10^th Addition Testing Procedures:

• Notify- Notify the customer we are here for testing
• Identify- Make sure serial number is correct and that we have the right assembly
• Inspect- Make sure there are 4 test ports and 2 Shut off handles
• Observe- Attach test equipment and follow proper testing procedures  for this assembly
• Test Reports- Enter values for the assemblies
• Turn in all test Reports to the local water Purveyor or City

Now let’s take a look at each of those backflow procedures in a little more depth.

Notify the customer we are testing:  appointments for backflow testing are made a year in advance, at the time of the testing.  Once a backflow professional has been hired, the annual testing appointments are automatically made until the property owner notifies the tester that a new tester has been hired.

Check serial numbers and confirm the right assembly is being worked on: This is just another safety step in the procedure, double-checking to make sure the assembly listed for that property is the actual assembly on that property.

Check for four test ports and two shut-off handles:  all backflow preventors should have four test ports and two shut off handles. This is Federal law and standard within the backflow industry.

Follow proper testing procedures: these procedures are laid out in the certified training all backflow professionals must pass to gain state certification.  It usually consists of over forty hours of backflow training.

Fill out test reports: every city has their own test reports which must be filled out by a licensed and certified backflow professional

Turn in all test reports to the city officials:  all forms must be filed annually with the city, and at that time a new appointment for the following year is made.

How long does a backflow testing take?  If everything goes smoothly, the whole process will take about a half-hour, and it will be non-intrusive.  The property owner will know the technician is there, but other than that no other contact will be necessary.  The cost of backflow testing depends upon the company doing the testing, so giving an estimate in this article would be misleading at best.

City Backflow Testing

We have been involved in affordable backflow testing for a good number of years, so we feel confident in the information we share and the recommendations we make. Give us a call for our rates and to make an appointment.  For the very best in backflow inspection, backflow testing, backflow repair, and backflow installment, City Backflow Testing is the call you should make.