Annual backflow certification for irrigation, fire lines, and commercial properties. Oregon-certified testers.
Live 24/7 dispatch. Stocked trucks. Most repairs first-visit complete.
Backflow testing is annual certification required by the Portland Water Bureau and Oregon Health Authority for any backflow prevention assembly — RPZ (Reduced Pressure Zone), DCVA (Double Check Valve Assembly), or PVB (Pressure Vacuum Breaker). Required on irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems, commercial properties with potential cross-connections, and any plumbing system that could backflow contaminate the public water supply.
Real dispatcher picks up — no IVR. We confirm your Portland address and triage on the call.
Closest stocked truck. ETA 20-60 min depending on quadrant.
Written quote before any work starts. Re-quote if diagnosis shifts.
Most repairs first-visit. Portland BDS permits where required.
Watts 909, 957, 957Z RPZ assemblies. Wilkins 350/375 series. Febco 805/825 DCVA assemblies. Replacement check valves, RPZ vent assemblies, repair kits. Certified backflow test kit with three-needle calibrated gauge.
Verifiable Oregon CCB license at oregon.gov/ccb before our crew arrives.
Property-damage coverage on every job. COI for landlords.
Upfront pricing before any work starts.
First-visit completion on most calls.
Backflow testing customers in Portland are required by Portland Water Bureau and Oregon Health Authority to test annually. Categories: irrigation systems (most common — every home with an irrigation system has a backflow preventer), commercial properties (any business with chemicals or processes that could backflow), fire sprinkler systems (annual test required by NFPA), multi-family properties (testing required on shared assemblies). We handle all four. New properties typically need first-year test 30 days after install; recurring tests are scheduled by anniversary date.
On the call we ask: what type of assembly do you have (RPZ, DCVA, PVB), when was it last tested, do you have a copy of the previous test report? On-site we connect a calibrated three-needle test gauge to the assembly's test ports, run the test sequence per ASSE 1013/1015/1024 standards, and document pressure differentials. Passing tests get a signed report filed with the Portland Water Bureau via their online portal. Failing tests get a repair quote — common failures are check valve seal, relief valve diaphragm, or vent assembly.
Dispatch from SE Portland to all metro neighborhoods. Same upfront estimate any quadrant.
We dispatch to all Portland quadrants and the surrounding metro: Hawthorne, Sellwood-Moreland, Alberta Arts, Mississippi, Mount Tabor, Hollywood, Irvington, St. Johns, Nob Hill, Belmont and the rest of inner Portland; plus Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Vancouver WA, West Linn, Oregon City, Happy Valley, Wilsonville, Troutdale, Forest Grove, McMinnville, Canby, and Saint Helens. Same upfront estimate any quadrant.
Full Service AreaPortland Water Bureau requires annual backflow testing on every backflow prevention assembly under their Cross-Connection Control program — that's tens of thousands of assemblies citywide. RPZ (Reduced Pressure Zone) assemblies on commercial properties and irrigation systems with chemical injection are highest risk. DCVA (Double Check Valve Assembly) on standard residential irrigation. PVB (Pressure Vacuum Breaker) on hose-bib retrofits. The Water Bureau sends annual notices; failure to test eventually results in service disconnect. Oregon Health Authority enforces backflow regulations under OAR 333-061-0070. Certified testers (we are) submit reports through the Water Bureau's online portal — homeowners can't self-certify.
Three actions extend backflow assembly life. (1) Winterize before first freeze — drain RPZ and DCVA assemblies, insulate, or remove if seasonal-use irrigation. A frozen assembly cracks the body; full replacement. (2) Annual test in spring before irrigation season starts. Catching a failed seal in March lets you fix and certify before peak watering, vs failing the test in July and being unable to water until repair. (3) Check the vent on RPZ assemblies monthly during irrigation season — if water is dripping from the vent during normal operation, the internal seal has failed and the assembly needs repair before backflow contamination becomes a risk.
Honest boundary on what's safely DIY-friendly vs when to bring us in.
Annual backflow testing requires an Oregon-certified tester — there is no DIY version. Even checking your own assembly for obvious failures (vent leaking, freeze damage) without certified equipment doesn't satisfy Portland Water Bureau requirements. Call us when your annual notice arrives, or proactively in spring before irrigation season starts.
We dispatch 24/7 across all Portland quadrants. Live dispatch around the clock.
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