Backflow Testing & Certification in Portland, OR
Got a backflow notice from your water district? Our state-certified testers handle your annual backflow test, file the report with the Portland Water Bureau within 10 business days, and repair or replace a failed assembly — at an upfront price.
- OHA-certified testers
- We file your report
- Test · repair · replace
- Discuss the repair scope before work
Fast, flat-rate plumbing — no overtime fees
- Same-day dispatch across Portland metro
- Upfront flat-rate — no overtime fees
- Discuss the repair scope before work
- Live dispatcher 24/7 — no voicemail
What backflow testing is — and why Portland requires it
A backflow preventer stops dirty water from being siphoned or pushed back into the clean drinking-water supply through a cross-connection — like an irrigation line, a fire line, or a commercial fixture. Because a failed assembly can contaminate the public water system, Oregon law (OAR 333-061-0070) and Portland City Code require every assembly to be tested at least once a year by a certified tester, with the results filed with your water provider.
We do the test, and if it passes we handle the paperwork — so you stay compliant without the hassle.
Got a letter from your water district?
Portland Water Bureau and metro districts mail annual reminders — usually in spring, before irrigation season. Don't let it lapse: fines and water shut-off follow a missed deadline.
Have the letter or your assembly serial number handy and call us — we'll test it and file the report before your due date.
Who needs annual backflow testing
If your property has any cross-connection to the city supply, it almost certainly has an assembly that must be tested every year.
Irrigation / sprinklers
The most common residential assembly — a PVB or DCVA on your lawn irrigation system, due annually before summer.
Commercial properties
Premises-isolation assemblies on the main service for offices, retail, and multi-family buildings. Commercial plumbing
Fire suppression lines
Fire sprinkler systems carry RPZ or detector assemblies that require annual certification.
Restaurants & food service
High-hazard connections (dishwashers, carbonators, kitchens) need RPZ assemblies tested yearly.
Medical & dental
Clinics and labs have high-hazard cross-connections requiring reduced-pressure protection.
Multi-family & HOAs
Apartments, condos, and HOA common systems with irrigation, boilers, or fire lines.
Assemblies we test, repair & install
| Device | Typical use |
|---|---|
| RPZ / RP | High-hazard (commercial, fire, restaurants) |
| DCVA | Low-hazard premises isolation |
| PVB / SVB | Irrigation / lawn sprinkler systems |
| AVB & hose-bib VB | Outdoor spigots & simple connections |
Devices last about 5–10 years; we repair worn seals and springs, or replace assemblies that fail repeatedly.
What happens during a test
- Brief shut-off — we isolate the assembly to read the gauge.
- Gauge test — a differential-pressure test confirms pass or fail.
- Repair if needed — a failed assembly gets an upfront repair or replacement quote.
- File the report — we submit passing results to the Water Bureau within 10 business days.
Most tests take well under an hour, and we restore your water right after.
Residential backflow tests from $55
Flat upfront pricing on the test, with the report filed for you. Commercial pricing depends on the number and size of assemblies — call for a fast quote.
Schedule your testBackflow test due, or assembly failed?
Certified testing, repair, and replacement across the Portland metro — and we file your report with the Water Bureau so you stay compliant.
Local help for Backflow Testing
From the first call to a clean finish, our Portland plumbers handle backflow testing with upfront, flat-rate pricing and no overtime fees — day, night, weekends and holidays.
Call (971) 367-8197Backflow testing questions
Test due soon? Call — we test and file the report for you.
How often does my backflow preventer need to be tested in Portland?
At least once a year. Oregon law (OAR 333-061-0070) and Portland City Code require annual testing, with results filed with the Portland Water Bureau within 10 business days. We handle both the test and the filing.
Who is allowed to test a backflow assembly in Oregon?
Only a state-certified Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT) certified by the Oregon Health Authority, working for a contractor. Our testers are OHA-certified and we're an Oregon contractor.
How much does a backflow test cost in Portland?
The price depends on diagnosis, access, parts and the agreed work. Ask what is included in the assessment and request the repair scope and price before authorizing work. Additional restoration or specialist work should be identified separately.
Do you file the test report with the Portland Water Bureau for me?
Yes — we submit your passing results to the Water Bureau within the required 10 business days, so you stay compliant without chasing paperwork.
I got a backflow notice from my water district — what should I do?
Schedule your annual test before the deadline on the letter, and have the letter or your assembly serial number handy. We perform the test; if it passes we file the report, and if it fails we quote the repair on the spot.
What happens if I don't test my backflow preventer?
You risk fines and eventual water shut-off from your provider, plus liability if a failed assembly contaminates the supply. Staying on the annual schedule avoids all of it.
Which backflow devices do you test?
All common assemblies — RPZ, DCVA, PVB, SVB, AVB, and hose-bib vacuum breakers — on irrigation systems, fire lines, and commercial premises isolation.
Do I need a backflow test for my sprinkler system?
Almost always yes — most residential assemblies protect an irrigation system, and Oregon requires them tested annually, usually before summer watering season.
My backflow preventer failed — do I repair or replace it?
Minor failures (worn seals or springs) are usually repairable for about $100–$500. Aging or repeat-failing assemblies are better replaced — residential replacements often run $300–$600 installed. We test, advise, and do both.
Will my water be shut off during the test?
Briefly, yes — a test requires a short shut-off to read the differential pressure gauge. Most tests take well under an hour, and we restore service right after.
Other Plumbing Services in Portland
One call covers every plumbing need, anywhere in the metro.
Water Heater Repair
No hot water or a leaking tank? Same-day gas, electric & tankless repair.
Water Heater Replacement
Old or failed unit swapped same day, hauled away and code-compliant.
Water Heater Installation
New tank or tankless installs sized right for your home.
Tankless Water Heater Repair
Flow-sensor, ignition, scale and control-board fixes.
Drain Cleaning
Clogged or slow drains cleared fast — no harsh chemicals.
Hydro Jetting
High-pressure cleaning that blasts grease, roots and scale.
Sewer Line Repair
Camera diagnosis and trenchless repair of damaged laterals.
Sewer Line Cleaning
Roots and blockages cleared from your main sewer line.
Sewer Line Replacement
Trenchless pipe bursting or a targeted dig that lasts decades.
Sewer Camera Inspection
HD camera locates the exact problem underground.
Burst Pipe Repair
We stop the flood and repair burst pipes the same visit.
Leak Detection
Non-invasive location of hidden water leaks before they spread.
Slab Leak Repair
Pinpoint and repair leaks under your concrete slab.
Pipe Repair & Repiping
Repair or repipe for copper, PEX and old galvanized lines.
Gas Line Repair
Safe repair and leak-testing of natural-gas and propane lines.
Water Line Repair
Repair leaking or broken main water-service lines.
Frozen Pipe Repair
Thaw and repair frozen, split pipes before they flood.
Faucet Repair
Drips, low water pressure and worn cartridges fixed fast.
Toilet Repair
Clogged, running, leaking and overflowing toilets repaired.
Garbage Disposal Repair
Jammed, humming or leaking disposals repaired or replaced.
Commercial Plumbing
Same-day plumbing for restaurants, offices and retail.
How the repair scope is decided
The tester identifies the assembly, records its make and serial number, and measures its performance with test equipment. A passing test documents the condition of that assembly on the test date; it does not certify every pipe or fixture at the property.
If an assembly fails, the next step is to identify the failed component, discuss repair or replacement, and retest the assembly. The test report and any follow-up work should identify the same device and property.
Ask which testing, reporting and repair charges are included. The water provider’s requirements and the assembly’s condition determine the work; a reminder letter alone does not mean the device needs replacement.
What to have ready before a visit
Have the water provider’s reminder letter, assembly location and any previous test report ready. Tell us whether the device serves irrigation, a fire system or another connection, and whether a brief water interruption needs to be coordinated.