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Portland, OR · State-Certified Testers

Backflow Testing & Certification in Portland, OR

Got an annual backflow test notice from your water provider? Our state-certified testers test, certify, and repair your backflow assembly — and file the signed report directly with the Portland Water Bureau or your district, so you stay compliant. Fast scheduling, fair flat rates, and 24/7 repairs when an assembly fails.

Call (971) 399-8934 Schedule a Test
State-CertifiedOregon backflow testers
We File the ReportStraight to your provider
Fail? We Fix ItRebuild & re-test same visit
Guaranteed WorkBacked in writing
The basics

What backflow testing is — and why you got a notice

Backflow is when water flows the wrong way through your plumbing and back into the public supply, potentially carrying contaminants with it. A backflow prevention assembly stops that — but only if its internal check valves and springs still work, which is why annual testing is required.

If your water provider mailed you a test notice, it means you have a registered assembly that's due. Common reasons you have one:

  • An irrigation / lawn sprinkler system
  • A fire-suppression / sprinkler system
  • A commercial or industrial connection
  • A well, pool, spa, or boiler cross-connection
  • A multifamily or mixed-use property

Miss the deadline and the provider can issue penalties or even shut off water — so it's worth handling promptly.

What we do on a test visit

  1. Test the assembly with calibrated gauges to provider standards.
  2. Repair or rebuild on the spot if it fails the test.
  3. Re-test to confirm a passing result.
  4. File the signed report with your water provider, copy to you.
Assemblies we handle

Test, repair & replace

Certified service for every common backflow prevention assembly, residential and commercial.

RPZ / RP Assemblies

Reduced-pressure zone assemblies tested, rebuilt, and certified for high-hazard connections.

Double Check (DCVA)

Double check valve assemblies tested and serviced for irrigation and many commercial lines.

PVB / SVB

Pressure and spill-resistant vacuum breakers — common on irrigation — tested and repaired.

Fire Line (DCDA)

Double check detector assemblies on fire-suppression lines tested and certified.

Rebuild & Repair

Failed assemblies rebuilt with new check valves, springs, and seals, then re-tested.

New Installation

New backflow assemblies installed and registered where a connection requires one.

Commercial & property managers

Multiple assemblies across a building or portfolio? We test them in one coordinated visit, rebuild any that fail, and file all the reports — so your whole property stays compliant on schedule.

Ask about annual reminders and bundled pricing on our commercial plumbing page.

Compliance, handled

Certified, documented, on time

Backflow testing isn't a job for an uncertified handyman — Oregon requires a certified tester with calibrated equipment, and the water provider only accepts reports from one. We're state-certified, carry the gauges, and know each local district's submission process.

That means you don't chase paperwork or worry about a rejected report. We test, pass or repair-and-pass, and submit the certification to the Portland Water Bureau or your water district before the deadline.

And if your assembly fails outside testing season — or freezes and leaks in winter — our 24-hour line covers the repair, the same as any plumbing emergency.

How it works

Tested & certified

01

Schedule

Call with your notice; we book promptly, around business hours if needed.

02

Test

Certified tester checks the assembly with calibrated gauges, 20–30 minutes.

03

Repair if needed

If it fails, we rebuild it on the spot and re-test to a passing result.

04

File the report

We submit the signed certification to your provider and send you a copy.

Honest pricing

Flat-rate backflow service

ServiceTypical range*
Annual backflow test (per assembly)$75–$150
Multiple assemblies / propertyDiscounted
Rebuild a failed assembly$150–$400
Assembly replacement$350–$1,200+
New assembly installationQuoted on site

*Typical Portland-metro ranges. Assembly size, type, and quantity set the final flat quote — confirmed before work. Report filing to your water provider is included.

Backflow Guide

Backflow testing in Portland, Oregon

Backflow prevention assembly tested by a certified Portland plumber Certified& filed

Why the test protects everyone

Your backflow assembly is a small device with an outsized job: keeping irrigation runoff, chemicals, and other contaminants from being siphoned back into the drinking water shared by your neighborhood. Its check valves wear, so an annual test is how the water system confirms the protection still holds.

The notice has a deadline

Water providers track every registered assembly and send annual test notices with a due date. Miss it and you risk fees or a water shutoff. We handle the test and the paperwork well within the window so a routine task never becomes a problem.

Do you need backflow testing?

If your water provider sent a notice, yes. In general, a tested assembly is required wherever there's a cross-connection that could let non-potable water reverse into the supply, including:

  • Lawn irrigation and sprinkler systems
  • Fire-suppression sprinkler systems
  • Commercial, industrial, and medical connections
  • Wells, pools, spas, and boilers
  • Multifamily and mixed-use buildings

The assemblies we test and rebuild

We service every common device — reduced-pressure zone (RPZ/RP), double check valve (DCVA), pressure vacuum breaker (PVB), spill-resistant vacuum breaker (SVB), and double check detector assemblies (DCDA) on fire lines. When an assembly fails, the fix is usually a rebuild kit with fresh check valves, springs, and seals; we carry common kits so most failures are repaired and re-tested in the same visit rather than requiring a second trip.

For property managers and businesses with several devices, we coordinate testing across the whole site in one visit, rebuild any that fail, and submit every report — then set an annual reminder so next year's round is scheduled before the notices even arrive. It turns a recurring compliance headache into a single phone call.

While testing itself is scheduled work, backflow assemblies also freeze, leak, and fail unexpectedly — and that's where our around-the-clock line comes in. An assembly spraying water in a January freeze is a plumbing emergency we'll handle any hour, at the same flat rate, with no after-hours surcharge.

Backflow, Answered

More backflow testing questions in Portland

What happens if I don't get my backflow tested?

Your water provider can issue penalties and, after enough missed notices, shut off water to the property until a passing test is on file. Beyond the compliance side, an untested assembly may have quietly failed — meaning the cross-connection protection you're required to have isn't actually working. Testing on time keeps both your water on and your supply protected. If your due date is close, it's worth handling now rather than risking the shutoff notice.

Why did my backflow assembly fail the test?

Backflow assemblies rely on internal check valves, springs, and rubber seals that wear out, get fouled by debris, or stick over time — and any of those will cause a failed test. The good news is that most failures are fixed with a rebuild kit rather than a full replacement. We carry common kits, so when an assembly fails we can usually rebuild it on the spot, re-test to a passing result, and file the report the same visit.

Can I test my own backflow assembly?

No. Oregon requires backflow testing to be performed by a state-certified tester using calibrated gauges, and water providers only accept reports submitted by one. It's not a DIY task — the test verifies the assembly protects the public water supply, which is a health-and-safety matter. We're certified, carry the proper equipment, and handle the submission, so you don't have to think about the requirements.

How long does a backflow assembly last?

A quality assembly can last 15 years or more, but the internal parts wear faster — which is exactly why annual testing exists. Many assemblies get one or two rebuilds over their life before a full replacement is warranted. We'll tell you honestly whether a failed assembly is worth rebuilding or has reached the point where replacement is the better value.

Does my backflow assembly need winterizing?

If it's an above-ground assembly on an irrigation system — common in Portland — yes. An unprotected assembly can freeze and crack in a hard winter, leaving you with a leak and a failed device come spring. We can insulate or, for irrigation, advise on shutting down and draining the system before the cold. Catching this in fall is far cheaper than replacing a frozen-burst assembly later.

Certified Portland plumber testing a backflow prevention assembly Open24 / 7 / 365
Who We Are

Portland's certified backflow team

We're a locally run, Oregon-licensed plumbing company with state-certified backflow testers on staff. We test, certify, and repair assemblies and file the report for you — and our 24/7 line covers the repairs when an assembly fails, with no after-hours surcharge.

Residential, irrigation, commercial, and fire-line assemblies handled and documented in one visit.

Licensed
Certified Testers
Workmanship guaranteed
Call (971) 399-8934
Service Area

Backflow testing across the metro

We test and certify backflow assemblies across Portland and the surrounding metro, residential and commercial. Tell the dispatcher your address and provider to get scheduled.

Beaverton Vancouver, WA Gresham Hillsboro Lake Oswego Tigard Milwaukie All areas

Test notice with a deadline?

We'll test, repair if needed, and file the report with your provider — well before the due date. Call to schedule, any hour.

(971) 399-8934Schedule a Test
FAQ

Backflow testing questions

Got a notice or a failed assembly? Call and we'll handle the test and the paperwork.

What is backflow and why is it dangerous?

Backflow is when water reverses direction and flows backward into the clean public supply — for example, when a pressure drop siphons irrigation water or contaminants through a cross-connection. It's a public-health hazard, which is why a backflow prevention assembly is required at many connections and must be tested.

Why is annual backflow testing required?

Backflow assemblies have internal check valves and springs that wear out, and a failed assembly silently stops protecting the supply. Oregon's cross-connection rules and local providers require certified annual testing to verify it still works. A test notice means your provider is enforcing that.

Who needs a backflow test in Portland?

Most properties with an irrigation system, a fire-suppression system, a commercial connection, a well, a pool, or a boiler are required to have a tested assembly. If your water provider sent an annual notice, you're on the list — and the deadline is real.

Do you file the test report with my water provider?

Yes. We're state-certified testers and submit the completed, signed report directly to your provider (Portland Water Bureau or your district) so you stay compliant and avoid a shutoff notice. You get a copy for your records too.

What types of backflow assemblies do you test and repair?

All common assemblies — reduced pressure zone (RPZ/RP), double check valve (DCVA), pressure vacuum breaker (PVB), spill-resistant vacuum breaker (SVB), and double check detector assemblies (DCDA) on fire lines. If yours fails, we can often rebuild it on the spot.

How much does backflow testing cost in Portland?

A standard annual test typically runs $75–$150 per assembly, with discounts for multiple devices. If it fails, a rebuild runs roughly $150–$400, and a full replacement more, depending on size. We quote everything upfront.

What happens if my backflow assembly fails the test?

A failed assembly needs repair or replacement to pass — usually a rebuild kit with fresh check valves, springs, and seals. We carry common parts and can often rebuild and re-test the same visit, then file the passing report so you stay compliant.

How often do I need to test?

Annually in most of the Portland area — your provider sets the schedule and sends a notice. Some high-hazard or commercial connections require more frequent testing. We can set a yearly reminder so you never miss a deadline.

Talk to a plumber — (971) 399-8934