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Gas, backflow and business
Backflow Testing and Prevention in Louisville, CO
Backflow is water flowing the wrong way, from a sprinkler system, a boiler or a hose into the drinking supply. A backflow preventer stops it, and a yearly test confirms it still works. Many Front Range towns require testing for certain connections.
Call and tell the dispatcher what the device is attached to.
Where backflow devices are found
- Irrigation systemsA device on the sprinkler supply line.
- Commercial and multi-unit buildingsOften required by the water provider.
- Boilers, spas and fire linesWhere a second water source touches the supply.
Why backflow happens
Water normally flows from the main toward the house. A drop in main pressure from a break or heavy fire demand can pull water backward. A hose submerged in a bucket or a sprinkler head sitting in a puddle is a pathway for contaminated water.
Preventers use check valves, relief valves or air gaps to keep the flow one way. They have moving parts that wear, which is why testing is needed.
What a test involves
A certified tester connects gauges to the device's test ports and measures pressure drops across its valves. The result shows whether the check valves hold and the relief valve opens correctly. A passing test is documented and often filed with the water provider.
If the device fails, the tester can rebuild it with new seals and springs, or replace it. Retesting follows the repair.
Cost
What affects backflow work pricing
A routine test is a short visit. Repairs and replacements cost more.
Ask whether the test report will be filed for you.
In Louisville
Irrigation season on the Front Range
Lawns and gardens in the Louisville area depend on summer irrigation, and many yards have sprinkler systems with a backflow device near the house. The city asks residents to use water wisely because its supply is limited, and it runs conservation programs.
Because winters here are cold, the standard cycle is winterizing in fall and testing in spring. Plan the test before the first heavy irrigation week.
Who requires it
Some water providers require annual testing for non-single-family connections, for example. Superior's town website states that annual backflow device testing is required for non-single-family connections, mainly business owners and property managers. Other towns set their own rules.
Even where a single-family home is not required to test, a device on an irrigation system is worth checking. Ask your water provider or your contractor what applies to your address.
Winter and the device
Devices installed above ground can freeze and crack if not drained. Winterizing the irrigation system typically includes draining the backflow assembly or insulating it. A cracked body will spray water or fail its next test.
In spring, open the valves slowly to avoid a pressure surge, and have the device tested before you rely on the system.
Before test day
Getting ready for a backflow test
A few minutes of preparation keep the visit short and the result clean.
More outdoor water services
Commercial Plumbing
Plumbing service for shops, offices, restaurants and multi-unit buildings around the corridor.
Leak Detection
Pinpoint a concealed leak in a wall, a ceiling or the buried supply line, so only the right spot gets opened.
Quick answers
What people ask about backflow
A device that keeps water from flowing backward into the drinking supply. It is installed on irrigation lines, boilers and some commercial connections.
Many providers require yearly testing for required connections. Check your provider's rule.
A worn seal, a stuck check valve or freeze damage may be the cause. A tester can diagnose it.
Often yes, by code. Your water provider or a plumber can confirm.
Close the isolation valve upstream of the device and call the line. Routine tests are scheduled in the day, but a device spraying water in winter should be reported at once.
Close the isolation valve ahead of the device and call. Yearly tests are booked in daylight, but a device spraying water in cold weather should be reported immediately.
A certified tester can often rebuild it with fresh seals and springs and then test it again. A cracked body or a discontinued model usually means replacing it. The water provider may want the passing report kept on file.
Backflow test due?
Call and describe the device. A local contractor can schedule the test.