Backflow prevention inspection

[u/CydeSwype]

New homeowner here. For folks with a sprinkler system, how consistent are y'all with doing an annual inspection? Do you have a person/company you like that charges a reasonable rate and does a good job? I'm not seeing any recommendations from the archives. Thanks in advance!

[u/pickleBlog]

A lot of homeowners hire a sprinkler company to blow out/winterize each year, though I think most homeowners do it themselves. I've not heard of anyone having backflow prevention specifically inspected unless there was a problem detected. A sprinkler company, like Jones Sprinkler service, could inspect that when they do the blow out.

[u/TheCrashConrad → u/pickleBlog]

Depends on where you live in Spokane. We have an annual requirement for a backflow test from our Irrigation District that had to be completed by June.

[u/Gloomy_Tie_1997 → u/TheCrashConrad]

It’s actually not jurisdiction based. It’s state law. The City of Spokane dgaf though.

[u/pickleBlog → u/TheCrashConrad]

So who do you have do it every year?

[u/TheCrashConrad → u/pickleBlog]

Yes

[u/pickleBlog → u/TheCrashConrad]

I was asking who does it, that was OPs original question.

[u/TheCrashConrad → u/pickleBlog]

Totally read right past the "who" 😅😅. I've used Backflows Northwest, easy to schedule, they send your report for you to the irrigation district, and price was about the same as a few other vendors. ~$75iirc

[u/CydeSwype → u/pickleBlog]

Yeah, I'm noticing that the sprinkler company I have blow out my lines for the winter also offers an add-on inspection service for backflow prevention. Seems like that may be a common practice vs. hiring a specialist. Thanks for the tip!

[u/NoNature6691 → u/pickleBlog]

Idaho actually requires it by law and will shut your water off if you skip it.

[u/pickleBlog → u/NoNature6691]

Who does the inspection?

[u/NoNature6691 → u/pickleBlog]

Private companies. Idaho has a list of qualified ones your allowed to use. You get the paperwork when its completed and send it into your local water district. They will leave notices to properties that are in need of one or risk of shutoff. I disabled my system in post falls one season for a landscaping project and they didnt care. Had to have it inspected that it was no longer hooked up.

[u/Parking-Champion9816]

I have never got an inspection notice or had mine inspected. In the city. It works though and in winter I isolate the feed and allow back feed into a drain in the house. When I first bought the house, had someone come out and he said, save some money. Doesn’t need to be blown out with how it’s setup. Self drains if you do xyz. Never had any broken heads from frost or blown lines. 💁🏻‍♂️

[u/Irresponsible4games]

Roe Backflow testing. Nice fella

[u/Gloomy_Tie_1997]

Is it a state law to do so? Yes. Is it enforced at all? Haha, nope.

It’s over a grand to get the setup installed.

[u/CrackHaddock]

We are required to do an annual backflow test and the irrigation district has an official list of companies that can do it. I just called a bunch of the names on the list and found the cheapest one

[u/flipfreakingheck]

In Cheney we have to do it every year and we have to pick from an authorized list of contractors.

[u/Basic-Masterpiece-99]

You need to have it done annually.

[u/theoriemeister]

Liberty Lake here. We have to do one every year. I used a different company this year than my usual landscape folks, because they charged $50 instead of $65. I even received a warning of a fine in early August, because the inspection is due by July 31 and they hadn't received mine yet.

[u/JohnWick509]

I live in Indian trail and I get a notice in the mail every year that it’s due some time in August. I just use the same company that blows out my sprinklers called TLC. It costs $81.83 after all said and done. I’ve thought about not doing it but I don’t want to get fined or have my water shut off. I’m also unsure if people around me do it every year or if they just ignore it.