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Einwechter Plumbing & Heating
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Residential Backflow

Got a backflow letterfrom the city?

We test residential backflow preventers on irrigation systems, boilers and other connections, and send the results where they need to go.

Residential backflow test $225 Plus HST, per device.
  • Certified backflow testers
  • Results filed for you, filing cost included
  • Repairs quoted on the spot if a device fails

New Dundee, Wilmot Township, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Milton, Halton Hills, Acton, Rockwood and Georgetown

Backflow preventer on an irrigation line against a stone wall – backflow testing, Einwechter Plumbing & Heating, Kitchener-Waterloo

What backflow is

 

Keeping your waterfrom flowing backward.

A backflow preventer is a valve that stops water from your irrigation system, boiler or other equipment from being pulled back into the drinking water supply if pressure drops.

Municipalities require many of these devices to be tested every year by a certified tester. If you got a letter, your device is on their list.

  • Lawn sprinkler system→Usually needs an annual test
  • Boiler or hydronic heating→Often has a backflow device on the fill line
  • Pool or hot tub fill line→May need one
  • Got a city letter→Book before the due date on it

Have your letter handy?

Book a test before the due date. We will test, file the report and tell you the result the same day.

A backflow preventer uses two check valves and a relief valve to stop water from flowing backward into the city supply; test ports let us check each part. Illustration by Einwechter Plumbing & Heating, Kitchener-Waterloo
Inside a backflow preventer. Two one-way check valves and a relief valve. We test each one through the test ports.

Test day

 

About 30-60 minutes,start to finish.

You don’t need to be home. We just need access to the device.

  • 1Water off brieflyWe shut off the water to the device while it is tested.
  • 2Test with a calibrated kitEach check valve and relief valve is tested to the required standard.
  • 3Result on the spotYou know before we leave whether it passed.Pass or fail
  • 4Report filedWe send the report to the municipality and pay any filing cost.
  • 5Fail? Repair quoteIf it fails, you get a written repair price.

If your device fails

 

Backflow replacement,test included.

If your device fails and replacing it makes more sense than repairing it, these are the prices. Each one includes the new device, materials and labour, plus the test and report on the new device. There is no separate $225 test fee.

Device sizeRP or DCVA, replaced
1/2 inch$950 + HST
3/4 inch$1,050 + HST
1 inch$1,250 + HST

Larger than 1 inch? We quote it before any work starts.

Business owner?

Commercial backflow testing has its own page.

Restaurants, plazas, factories and multi-unit buildings often have several devices with stricter schedules. See our commercial backflow testing page for how we handle those.

Locally owned since 2018

 

Why homeownerschoose Einwechter

  • The price comes firstYou approve the price before the work begins. No surprises at invoice time.
  • Brands we stand behindWe guarantee our work for a year when we supply the equipment. We pick brands we trust, and that’s what lets us stand behind them.
  • Licensed and insuredA licensed plumbing contractor, fully insured: $5 million liability, plus WSIB (workplace insurance), so you’re never on the hook if someone gets hurt.
Einwechter plumber holding a backflow test tag at the device, Kitchener-Waterloo

Questions we get asked

Residential backflow FAQ

How much does a residential backflow test cost?

$225 plus HST per device.

How often does a backflow preventer need testing?

Most municipalities require an annual test. Your letter will have the due date.

What happens if my device fails?

We tell you why and give you a written price to repair or replace it. A replacement is $950 to $1,250 plus HST for devices up to 1 inch, and the new device is tested and reported at no extra charge.

How much does it cost to replace a backflow preventer?

$950 plus HST for a 1/2 inch device, $1,050 for 3/4 inch and $1,250 for 1 inch, RP or DCVA. That includes the device, materials, labour, and the test and report on the new device. No separate $225 test fee.

Do you send the results to the city?

Yes. We file the test results with your municipality and pay any associated cost.

Do I need to be home?

No. We need access to the device, but you don’t need to be there for us to complete the test.

Why does my irrigation system need one?

It stops fertilizer and lawn water from being drawn back into the drinking water if pressure drops in the street.

Residential Backflow

Due date coming up?

Book a residential backflow test for $225 plus HST.

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