backflow testing
Affordable and Dependable
At Superior Backflow Services, LLC, we are dedicated to providing exceptional backflow services to our customers. We are ASSE certified, insured, reliable, and here to make your backflow testing simple and easy. We are committed to providing excellent customer service at an affordable price. We submit the test results to your water purveyor and provide you a copy for your records. We are focused on getting you in compliance quickly and keeping you in compliance in the future to avoid costly fines or penalties.
service area
Serving the following Counties:
Berks - Carbon - Columbia - Cumberland Dauphin - Lackawanna - Lebanon - Luzerne Lehigh - Northumberland - Schuylkill
What is Backflow?
Backflow is the reversal of the normal direction of water flow, which could result in undesirable materials entering the potable water supply. To ensure that safe, clean water is being distributed to all customers, many water providers require that every commercial property install and annually test their backflow prevention assembly.
What is Backflow Testing?
Backflow testing is a thorough check to confirm that the backflow prevention assemblies are working correctly. These assemblies are designed to prevent contaminated water from entering the clean water supply. During the testing process, the functionality of these assemblies are assessed to ensure they can effectively stop backflow.
Why do backflow prevention assemblies need to be tested?
Backflow assemblies are mechanical and are subject to failure from wear and tear, corrosion, freezing, water conditions, and misuse. They have internal seals, springs, and moving parts that could fail. The testing of these assemblies ensures that they are operating as required to prevent the backflow of contaminates into the municipal water supply. All backflow assemblies have to tested annually with a calibrated gauge to ensure that they are functioning properly.
How does backflow occur?
There are two types of backflow:
Backpressure: Your water’s flow could reverse should the plumbing’s pressure exceed the pressure within the water distribution system. This often is caused by boilers, sprinkler systems, pumps, among other things.
Backsiphonage: This is caused by negative water pressure (vacuum or partial vacuum) in the water distribution system. Negative pressure in your plumbing system can occur when a fire hydrant is used for firefighting or due to a broken water main.
How do you prevent backflow from occurring?
To prevent backflow from occurring, there are several types of mechanical plumbing assemblies available to ensure safe water consumption.
DCVA-Double Check Valve Assembly
This assembly consists of two internally loaded check valves. It includes two resilient seated shut-off valves and four test cocks. With the two check valves in series, a DCVA prevents backflow even if one check valve fails to close tightly. This type of assembly is approved to protect against non hazard pollutants. It can be used to prevent backflow due to backpressure and backsiphonage.
PVB-Pressure Vacuum Breaker
A single body, single loaded check valve and a spring loaded air inlet valve. It has two shut-off valves and two resilient seated test cocks. This type of assembly is approved for both contamination hazards and pollution hazards, but only in backsiphonage situations.
SVB-Spill-Resistant Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly
It contains an internally loaded check valve and spring loaded air inlet valve. It comes with two resilient shutoff valves and seated test cocks. This assembly is approved for both contamination hazards and pollution hazards, but only in backsiphonage situations.
RP/RPP-Reduced Pressure Backflow
This assembly has two independently operating internally loaded check valves, a mechanically independent, hydraulically dependent differential pressure relief valve between the two checks. It has resilient seated shutoff valves and test cocks. This assembly is approved for health hazard protection and for non-health hazard protection in both backpressure and backsiphonage situations.
