Backflow Testing in Capitol Heights, MD

Signs you need a backflow visit

• A WSSC notice says an assembly at the property is due for its annual test
• A shop, restaurant or church along Central Avenue or Marlboro Pike is changing equipment
• Water leaks from the relief port, a test cock or the bonnet
• A sprinkler system was added and the device was never tested
• A failed test is still waiting on repair
• You aren't sure whether your address near Southern Avenue is on WSSC or DC Water

Capitol Heights conditions

The town began as a 1904 subdivision just past the District's eastern edge, where Northeast and Southeast Washington meet, and today the Capitol Heights Blue Line Metro station sits in the middle of it. The median home was built in 1967, and houses of that era were built without backflow assemblies. Residential devices here usually came later with sprinklers, a boiler or a fire sprinkler line, while commercial buildings are more likely to have them on the main service.

Being on the DC line causes confusion. A house across Southern Avenue is in the District, on DC Water, under District rules and permits, but a Capitol Heights address follows WSSC's cross-connection rules, and plumbing permits come from WSSC, not DC or the county's DPIE. Testable backflow devices are among the few replacements that need a permit in the county. Right at the line, confirm the utility by checking whose name is on your water bill. WSSC Permit Services is at 301-206-4003.

What affects the cost

• Device type. RPZs have the most parts to test and rebuild.
• Result. A pass is a short visit; a fail adds parts and a retest.
• Count. Commercial properties may have several assemblies.
• Replacement. A new device needs a WSSC permit and a test after installation.
• Access. Tight basements and meter pits take longer.

What happens when you call

The call reaches an independent plumber who works in Capitol Heights. Describe the device and what it serves, and mention any notice. The plumber tests it, explains the result, and arranges the WSSC filing or the repair. If the device is spraying water, close the valve that feeds it until the visit, and keep any old test reports nearby for the plumber.