Backflow Testing in Hyattsville, MD

Signs you should schedule a backflow visit

• A WSSC reminder lists a backflow assembly at your address
• A restaurant, shop or studio along US 1 or in the Arts District is opening or changing equipment
• An irrigation system was added to an older lot and the device has never been tested
• The relief port on an RPZ drips or gushes
• A boiler in an older house was converted or treated with additives
• You are buying a property and want the test history settled before closing

Local conditions in Hyattsville

Hyattsville's historic district is full of late-1880s Victorians and interwar Sears and Arts and Crafts bungalows, and the city's median home was built in 1963. Houses that old were not built with backflow assemblies, so in single-family homes they usually appear only after a later change: an in-ground sprinkler system, a hydronic boiler with treatment chemicals, or a home fire sprinkler line. Newer apartment and mixed-use buildings near Hyattsville Crossing, University Town Center and the West Hyattsville Metro are a different story, and many have one or more devices on their water service and fire lines.

Whatever the building, the rules come from WSSC Water. The City of Hyattsville has no permits office of its own. Prince George's County says all plumbing permits are issued by WSSC and plumbing inspections are handled by WSSC, and testable backflow devices need a permit even in an existing home. WSSC's cross-connection program can be reached at 301-206-4004.

What affects the price

• How many assemblies are on the property and their sizes
• Whether each one passes or needs a rebuild and retest
• Access in tight basements, ceilings or meter rooms common in older buildings
• Replacement and the WSSC permit that goes with it
• Whether the visit needs to fit around business hours to avoid a water shutoff during service

What happens when you call

The call connects you with an independent plumber who serves Hyattsville. Have the WSSC notice or account details handy and describe what the device protects. The plumber tests the assembly, explains the result, and, if it passes, makes sure the report is filed with WSSC. If it fails, you get options to rebuild or replace it before the retest.