Silver Spring homes and businesses are on WSSC Water, which runs a cross-connection control program for its whole service area and expects testable backflow assemblies to be checked every year by a certified cross-connection technician. If you have a notice, a leaking device or a new sprinkler line, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Silver Spring.
Silver Spring sits right on the District line, but DC Water's rules stop at the border. Here WSSC Water supplies both water and sewer, and its cross-connection program, reachable at the Montgomery County line 301-206-7932, decides what gets tested. Much of the housing inside the Beltway is older, with a median year built of 1964, so many houses have no testable device at all. One usually appears when a sprinkler system, a fire line or an irrigation sub-meter is added; WSSC handles permits for irrigation sub-meters with backflow preventers through its permit services.
What to do now
- Find out what you have. Look near the outside wall or in the basement where the sprinkler line leaves the house. A brass unit with test cocks is a testable assembly.
- Stop water loss. If the device is pouring water, close the irrigation valve. If you can't find it, shut the main valve where the line enters the house.
- Keep the paperwork. Set aside any WSSC notice and the last test report.
- Ask for the right tester. Only a plumber registered with WSSC who also holds cross-connection technician certification can test or repair the assembly.
- Plan for a retest. A device that fails has to pass again after repair before the record is clear.
Symptoms and what usually causes them
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Steady drip from the relief port | Worn first check or relief valve seal |
| Water spraying from the bonnet of a vacuum breaker | Failed float or poppet seal |
| Weak sprinkler heads after spring start-up | A partly closed test valve or debris in a check |
| Cracked brass body | Water left inside during a hard freeze |
| Failed result on a recent report | Fouled check seat or a weak spring |
What affects the cost
- Whether the visit is a test alone or a test, rebuild and retest
- The type of assembly: an RPZ takes longer to service than a vacuum breaker
- Access in tight rowhouse-style lots, basements or crowded mechanical rooms
- Commercial or multi-unit buildings with fire lines or several devices
- Whether a full replacement and a WSSC permit are needed
- Whether you need the report filed for a building manager or condominium board as well
Backflow Testing questions in Silver Spring
Does an ordinary house need a yearly backflow test?
Who is allowed to test and repair my backflow assembly?
Why is water dripping from my backflow device?
Do I need a permit to install or move a backflow preventer?
More plumbing services in Silver Spring
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