Temple Hills is on WSSC Water, so any testable backflow assembly, whether on in-ground irrigation, a 2007 to 2009 home fire sprinkler system or a chemically treated boiler, must be tested every year and after installation, repair or relocation. A WSSC-registered journeyman or master plumber with cross-connection certification does the test, not WSSC. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Temple Hills.
Temple Hills is mostly garden apartments, duplexes and single-family neighborhoods built from the 1950s through the 1970s, with a median build year of 1973. Few of those homes had a backflow assembly when new. When one turns up, it is usually protecting sprinklers, a boiler or a commercial line near Branch Avenue, St. Barnabas Road or Iverson Mall. If you are adding a sprinkler system or a new boiler to one of these older houses, the protection should go in as part of the job, along with the permit and a first test after installation. In apartment and duplex buildings, the owner or management company normally arranges testing for shared assemblies, so tenants who spot a leaking device should report it rather than book a test themselves.
What to do now
- Find out what you have. Look for a brass valve body with small test cocks on an irrigation riser, a boiler feed or a fire line.
- Check the notice. If WSSC has the device on record, its reminder tells you a test is due.
- Book a qualified tester. Only a WSSC-registered plumber who is a certified cross-connection technician can test or repair it.
- Stop a leak safely. If water is pouring out, close the valve feeding the device.
- Plan for a permit if replacing. Prince George's County lists testable backflow devices among replacements that need a permit, issued by WSSC.
Signs and what they usually mean
| Sign | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Relief port dripping or running | First check not sealing, or a tired relief valve |
| Water at the vacuum breaker cap | Worn air inlet seal |
| Sprinklers weak after a repair | Shutoff left partly closed |
| Body or bonnet cracked | Freeze damage |
| Repeated failed tests | Worn internals; replacement may be better value |
Cost factors
- Assembly type and size
- Pass, rebuild or replace
- Number of devices, often several in apartment communities
- Access around older basements or tight mechanical rooms
- Permit work for a replacement
Building permits for this unincorporated area come from Prince George's County DPIE, while WSSC handles plumbing permits through Permit Services at 301-206-4003. The county's cross-connection line is 301-206-8601. Near Henson Creek and other low ground, keep outdoor devices above grade and clear of standing water so they stay serviceable.
Backflow Testing questions in Temple Hills
Will I get a reminder when the test is due?
Who pays for the test and any repairs?
What is the difference between a PVB, a double check and an RPZ?
Can a winter freeze damage an outdoor backflow preventer?
More plumbing services in Temple Hills
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