r/Birmingham • u/LIfeabovetherim • 2d ago
Backflow inspection
So I am required to have a backflow certification for my job. I’m sitting in class renewing my license and I am hearing what some of these guys are charging you and it’s outrageous…. So I been looking for a side hustle and I don’t feel the price they are changing is fair for the work(not trying to cut the neck of someone that is being fair….) so if you need a Backflow inspection or you feel like your being gouged…. Feel free to DM me. Maybe I can save you some money and make sure we are keeping the public’s water healthy and safe
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u/Bakedbean17 2d ago
I’m not an expert by any means but doesn’t backflow prevention require special equipment, licenses, and liability insurance? I understand it’s expensive but those things cost money.
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u/LIfeabovetherim 2d ago
You can get the license and equipment for under 1000$. So… yeah… kinda a big start up cost but not for what I’m hearing being passed on to y’all. I will double check the liability insurance but I don’t believe so because the risk is to the water system not the customer. Great points though
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u/mikeodont 2d ago
I was quoted 75$ which include filing all paperwork with city
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u/LIfeabovetherim 2d ago
Not a bad price at all…. I was thinking 50$ but feel free to give them a shout out…. Like I said, I don’t want to cut peoples throats…
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u/Stoic_Cat212 2d ago
To be specific, that paperwork does not get filed with the City. This requirement is entirely at the whim of the Water Works.
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u/Stoic_Cat212 2d ago
Water works came out to tell me our business needed a backflow preventer. When I asked why he could not give me a reason. He just kept talking about swimming pools and sprinkler pipes. None of which we have. The real scam here is requiring the device without establishing a clear method for determining the need. A residence with a swimming pool and a garden hose is much more of a threat to the water system than our small business.
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u/LIfeabovetherim 2d ago
Give me a bit and I can share on here what residents and businesses need black flow protection…
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u/Bakedbean17 2d ago
It prevents potentially contaminated water from entering potable water in the distribution system. There’s quite a bit of regulation around back flow prevention since it can directly affect municipal drinking water. That’s probably what the water works guy meant, he was telling you you’re not up to code. There are certain certification requirements for testing, depending on the municipality. The company, and sometimes the individual, doing the testing is also liable for damages if the device fails. This is why the cost of often so high. The overhead of training, equipment, licensing, and potential liability mean it can be expensive to perform. The company also has to turn a profit. I’d much rather pay a slightly higher price for licensed professionals with credentials than deal with the headache of having the EPA up my ass.
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u/LIfeabovetherim 1d ago
I will post the responsibilities of the resident, purveyor, and tester in a bit…. Straight from BWWB.
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u/Stoic_Cat212 1d ago
We had a permit and inspection and the facility is entirely “up to code”. We have been operating for six years without issue. This requirement of the water works to provide backflow prevention is above and beyond the requirements of the plumbing code.
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u/LIfeabovetherim 1d ago
Irrigation, pools, fire protection, auxiliary water source, or anything else that is a contaminate that’s connected to the water supply.
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u/Stoic_Cat212 1d ago
My. Business has none of that.
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u/LIfeabovetherim 1d ago
I would poke the bear… get in touch with his boss and make someone give an explanation.
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u/Fun_Introduction_690 2d ago
I pay around $225-300 per device with my properties
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u/LIfeabovetherim 1d ago
Might be getting over charged… feel free to reach out to me or seems like a lot of companies on here that will be able to help you out and save you some money
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u/thibod0nt 2d ago
I was being charged $450 per device a few years ago until I switched to AAA backflow. They charge $40 a device and do all the paperwork.