Registered Backflow Tester

[koster_irrigation]

Just curious if anyone on here is a licensed tester besides me. I use a Mid-West 830 & A Watts TK-99D

My hometown <wilson> has a program that sends out letters to homeowners & businesses / fire systems yearly.

I usually do one or two a day.

[MOlawnman]

Received my certification three years ago.

Best week of schooling I ever invested in. Within three months, I had financed my school cost and the cost of the test kit.

Our local water purveyors also send out letters with a list of certified testers at the bottom.

It has been very lucrative for me. I figured why should I pay someone else to certify the device I just installed when I could take home the profit for 90 seconds of testing!

Just a note- in Missouri, RP's and Double checks are the only approved devices for irrigaiton systems.

[KerryB]

I have been thinking of adding this service for a while now. What are the requirements and where do I go for certification in NC?

[koster_irrigation]

I cant agree more. Best investment yet for being in the irrigation business. I no longer have to pay big bucks to have someone else set my backflows and test them. Wilson requires RP's on new installs i like the 975xl's and the 825Y's both good products and easy to service. Most old systems here have DC's. I subscribe to Drinking Water and Backflow Prevention Magazine. Very informative on repairs and backflow products etc.

[MOlawnman]

Koster...

Could you give me the info on that magazine.

Steve

[koster_irrigation]

http://www.dwbp-online.com/subscription.htm

[MOlawnman]

Thanks for the link

[koster_irrigation]

Our city changed this program for residential irrigation devices to be tested every other year not every year

[Flatbed]

We are required to use RPZ here. I've been Backflow Certified four years. What do most of you charge for a backflow test? Around here it varies from $50-85. Most cities around here send out letters to have them tested.

[BSME]

I saw a plumbing van today that had backflow testing painted on the truck...

I called them and asked how much to test my backflow.... $125

I don't know for sure in MI, but I think you have to be a journeyman plumber or something to test backflows... bummer

[koster_irrigation]

^ thats a rip off. charge less and have alot more customers, you wont get many call backs charging that much.


i charge 60 to 80 and other rates for fire lines.

[jerryrwm]

Well if you can get $125 for a test, there's not a thing in the world wrong with that. If the market will bear that price, by all means go for it. Rip-Off - no way. If everyone in the area is charging in that neighborhood, you better be right there also, or you're leaving money on the table.

The money is good for testing, but it is expensive to get the certification and expensive to keep it. Class - $500.00 Gauges - $500.00 Time spent in class not able to earn any money for the business - $2000.00+ State license fees - $60.00/yr CEU courses - $200.00 every three yrs. Plus the insurance premiums. Hell you have over $3000.00 of costs, and you haven't tested the first BFD yet.

[koster_irrigation]

Oh trust me, id charge that amount if i could. I just hate to see someone taken advantage of for 3 minutes for a backflow test.

I think $60 - 80 is a fair price for the amount of time spent. Im in a small town and it doesnt take long to bounce around town and
serve my clients.

I buy bulk test fittings and install them on all my customers devices so it speeds up the testing process.

[BSME]

It isn't an outrageous price around here... mainly because it's hard to become certified... trust me... If I could just take the classes and have $3000 in expenses I'd do it...

The sprinkler companies that do backflow test around here have hired plumbers on staff