Certified Backflow Prevention & Testing in Rochester Hills, Troy, & SE Michigan
Call for rates to perform backflow device testing and submitting of the reports to the appropriate city. Any repairs will be at an additional charge.
Residential Lawn Irrigation
- Residential lawn irrigation
- Special rates for 10 or more device tests on the same day in the same vicinity
Commercial Lawn Irrigation
- Commercial lawn irrigation
- All other commercial backflow device tests
Call (248) 652-0990 for a quote.
Putman & Son’s Plumbing provides certified backflow device testing, installation, and municipal report submission across Rochester Hills, Troy, Washington Township, Shelby Township, Rochester, Auburn Hills, and the surrounding areas.
Call for rates to perform your annual backflow testing. We handle the paperwork and submit compliance reports directly to your local municipal water authority. Note: Any required repairs or part replacements will incur an additional charge.
Residential Lawn Irrigation Testing
- Certified residential lawn irrigation backflow testing.
- Neighborhood Discount: Special rates are available for 10 or more device tests scheduled on the same day in the same immediate vicinity.
Commercial Backflow Services
- Commercial lawn irrigation backflow testing.
- Comprehensive testing for all other commercial and industrial backflow assemblies.
Call (248) 652-0990 for a quick, upfront quote.
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Residential & Commercial Backflow Prevention Services
Backflow prevention and testing are essential to the safety of the drinking water consumed in your Metro Detroit home or business. Water main lines rely on constant pressure to move clean water forward. However, sudden pressure drops—such as a nearby water main break or heavy fire hydrant use—can cause a dangerous reverse in flow, known as backpressure or backsiphonage.
When this happens, untreated or stagnant water can be sucked backward into your clean water lines. This water can be heavily contaminated with:
- Lawn fertilizers and chemical pesticides
- Industrial chemicals and manufacturing waste
- Fecal matter, bacteria, and other hazardous materials
Consuming or washing with backflow-contaminated water can lead to serious health conditions. To prevent this, local municipal codes across Oakland and Macomb counties require the installation of a mechanical backflow prevention assembly.
When properly installed, certified, and maintained by the team at Putman & Son’s Plumbing, these devices stop dirty water before it ever touches your clean water supply.
Do I Need a Backflow Prevention Device in My Area?
If you own a commercial property in Troy, Rochester Hills, or Auburn Hills, such as a restaurant, apartment complex, condominium community, or strip mall—you are legally mandated to have a backflow prevention assembly installed and tested annually.
Additionally, local ordinances in Shelby Township and Washington Township strictly require backflow valves on all sub-surface irrigation and lawn sprinkler systems for both agricultural and residential properties.
While modern indoor home plumbing fixtures generally feature built-in backflow protection, you may still need a dedicated valve installed if your home utilizes:
- Automated lawn sprinkler systems
- Dedicated swimming pool fill lines
- Hand-held utility shower attachments or specialized sink sprayers
If you aren’t sure whether your property meets local code requirements, contact Putman & Son’s Plumbing. Our local plumbers can audit your system and ensure your property is fully compliant.
How Often Should My Backflow Valve Be Tested?
To comply with Michigan state health regulations and local city codes, backflow assemblies must be tested annually.
If your municipal water department requires it, you will typically receive a compliance notification letter in the mail about a month before your test is due.
The physical testing process is highly efficient:
- Duration: It takes between 10 and 30 minutes to certified-test each device.
- Water Interruption: We will need to turn off your water supply for just 10 to 20 minutes per device during the test.
Our professional, licensed plumbers work quickly to minimize disruption to your home or business operations, ensuring your water is back on as fast as possible.
What Happens if a Backflow Device Fails the Test?
If your backflow valve fails its annual inspection, our first step is to disassemble the unit to clean out accumulated sediment, mineral scale, or debris from the internal parts. We then reassemble the unit and retest it.
If cleaning does not resolve the issue, a mechanical repair or component replacement (such as new springs or rubber seals) will be required. We will always walk you through the diagnostic results, explain your options, and provide an upfront estimate before performing any repair work.
Properly working valves keep your organization compliant with local water regulations, prevent costly city fines, and protect your community.
Frequently Asked Questions About Backflow Prevention and Testing
Irrigation systems sit in dirt, mud, and stagnant water puddles containing fertilizers, animal waste, and weed killers. A backflow preventer ensures that if a pressure drop occurs, none of those lawn chemicals are siphoned back into your home’s drinking water or the city’s main water supply.
We highly recommend Febco assemblies. They are incredibly reliable, engineered for longevity, readily available in the local Michigan market, and highly cost-efficient to service or repair over the long run.
The biggest myth we hear from homeowners and business managers in the Rochester and Troy areas is that backflow testing is an unnecessary municipal “cash grab” that doesn’t actually do anything.
In reality, backflow failures have caused massive public health crises. For example, during the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, a lack of plumbing backflow prevention in major hotels allowed contaminated water into clean lines. This resulted in over 1,400 severe illnesses and 98 deaths from Amoebic Dysentery. Routine annual testing prevents these disasters from happening in our local communities today.
Ready to Schedule Your Annual Inspection?
Whether you need a commercial test submitted to the City of Troy or a residential sprinkler certification in Shelby Township, we are here to help.
Contact Putman & Son’s Plumbing Today to schedule your backflow testing or ask about our neighborhood group discounts.