Backflow Testing in Kernersville, NC

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Kernersville. Expect a few questions up front: is this a routine test, a repair after a failed result, a leak, or a new installation? What kind of device is it, if you can read the label? Does the irrigation system have a chemical or fertilizer feed? That last answer matters because it decides whether your sprinklers test yearly or every three years.

For a routine visit, the tester connects a gauge kit to the assembly's test cocks, checks each valve against the pressure readings it should hold, and records the result. If everything holds, the report is filed and you're done. If a check or relief valve doesn't hold, the plumber explains what's worn and what a rebuild or replacement involves before doing it.

What affects the cost

• A pass on the first try versus a rebuild and second test
• Assembly type: reduced pressure units have more parts than double checks or vacuum breakers
• Pipe size and how many assemblies the property has
• Whether a frozen or cracked body has to be replaced
• Permit and inspection steps for new or moved work

Kernersville specifics

Kernersville's water rates appear in WSFC's rate schedule under their own Kernersville table, and town water customers are treated as WSFC customers, though no page states the arrangement in plain words. Check your bill to confirm. Under WSFC's Cross-Connection Control Program, property owners install, test and maintain backflow assemblies on all cross-connections. Assemblies are tested at installation and most are tested annually by WSFC-approved testers, who file reports through BSI Online. BSI mails reminder letters 30 days before a test is due. Since September 2024, NC Senate Bill 166 has put eligible residential irrigation without chemical feed on a three-year cycle.

The one rule that differs from Winston-Salem itself is the permit. Kernersville runs its own Development Services Division for building and plumbing permits in town limits and its ETJ, through the ViewPoint online portal. It is not part of the joint Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division, so a new or relocated assembly is permitted with the Town.

Before the plumber arrives

• Find the assembly, usually near the meter or where irrigation leaves the house
• Clear plants, mulch or a box lid so the test cocks can be reached
• Have the BSI letter or your last test report handy
• Know where the irrigation shutoff and main shutoff are
• Note any recent leaks, pressure changes or freeze damage