| Quick facts | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cost range | $100-$200 residential; $175-$400 commercial |
| Time | About 15 to 30 minutes per device |
| Who's qualified | ABPA or ASSE certified tester with a CIB plumbing license, approved by the city |
Why can't homeowners do rpz valve testing in Tulsa?
Tulsa runs a Backflow Prevention/Cross Connection Control Program under Title 6, Chapter 4 of the Tulsa Revised Ordinances, so RPZ testing is locally regulated rather than left to the property owner. The local water purveyor typically requires an approved, certified tester to perform the test and file the report. Certification alone involves a 40-hour ASSE 5110 training course and exam. Oklahoma has no statewide tester license - each city or water district approves its own testers.
What can a handy Tulsa homeowner safely do themselves?
You can locate your RPZ assembly, keep it accessible, and protect it from freezing before Tulsa's mean first hard freeze on November 14. You can also check for visible leaks or standing water around the assembly and note the last test date. But the actual test requires specialized gauges that measure differential pressures across the assembly - equipment and training most homeowners don't have.
How often is rpz valve testing required in Tulsa?
Oklahoma's adopted plumbing code requires reduced pressure principle assemblies to be tested at installation, immediately after repairs or relocation, and at least once a year. Most Oklahoma water authorities require annual testing and reporting. Tulsa's roughly 49 inches of annual precipitation and heavy irrigation use make annual testing especially relevant for cross-connection protection.
When to call a pro for rpz valve testing in Tulsa?
Call a pro if your annual test is due, if the assembly was just installed, repaired, or relocated, or if your water provider has requested a compliance report. RPZ devices are typically required for high-hazard connections, so a failed or skipped test carries real contamination risk. Also call a pro if you see leaks, dripping from the relief valve, or damage after a freeze - Tulsa averages about 15 inches of snow per year, and frozen assemblies often need repair before they can pass.
What to do next
- Confirm your assembly's last test date and schedule the annual test before the November 14 mean first hard freeze.
- Verify the tester holds ABPA or ASSE backflow tester certification and a CIB plumbing license, and is on the city's approved tester list.
- Ask the pro in your quote whether the filing of the test report with the water purveyor is included.
- Request proof of licence and insurance before the tester begins work.
- Call (918) 202-2068 or email [email protected] for a free quote from a licensed, insured local backflow testers.
Tulsa Backflow is a free referral service: an independent contractor does the work and may pay us a referral fee. You never pay us anything.
