| Quick facts | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cost range | State caps recertification fees at $50; 2025 class application fee is $175 |
| Time | 4-day recertification course per the state |
| Who's qualified | A state-certified backflow prevention tester with an up-to-date certification card |
West Ashley, SC: what's different here
West Ashley is part of Charleston County, South Carolina, about 10 miles and roughly 17 minutes from Charleston by car via US Route 17. The area includes older, established housing, with prewar and postwar homes, duplexes, and later suburban additions. Some neighborhoods feature 1920s and 1930s bungalows, and some older homes there sit on crawl spaces rather than slabs.
What does backflow device recertification involve in West Ashley?
South Carolina requires a tester to pass a 25-question written exam and perform hands-on tests on a double check valve assembly, a pressure vacuum breaker, and a reduced pressure principle assembly. The state describes the recertification course as a 4-day course.
How much does backflow device recertification cost?
South Carolina regulation allows a nominal recertification fee and caps it at $50. The state course application lists a $175 fee for the required one-day class and certification processing in 2025.
How often must backflow assemblies be tested in West Ashley?
South Carolina requires each backflow assembly to be tested after installation and before customer use. Assemblies must then be tested at least once annually by a certified tester.
Who can perform backflow testing in West Ashley?
All backflow testing must be done by a state-certified backflow prevention tester holding an up-to-date certification card issued by the Department. South Carolina allows four tester types: General Tester, Limited Tester, Inspector Tester, and Manufacturer's Agent.
What equipment rules apply to recertification?
Recertification gauges must be accurate within 2% of full scale or +/-0.3 psi differential. Test equipment and gauges must be certified or calibrated annually, and water systems must maintain an active Cross-Connection Control Program.
What to do next
- Confirm the tester holds an up-to-date backflow prevention assembly tester certification card issued by the South Carolina Department.
- Ask for the annual test of your backflow assembly, which South Carolina requires at least once each year.
- Check the gauge used will be calibrated within 2% of full scale or +/-0.3 psi differential.
- Get a written quote that separates the test fee from the state's $50-capped recertification fee.
- Call (843) 286-4721 or email [email protected] for a free quote from a licensed, insured local backflow tester.
CHS Backflow is a free referral service: an independent contractor does the work and may pay us a referral fee. You never pay us anything.
