| Quick facts | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cost range | Varies by property - confirm in your quote |
| Time | Varies by assembly count - confirm with your tester |
| Who's qualified | A South Carolina certified backflow prevention tester with an up-to-date DES certification card |
North Charleston, SC: what's different here
North Charleston sits in Charleston County, South Carolina, and lies about 6 miles from downtown Charleston, or roughly 10 minutes by car via the main highway. The city shares the Lowcountry's humid coastal climate, which can be hard on outdoor plumbing assemblies. Homes and businesses here rely on double check valve assemblies to keep drinking water safe. A local pro can handle testing across the city's mix of older and newer housing stock.
How often is double check valve testing required in North Charleston?
South Carolina requires each double check valve assembly to be tested after installation and before use by the customer. After that, it must be tested at least once every year, unless an exception applies. A state certified tester must perform every test.
Who can perform double check valve testing in North Charleston, SC?
Only a South Carolina certified backflow prevention tester may do the work. The Department issues a certification card, and testers renew every 3 years. The state recognizes four tester types: General Tester, Limited Tester, Inspector Tester, and Manufacturer's Agent.
How does a tester get certified for double check valve testing?
Certification comes from a 3-day workshop plus a proctored written exam and a practical test. Renewal takes a 25-question written exam with a 70% passing score and wet-lab testing on a double check valve assembly, a pressure vacuum breaker, and a reduced pressure principle assembly.
Where can a North Charleston tester take the certification course?
The state lists a Charleston-area training class at the North Charleston Convention Center on Coliseum Drive, with dates shown as June 9-12, 2026. Ask your referred pro where they trained and when their card expires.
What to do next
- Call CHS Backflow at (843) 286-4721 for a free referral to a local certified tester.
- Ask the pro for their South Carolina backflow prevention tester certification card and its expiration date.
- Request the annual double check valve assembly test required by state drinking water rules.
- Get the retest schedule in your quote so you stay compliant each year.
- 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.
