Flow Pros Plumbing replaces failed backflow preventers in St. Petersburg, FL. A backflow preventer is the valve assembly that stops water from an irrigation system, boiler or commercial kitchen from flowing backward into the drinking water supply. When a certified tester reports that an assembly has failed or is beyond repair, Flow Pros removes it and installs a new one under Florida plumbing license #CFC1433820. Call 727-265-9639.
- FL #CFC1433820
- Serving Tampa Bay Since 2020
- Navien & Rinnai Certified
- Backflow & OSHA Certified
- Updated October 12, 2026
Backflow Preventer Replacement in St. Petersburg
Flow Pros replaces backflow prevention assemblies for businesses and property owners across St. Petersburg, from Downtown and the Grand Central and Edge districts to Old Northeast, Kenwood and Snell Isle, dispatching from 2770 25th St. N. Replacement is the only backflow service Flow Pros offers.
- Failed assemblies. Reduced pressure (RP), double check (DC) and pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) assemblies that failed their test and cannot be returned to service.
- Damaged or corroded units. Assemblies with cracked bodies, seized valves or heavy corrosion on the brass and test cocks.
- Wrong type for the hazard. A PVB on a line where backpressure can develop, or a double check on a health-hazard connection, swapped for the type Florida's rule calls for.
- Matched to your report. Send us the failed test report or utility notice and we quote the assembly type and size listed on it.
Commercial customers can see the rest of our commercial plumbing service, or every plumbing service we offer.
When Does a Backflow Preventer Need to Be Replaced?
A backflow preventer needs to be replaced when it fails its test and cannot be repaired, when it is physically damaged, or when it is the wrong type for the connection. Florida's minimum testing schedule comes from Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-555.360, and a failed test is usually how property owners find out an assembly has reached the end of its life.
| What is installed | Florida minimum under Rule 62-555.360 |
|---|---|
| Assembly at a business or other non-residential connection | Tested after installation or repair, then at least once a year |
| Assembly at a residential connection | Tested after installation or repair, then at least every two years |
| Residential dual check device | Refurbished or replaced at least once every 5 to 10 years |
In St. Petersburg, three signs tell you an outdoor assembly may need replacing before its next test:
- Water dripping or running from the relief port on an RP assembly.
- Water spraying from the top of a PVB when the irrigation system starts.
- Corrosion on exposed brass and test cocks, which salt air speeds up near Tampa Bay and the Gulf beaches.
Types of Backflow Preventers We Replace
Florida's cross-connection rule recognizes three types of testable assembly, plus the dual check device used at individual homes. The right one depends on how hazardous the connected water is and whether pressure can build up downstream.
| Type | How it works | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced pressure assembly (RP or RPZ) | Two independent check valves with a relief valve between them that opens and dumps water if a check leaks. | Health-hazard connections, and irrigation connections where backpressure can develop. |
| Double check valve assembly (DC) | Two check valves in one body, with no relief valve. | Non-health hazards only. |
| Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) | A spring-loaded check valve and an air inlet that opens when supply pressure drops. It protects against backsiphonage only. | Irrigation connections where backpressure cannot develop. |
| Dual check device | Two simple check valves in a compact body. | Individual residences. |
The definitions follow the EPA's Cross-Connection Control Manual.
Backflow Rules by Tampa Bay Water Utility
Your water utility sets the testing schedule, the tester requirements and how results are filed, so the rules follow the name on your water bill and not your mailing city. This is what each utility publishes:
| Water utility | What it publishes |
|---|---|
| City of St. Petersburg | Irrigation-only water accounts are inspected at least annually. New reclaimed water accounts must pass a cross-connection inspection by the Water Resources Department. |
| Pinellas County Utilities | The county installs backflow assemblies at properties with reclaimed water availability, at commercial properties and on designated fire lines. It tests and repairs them as needed and bills a bimonthly charge by assembly size, so check with the county before replacing a county-owned assembly. |
| City of Tampa | Commercial properties test annually and residential properties every two years. Results are filed online through SwiftComply within seven calendar days of the test. |
| Hillsborough County | Assemblies are tested annually by a tester registered with the county, and results go in through the county's Backflow BMP portal. |
What Happens When We Replace a Backflow Preventer
A replacement takes the failed assembly out and puts a new, correctly sized assembly in its place, with the water off only for the time the swap takes.
- We check the type, size and location against your test report or utility notice.
- Water downstream of the assembly is shut off, so plan for a short interruption.
- The failed assembly is removed and a new assembly of the required type is installed.
- Water is restored, and the new assembly is tested by a certified tester, which Florida's rule requires after any installation.
Who Can Install a Backflow Preventer in Florida?
Installing a backflow preventer on a domestic water line is plumbing work that needs a state licensed plumbing contractor. UF TREEO, which trains backflow testers in Florida, says installation and repair on domestic water lines must be done by a state licensed plumbing contractor, and that assemblies on fire protection systems need a licensed fire sprinkler contractor. Testing is a separate job with its own certification, and each water utility sets the qualifications for its testers.
Flow Pros Plumbing is a Florida certified plumbing contractor, license #CFC1433820. Look up any contractor's license on the Florida DBPR license search before you hire.
- Call: 727-265-9639
- Headquarters: 2770 25th St. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
- Second office: 16132 Churchview Dr, Suite 209B, Lithia, FL 33547
- Hours: 24/7 Emergency Service
- License: Florida State Certified Plumbing Contractor #CFC1433820
Backflow Preventer FAQs
Does Flow Pros test backflow preventers?
No. Flow Pros Plumbing replaces backflow preventers but does not test or repair them. Annual and post-installation tests are done by a certified backflow tester accepted by your water utility. When a tester reports that an assembly has failed and needs to be replaced, call Flow Pros at 727-265-9639.
What happens if my backflow preventer fails its test?
The assembly has to be repaired or replaced and then tested again before the utility will accept it. Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-555.360 requires a test after any installation or repair. If your tester recommends replacement, Flow Pros removes the failed assembly and installs a new one of the type your utility requires, and the new assembly is then tested by a certified tester.
Does Florida require backflow testing?
Yes. Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-555.360 requires backflow preventer assemblies at non-residential service connections to be tested after installation or repair and at least once a year. Assemblies at residential connections must be tested at least every two years. Your water utility enforces the rule and can set stricter requirements.
Who can install a backflow preventer in Florida?
Installation on a domestic water line must be done by a state licensed plumbing contractor, according to UF TREEO, which trains backflow testers in Florida. Assemblies on fire protection systems need a licensed fire sprinkler contractor. Flow Pros Plumbing is a Florida certified plumbing contractor, license #CFC1433820.
How much does backflow preventer replacement cost in St. Petersburg?
The price depends on the type and size of the assembly, where it sits and how much pipe has to change. Flow Pros gives you a written quote before work begins. Call 727-265-9639 with the details from your test report.
Do I need a backflow preventer on my sprinkler system?
Yes, on a dedicated irrigation connection to the public water supply. Florida's rule sets a minimum of a pressure vacuum breaker where backpressure cannot develop in the downstream piping, and a reduced pressure assembly where it can. In St. Petersburg, properties that irrigate with reclaimed water must also keep the reclaimed and drinking water systems completely separate.
Flow Pros is a family-owned plumber in St. Petersburg, based on 25th St. N and licensed statewide (FL #CFC1433820).
Need a Backflow Preventer Replaced in St. Petersburg?
Owner-operated and state certified under FL #CFC1433820. Serving Tampa Bay since 2020.
Call 727-265-9639 Schedule Service