Where the drains end up matters just as much. City sewer throughout the valley, with Fife's wastewater treated through Pierce County's system. A few of the older farm parcels on the valley floor and in Fife Heights were on septic historically, and some may remain. It is about 45 minutes from Port Orchard, across the Narrows Bridge and through Tacoma on Highway 16 and Interstate 5 to Fife, a run we make often enough to know the roads, the water districts and the quirks of the housing.
Why backflow preventer installation is a little different in Fife
Water purveyors serving Fife run annual backflow testing programs, and the notices they send often leave homeowners unsure what device they actually need. We call the district, confirm the hazard classification, and install exactly what they will accept.
The seasons leave their mark on Fife plumbing. The valley sits in the Puyallup River floodplain and a Mount Rainier lahar zone. Big winter rains push groundwater up under slabs and crawlspaces, and the December 2022 and January 2024 freezes hit manufactured homes and exposed meter boxes hardest.
Local conditions that affect backflow preventer installation in Fife
Ask a Fife homeowner what goes wrong with plumbing here and you will usually hear a version of this: Commercial floor sinks and grease lines in restaurants along Pacific Highway
Newer homes in Fife with residential fire sprinklers frequently have a double check assembly in the garage or crawlspace that nobody has looked at since the house was built. We inspect, test-coordinate and replace those when they fail.
Here is a Fife detail that changes how we approach the job: Water heaters rusting out early in damp crawlspaces and garages
Commercial properties in Fife, from restaurants to car washes to medical offices, usually need an RPZ on the service and sometimes on individual equipment. We install them above grade with proper discharge so the relief port does not flood a floor.
Signs Fife homeowners call us for backflow preventer installation
Worth a call
- The brass body cracked in a winter freeze
- Your water district sent a notice requiring a backflow assembly or an annual test
- A certified tester failed your existing device
- Water is spraying or dripping from the relief port of an RPZ
- You are adding an irrigation system, fire sprinklers, a boiler or a pool auto-fill
How we handle backflow preventer installation in Fife
When a Fife homeowner books backflow preventer installation, the job unfolds as figure out what the purveyor wants, site check and flat quote, install with testable access, initial certification, then record and remind, and you can watch and ask questions the whole way.
Read the full step-by-step for backflow preventer installation →
Fife neighborhoods and areas we serve
From Fife Heights to Downtown Fife along Pacific Highway, with plenty of stops around Interstate 5 and Pacific Highway and Emerald Queen Casino, Fife is well-worn ground for our trucks.
Backflow Preventer Installation questions from Fife
Is a permit needed to install a backflow preventer in Fife?
Usually a plumbing permit is required, and the purveyor needs the installation and test report. We take care of both as part of the job.
Which water districts in Fife require backflow preventers?
Every public water purveyor serving Fife runs a cross-connection program under Washington's drinking water rules. If you have irrigation, fire sprinklers, a boiler or a well on the property, expect a requirement.
How quickly can you install a backflow device in Fife?
Most residential assemblies are installed within a few days of approving the quote, and we carry common PVB and double check sizes on the truck. RPZs for commercial services may need to be ordered.
My backflow test failed in Fife. Do I have to replace the device?
Not always. If the body is sound we rebuild it with new checks and springs, which is far less than replacement. If the body is pitted or the shutoffs are gone, we recommend a new assembly and show you why.
Can a backflow preventer be installed underground?
A double check valve assembly can be, in a proper vault with drainage. Pressure vacuum breakers and RPZs cannot; they need to be above grade, and the PVB has to sit above the highest sprinkler head it serves.
We bring the same equipment to Fife that we use at home in Kitsap: sectional and drum machines, a push camera with a monitor, our own hydro jetting truck, and a van stocked for the common repairs.