What does backflow testing cost in Portland?

For a routine annual test of a single residential backflow assembly, expect to pay roughly $50–150. Where you land in that range depends on the tester, whether you need a scheduled appointment versus a drop-in visit, and how many assemblies are on your property.

A few real, publicly listed examples as of this writing: Oregon Backflow Testing LLC lists a base residential test fee around $55, plus roughly $15 if you need a scheduled appointment. Backflows Northwest lists testing starting around $73 per device for no-appointment-needed assemblies, plus a similar appointment fee. Prices change, so treat these as ballpark examples, not quotes — always confirm the price when you book.

What can push the cost higher

• More than one backflow assembly on the property
• Hard-to-access assemblies (e.g., in a locked vault or crawlspace)
• Scheduling fees for a specific appointment window
• Repair or replacement, if the assembly fails the test — this is billed separately from the test itself and can run considerably more, especially if a valve or the whole assembly needs to be replaced

Testing vs. repair

The test fee only covers checking whether your assembly is working correctly. If it fails, you'll need a separate repair or replacement, which most testers can quote separately once they know what's wrong. Ask upfront whether your tester also handles repairs, or whether you'll need to bring in a plumber.

Cost examples referenced above: Oregon Backflow Testing LLC, Backflows Northwest. Prices are set independently by each testing company, not by PDX Backflow, and may have changed since publication.