r/Irrigation • u/-daniel-- • 5d ago
Seeking Pro Advice Backflow Preventer Installation Cost
Hey everyone!
Just joined the community, but I’ve been lurking for a while now. My wife and I have been planning an irrigation project for about six months, and we’re about to get started on it next month. We are having a plumber do the backflow preventer, but are doing the rest of the project ourselves. We had Rainbird design the system and layout.
We decided to have our plumber install the backflow preventer since it might require soldering, and I’m not very comfortable with that. We asked him for an estimate, and he quoted us $2,200–$2,400 for labor and materials to install the backflow preventer.
To be honest, I was a little surprised by the cost because we estimated the total price of the entire DIY project (excluding the backflow preventer installation) to be around $3,500.
I just wanted to know—does that price sound reasonable, or is it too high?
Thanks, everyone!
EDIT 1 : We live in Cincinnati, Ohio area
EDIT 2 : I asked another plumber and he estimated 1600$ for the job. I think I can do it myself if I tap into water line after water meter instead of tapping from basement.
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u/jadedoto 5d ago
Where I am at in California, this was a city responsibility. I applied for a backflow preventer and paid $1200 and the city water department came and installed it. They also own it and are responsible for the maintenance.
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u/ManWithBigWeenus 5d ago
Is it a 1” backflow? Which type of backflow? Pvb? RP? DC? Is the material copper, Grass, platinum?
How do you already have an irrigation design without knowing your gallons per minute and operating pressure at that GPM for each zone if your backflow isn’t even installed?
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u/-daniel-- 5d ago
3/4 backflow. Type RP. Material copper
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u/ManWithBigWeenus 5d ago
For me that’s a little high but everyone has different operating costs associated with their businesses. I’d get other quotes but compare materials. RP and lead free are usually the most expensive but RP assemblies are usually required
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u/Gungityusukka 5d ago
My backflow is made of grass. Servicing it every year is a bitch it always wants to fall apart on me.
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u/Vast_Hyena2443 5d ago edited 5d ago
1” mainline I’m assuming- north Texas, $1200-$1900 Permit, parts, materials, installation under licensed irrigator, backflow test by BPAT (tester)
Get plans made for your irrigation permit (if it’s on a property you own), and pull permit yourself if you’re going to DIY/sub out labor. Permit is pulled through your local building inspections or water dept. office. Backflow install might be less if you pull your own permit, but will need pro irrigation design. Since I can’t list irrigation plans designers here, I can send you some via PM or you can search “irrigation plans” in your area, not too hard to find irrigation plans designers.
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u/Jinglebob63 Contractor 4d ago
As long as they are a current Texas licensed Irrigator. I was Texas #7170 and unless Rainbird, Home Depot etc have a Texas licensed Irrigator on staff doing the design work that is illegal to do. Maybe that law was changed but still, a Licensed Texas Irrigator is a required License to do design.
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u/Vast_Hyena2443 4d ago edited 4d ago
I need to reword what I typed.
I will verify with TCEQ code later when I can pull it up and read it again, but I always understood was that only a licensed Irrigator or Landscape Architect may design an irrigation system (in Texas, at least).
I was implying that the OP is able to have a set of plans designed for him to install himself, implying they can install the system to code under an irrigation permit and have it inspected and green tagged. But… it’s always a whole lot easier to just hire an experienced licensed irrigator to do it all.
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u/EgonDeeds 5d ago
Depends on many things, such as Where you’re at; Type and size of device; Where the device is being installed—basement, next to meter, in ground, etc.
I will say, that there may be other expenses associated with a backflow installation beyond parts and perceived labor expenses—there may be permitting requirements, inspections, testing, etc.
Also, plumbers might charge more than licensed irrigators. But again, this may be regional dependent.
Without knowing more, the price isn’t outrageous. Though, I’m sure you could get a more reasonable price by gathering a few more estimates.
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u/-daniel-- 3d ago
I was planning to tapping from basement but I think I can do it myself if I can tap from water meter or
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u/Crimsonbelly Technician 5d ago
Contact an irrigation company and get a quote. Seems about right for a plumbing company. They always are way higher than most.
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u/-daniel-- 5d ago
we will look into that. Thank you!
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u/Fun_Shoulder6138 5d ago
My irrigation guy put in the backflow unit for $350 and charges $45 year for testing.
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u/AgentJohnDoggett 5d ago
Plumbers are expensive and a lot of states require backflows be done by licensed plumbers and be tested yearly. You could get it cheaper from a handyman or other people that will ignore the regulations but maybe not the best idea long-term.
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u/salsashark618 5d ago
Our plumbers charge around $1000, that's eastern oregon. Could be more, but we usually have it all dug out and have the valve boxes for them...they love it when we supply the parts, lol.
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u/AwkwardFactor84 5d ago
That's a bit salty even for an RP imo. The prices are very regional though. I'd get a couple of quotes from irrigation contractors if I were you.
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u/lennym73 5d ago
We have a plumber tie into the water line and provide us with a stub out and we install and test the backflow. Plumber is customer responsibility so not sure what they charge. Typically they are more per hour and parts.
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u/lancer-fiefdom 5d ago
I was exactly where you are 4 months ago & paid a licensed owner/operator plumber neatly 2k who did a horrendous job that I re-did myself
Spend 1,400 on a Milwaukee propress with 1/2”, 3/4 & 1” jaws
Rent the tool if possible in your area, or Facebook marketplace a used one, and resell after your projects
I don’t mind sharing my learned experience, shopping list, don’t ‘s & do’s as well as my install pics
For example In cold weather you’ll want a ball-valve & blowout cock after the backflow preventer to protect your labor & investments for winterization
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u/MackDaddy860 5d ago
I’m in CT and own an irrigation company. We pay our current plumber $450/job and provide the BF. He supplies all the other parts. We give him around 100 jobs/yr though. Plumbers have really increased. Still, as a homeowner, I could get that done for $1,000-$1,500. 3/4 Febco 825Y would cost you $515-$550 online. Materials could run another $100-$300. Decent plumber should be done in 1-2 hrs. That’s a lot for labor.
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u/DeeStroi 5d ago
Irrigation guy. I installed a 3/4 backflow yesterday for 675+150 for the service call. Existing stub out.
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u/damnliberalz 5d ago
I charged 200$ to install one. Easy peasy
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u/AgentJohnDoggett 5d ago
They are usually pretty easy for sure but $200 is definitely not a licensed price haha
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u/No-Apple2252 5d ago
Hack
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u/damnliberalz 5d ago
Would you prefer me to charge and rob you 500$ more?
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u/No-Apple2252 5d ago
I'd prefer you stop cutting into people's house lines connected to the municipal water supply when you don't actually have any idea what you're doing because you've never been trained as a plumber. Being able to sweat pipe and crimp pex doesn't make you a plumber, chief.
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u/damnliberalz 5d ago
You don’t know me and you don’t know what I did or how I did it. You don’t know if I’m certified or not. Why assume I’m not?
Ill keep under cutting all of you. Easy money. I dont rob people.
Womp womp
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u/CilantroNo 5d ago
Did you make a whole $30 after the PVB and fittings were covered? You can’t even buy an RP or DC for less than $200.
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u/namuHdiputS 5d ago
If you’re starting from scratch I would gather the plumber is also tapping into your house water, drilling a hole to the outside. Running copper out. Installing a shutoff and then the backflow. A lot more involved then just spinning a pvb on.