Ready to ship your test gauge? Click here!

Backflow

Expert Service for Backflow Applications

Backflow testing and recertification for municipal and other governmental requirements are the central product and service areas for Specialty Valve & Controls. We are a sales, service center, and stocking distributor for Mid-West Instrument, which is the leading manufacturer of backflow testing equipment.

For the past 30 years, Mid-West has been producing quality backflow test kits that have set the standard in the industry. The Model 830 has been the benchmark of the industry for decades. Constant input from field testers led to refinements such as inline filters, laminated test procedures, removable lids, and soft seated needle valves & line pressure gauges.

Shop Test Kits | Shop Test Kit Replacement Parts | Shop Testing Tools

Repairs & Recertification

Unit Recertification – $99.00 | Verify instrument is in calibration, affix calibration certification label, and provide calibration certificate.

The average turnaround for recertification is 1-2 business days. Standard or major repairs average 2-4 business days.

Why Test Every Year?

It is the recommendation of Mid-West Instrument that backflow test kits be tested for accuracy on an annual basis. There are several reasons that support this position:

1. Backflow prevention assemblies are mechanical devices that must be tested on an annual basis to ensure that they are functioning properly. Backflow test kits are mechanical devices and should be treated in the same manner.
2. Backflow prevention assemblies have their performance degrade over time based on the water to which they are exposed. Backflow test kits are exposed to the same conditions.
3. Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested by certified backflow technicians to ensure accurate testing. A test kit of unknown accuracy would be equivalent to an untrained person testing a backflow prevention assembly.
4. It is common industry practice. As a manufacturer with a third-party certified quality system, all of our measuring tools, including calibration standards, have regular accuracy check intervals and these measuring tools include our calibration standards. In no case does any interval exceed 12 months.

Having the accuracy checked on an annual basis does not mean that the test kit must be torn down, disassembled, or rebuilt. The test kit should be checked for accuracy, and if found within tolerance, passed as suitable use for another year. The test kit should only be calibrated or adjusted if it is found to be outside of the accuracy tolerance. Should a test kit be found to be out of tolerance, it should only be adjusted by a trained and authorized service center, which can be found by contacting the manufacturer.

It is our position that in order to protect our drinking water from cross-connections and backflow, backflow prevention assemblies must be properly installed, tested annually by trained and certified backflow technicians, and tested with backflow test kits of known accuracy as determined by annual accuracy verification.

Michael A. Lueck
Mid-West Instrument Vice-President, Engineering & Quality Assurance

Trade-in Discounts

Mid-West’s Scrap Value Guidelines

If a test kit bearing the Mid-West Instrument brand name is deemed beyond useful repair, the customer can trade it in and purchase a new replacement test kit at the current list price with a 20% scrap value discount. This policy does not apply to test kits manufactured by Mid-West that bear other brand names.

The kit must be turned in by its registered owner, referenced with that serial number, and surrendered prior to the purchase of a new Mid-West test kit. Each new Mid-West test kit comes with a 5-year warranty and factory certification for the year.

Specialty Valve’s Scrap Value Guidelines

If a test kit bears a non-Mid-West brand name (i.e. Conbraco, Zurn, etc.), the customer can trade it in and purchase a new replacement Mid-West test kit at the current list price with a 10% scrap value discount. This is a promotion of Specialty Valve & Controls, not Mid-West Instrument.

The kit must be turned in by the registered owner, referenced with that serial number, and surrendered prior to the purchase of a new Mid-West test kit. Each new Mid-West test kit comes with a 5-year warranty and factory certification for the year.

Mid-West 5-Year Warranty

The manufacturer hereby represents and warrants that all products sold shall be free from defects in workmanship and material for such products. The manufacturer does not make any other warranties and expressly disclaims all other warranties, expressed or implied, of any kind or nature, under any applicable law, including, without limitation, the uniform commercial code, as adopted in the state of Michigan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the manufacturer expressly disclaims any warranty of merchantability and any warranty of suitability or fitness for any particular or intended purpose or use.

The sole and exclusive remedy shall be limited to the replacement or repair of any product which has a defect in workmanship or material. In no event shall the manufacturer be liable to any representative, distributor, customer, ultimate user, or any other person or entity for any damages, costs, expenses, or liabilities of any kind or nature, including, without limitation, direct damages, indirect damages, consequential damages, labor cost, and any expenses incurred by any distributor, customer, ultimate user, or any other person or entity relating to the installation, use, repair, or replacement of any product.

This product warranty and disclaimer shall apply to all sales of Mid-West test kits. Printed circuit boards, switches, and other electrical components carry the above product warranty for a period of one year from the date of shipment.