BAVCO - Backflow Apparatus & Valve Company

Choosing an enclosure for a backflow preventer is similar to buying insurance. When you buy insurance, you never know how much to buy, you hope you never have a claim, and if you do, you hope you bought the right type of coverage. The same variables take place when choosing an enclosure, and just like insurance, the enclosure is really needed to protect against unusual or adverse conditions. Here is a list to consider in accomplishing this task: • When evaluating an enclosure for a backflow prevention assembly, first look to the installation site and see if there are any unusual challenges such as temperature, wind or durability. • Be sure the enclosure is sized to enclose all necessary parts. • Be sure insulation and heat requirements are properly evaluated. • Be sure the wall materials will have the desired strength for the installation site. • Always give yourself a good installation pad to ensure the enclosure will stay strong and stand up to regular use and maintenance.

BAVCO is the largest Master Parts Distributor of original factory repair parts for backflow prevention assemblies. For over 40 years, we have offered the largest inventory of original factory backflow prevention repair parts, test kits, enclosures, and accessories. We have all manufacturers represented under one roof. The lines we carry include: ARI, Ames, Apollo, Backflow Direct, Barton/Cameron, Beeco/Hersey, Beeco/Mifab, Cla Val, Conbraco,Febco, Flomatic, Grinnell, Kennedy, Midwest, Neptune, Rainbird, Viking, Watts and Wilkins.

Yes, BAVCO offers a fully equipped calibration lab to service, calibrate and repair backflow test kits. We understand that your backflow test kit is a valuable instrument and work promptly to get it returned as quickly as possible as we know your professional livelihood depends on it. Once received, your test kit is logged, inspected and then fully evaluated by our calibration technicians. We will pressure test all hoses, needle valves and connections to assure they are tight. If your hoses contain particle filters, we will clean or replace the filter elements. We will verify accuracy of the gauge in your test kit to assure it conforms to the manufacturer’s accuracy standards. If any part of the test kit is found to be in need of repair, we will notify you of the problem with an expected estimate of labor and material cost on top of the calibration fee. We will not proceed without repair authorization. A lab report of these findings will be included with the returned test kit.

Backflow is the unwanted reverse flow of water or other substances into a potable water system. Backflow preventers are installed to prevent the potable water from being contaminated if a backflow incident occurs. This can happen for two hydraulic reasons: backpressure and/or backsiphonage. As an example, the need to assure that water in an irrigation system stays separated from the potable water is critical. The water in an irrigation system comes in contact with pesticides, fertilizers and other residues and is therefore unfit for human consumption. For this reason, all plumbing codes recognize irrigation systems as a hazard which requires a separation from the potable drinking water. This separation involves the use of backflow prevention assemblies. These assemblies are installed to ensure that the potable water is not contaminated.

Backflow preventers are installed to prevent the potable water from being contaminated if a backflow incident occurs. They are installed in various potable and non-potable water systems. Based on the local requirement for water protection, a Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP), Double Check (DC), pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) or Anti-Siphon Vacuum Breaker (SVB) backflow assembly may be installed in line to provide protection. Each type of backflow preventer serves a specific form of protection and has internal components that act to prevent a backflow event from occuring. Such components consist of check assemblies, relieve valves, and float assemblies that allow water to only flow one direction. If these devices are tested correctly and repaired with OEM backflow repair parts when needed, water should not flow in a reverse direction if functioning correctly and prevent a backflow event from occurring.