Backflow Direct

What Backflow Direct does

Backflow Direct is a specialized e-commerce distributor of backflow prevention equipment, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Watts Water Technologies (NYSE: WTS). The company designs, manufactures, and distributes backflow prevention assemblies, valves, strainers, and replacement parts to fire service companies, plumbing and construction contractors, and various industries requiring potable water and fire suppression system protection. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Woodland, California, Backflow Direct employs 1-10 people and operates exclusively as a direct-to-buyer e-commerce storefront with phone-based sales support, shipping to the continental US with free shipping on orders over $100.

The core product line centers on Deringer brand backflow preventers (2" to 8" pipe sizes), constructed entirely of 304 stainless steel and available in Double Check (DC), Reduced Pressure (RP), Double Check Detector Assembly (DCDA-II), and Reduced Pressure Detector Assembly (RPDA-II) configurations with butterfly valves or OS&Y gate valves. Complementary offerings include Ames bronze backflow preventers (1" to 2"), gear operated ball valves, fire service wye strainers, pressure relief pilot valves, and an extensive replacement parts ecosystem spanning Silver Bullet SS, Colt, Magnum, Maxim, and Deringer product lines. Custom-length retrofit spools are fabricated to order, and a Quick Order platform enables bulk SKU entry. All products carry third-party safety certifications including UL, ULC, FM, USC FCCCHR, ASSE 1015, NSF/ANSI 372 lead-free, and CAL FIRE MARSHAL approvals. Pricing follows a two-tier model with publicly displayed MSRP and reduced Pro Price for registered trade customers, with transactions paid on a pay-as-you-go basis per order. The company supplements sales with a Resources Center distributing CAD/REVIT files and spec sheets, a blog with educational content, email newsletter, and social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The business model is hardware sales with a horizontal segmentation approach targeting fire service companies and contractors as primary segments, with various industries (irrigation, domestic water) as secondary. Distribution is exclusively direct via the company's own e-commerce storefront and phone sales, with no intermediaries or third-party resellers in the channel. Revenue depends on registered trade-account volume and project-driven replacement/retrofit demand from certified contractors serving regulated fire protection and potable water markets.

Name

Backflow Direct

Legal name

Backflow Direct

Website

https://backflowdirect.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Backflow Direct manufactures, designs and distributes backflow prevention valves to testers, contractors as well as installers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Backflow Prevention Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Valve Manufacturing (332911), Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332919), Metal Valve Manufacturing (33291)

SIC

Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)

akta.pro primary industry

Backflow Preventer Installation & Replacement (HSAOALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Backflow Assembly Upgrades & Code Compliance Retrofits (HSAOALAI), Backflow Preventer Repair & Rebuild (HSAOALAC), Backflow Prevention Testing & Service (Fire/Water Systems) (IMAIAJAG), Backflow Preventer Installation, Testing & Repair (HSAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Backflow prevention valves
• Fire suppression equipment
• Water safety devices
• Plumbing supplies
• Industrial valves

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Backflow Direct generates revenue through direct e-commerce sales of backflow prevention products including complete assemblies, replacement parts, repair kits, and accessories. The company sells to fire service companies, contractors, and various industries requiring backflow preventers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Backflow Direct manufactures, designs, and distributes backflow prevention valves and replacement parts to testers, contractors, and installers. The core product line consists of Deringer all-stainless steel backflow preventers available in 2" to 8" pipe sizes, complemented by Ames bronze backflow preventers in 1" to 2" sizes, plus an extensive catalog of replacement parts, repair kits, gear operated ball valves, fire service strainers, pressure relief pilot valves, and custom retrofit spools.

Product overview

Backflow Direct is a specialized distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of backflow prevention solutions. The core product line centers on Deringer Backflow Preventers (2" to 8"), the only all stainless steel backflow preventers in the industry, available in Double Check (DC), Reduced Pressure (RP), DCDA-II, and RPDA-II configurations with butterfly valves or OS&Y gate valves. Complementary offerings include Ames Bronze Backflow Preventers (1" to 2") with lead-free options, Gear Operated Ball Valves, Fire Service & Wye Strainers, and Pressure Relief Pilot Valves. The company also provides extensive replacement parts across multiple lines (Silver Bullet SS, Colt, Magnum, Maxim, Deringer) including rubber kits, check assemblies, relief valves, and couplers/adapters. Supporting services include custom Retrofit Spools for existing system replacement and a Quick Order platform for bulk SKU ordering. All products carry third-party safety certifications including UL, ULC, FM, USC, and ASSE.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deringer Backflow Preventers (2" to 8") All stainless steel backflow preventers available in 2" through 8" pipe sizes with butterfly valves or OS&Y gate valves. Includes DC, RP, DCDA-II, and RPDA-II configurations across Deringer 20/30/40/50 and Xtreme Performance variants (20X, 30X, 20GX, 30GX) with gate valve options. Designed for fire service companies, contractors, and industries requiring reliable certified backflow prevention for fire suppression, irrigation, and domestic water applications.
• Bronze Backflow Preventers (1" to 2") - Ames Series Compact modular design backflow preventers with single access cover for easy maintenance. Available in Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) and Double Check (DC) configurations with threaded or grooved ends and gear operated ball valve shutoffs. Lead free models available for lead-free compliance, intended for plumbing contractors and smaller-scale applications.
• Gear Operated Ball Valves UL/FM rated ball valves for fire suppression systems with integrated supervisory switches and reversible switch box. Available in threaded or grooved ends with chrome-plated brass ball, brass stem, and PTFE seats (Ames LFAFBV-FP series). Designed for fire service companies needing certified shutoff valves.
• Fire Service & Wye Strainers Epoxy-coated steel body wye strainers for fire protection systems. Includes 8000-F (flanged) and 8000-G (grooved) lead free wye-pattern strainers, and 7002 series fire service basket strainers in flanged and grooved configurations. Built for contractors installing fire service lines.
• Pressure Relief Pilot Valves Direct sensed, diaphragm actuated system pressure relief valves for managing high pressure scenarios. Ames LFPV20CB series available in 20-200 PSI, 100-300 PSI, and 200-450 PSI adjustment ratings. UL/FM approved, lead free brass construction, suited for fire protection and pressure management applications.
• Retrofit Spools Custom length spool pieces for fast replacement of existing backflow assemblies. Customers provide flange-to-flange measurement and Backflow Direct fabricates to exact specifications, enabling rapid retrofit of fire suppression systems.
• Silver Bullet (SS) Replacement Parts Replacement parts for Ames Silver Bullet line of backflow prevention equipment including relief valve rubber parts kits, relief valve repair kits, check kits, and air gaps compatible with Series 2000SS, 3000SS, 4000SS, and 5000SS backflow assemblies.
• Air Gaps Air gap fittings providing physical separation between relief valve discharge port and drainage system. Compatible with Deringer, Magnum, and Ames backflow preventers. Includes standard air gaps and air gaps with splash guard.
• Colt Replacement Parts Ames Colt backflow preventer repair kits compatible with C200, C300, C400, and C500 backflow preventers. Includes first and second check kits, relief valve repair kits, and air gaps with splash guard.
• Couplers & Adapters Heavy-duty pipe couplers and flange adapters for connecting backflow preventers to existing piping. Flex couplers in sizes 2.5" to 8" engineered to match Ames Deringer specifications, and grooved by flanged adapters.
• Deringer Replacement Parts Repair kits and parts for Deringer 20/30/40/50 backflow preventers. Includes rubber kits, relief valve kits, check assemblies, shut off valve shaft kits, gear box assemblies, and air gaps.
• Hardware & Replacement Kits Backflow hardware including check valve kits, rubber parts kits, cover kits, flange accessory kits, test kits, and freeze sensor connection kits for system monitoring and protection.
• Magnum Replacement Parts Repair parts for Magnum backflow preventers including rubber kits, relief valve kits with sensing lines, check assemblies, and check poppets compatible with Magnum 40/50 models.
• Maxim Replacement Parts Repair parts compatible with M200, M300, M400 and M500 Maxim Backflow Preventers including relief valve rubber parts kits.
• Test Cocks & Wrenches Replacement test cocks and tamper resistant test cock wrenches for Deringer and Magnum backflow assemblies. Enables pressure testing and annual inspection compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products ship for free and their small size and light weight makes for hassle free shipping and delivery
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Watts Water Technologies: Parent company and the largest North American manufacturer of backflow preventers and water-safety valves (brands include Watts, Febco, Wilkins). It is the broad incumbent that produces many of the same Ames, Deringer, and Magnum assemblies Backflow Direct distributes, competing on both direct-contractor and distributor channels.
• Zurn Industries: Manufacturer of plumbing and water-safety products including Wilkins-brand backflow preventers. Competes directly with Backflow Direct's assemblies across commercial and institutional fire-protection and plumbing applications.
• Mueller Water Products: Diversified water infrastructure manufacturer including backflow preventers and fire-protection valves. Competes with Backflow Direct on fire-service assemblies and replacement parts across North American municipal and commercial projects.
• Ferguson Enterprises: Largest North American plumbing distributor; sells competing backflow preventer brands through a deep contractor-facing channel. Acts as both a distribution alternative to Backflow Direct's e-commerce channel and a competitor on certain assembly SKUs.
• NIBCO: Manufacturer of flow-control products including valves and fittings used in plumbing and fire protection. Overlaps with Backflow Direct's valve and fitting portfolio for commercial mechanical and fire-system applications.

Direct peers

• Apollo Valves: Manufacturer of backflow preventers, ball valves, and fire-protection valves (Aalberts group). Directly comparable product overlap with Backflow Direct's assembly and gear-operated ball valve lines, serving the same fire-service and plumbing contractor base.
• A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. Manufacturer of waterworks, plumbing, and backflow prevention products including reduced pressure zone and double check assemblies. Targets the same plumbing contractor and municipal customer base as Backflow Direct with overlapping assembly and repair-part SKUs.
• Caleffi: Manufacturer of plumbing and backflow prevention products, including RPZ and double-check assemblies with lead-free certification. Directly comparable product range targeting plumbing contractors and OEM distribution.
• Victaulic: Manufacturer of grooved mechanical piping and fire-protection products including backflow assemblies. Directly competes with Backflow Direct's grooved-end Deringer and Ames product configurations in fire-suppression system installations.

Regional players

• Reliance Valves: UK-based manufacturer of backflow prevention and plumbing valves. Comparable product portfolio but primarily serves European and Middle Eastern markets rather than North America, providing a useful cross-regional comp for the underlying backflow category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXc15GPU9QlWddfCi7_TqkQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/BackflowDirect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backflow-direct
• Instagraminstagram.com/backflowdirect

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backflow Direct