Commercial HVAC services in Ottawa

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reliable HVAC solutions for businesses

Ottawa Plumbing and Heating delivers reliable commercial plumbing and HVAC solutions for businesses across Ottawa and the surrounding area. We work with restaurants, retail and store owners, property managers, and engineers who need a trusted partner capable of handling installations, upgrades, maintenance, and emergency service, all under one roof.


By offering both plumbing and HVAC services, we simplify coordination, reduce downtime, and provide faster response when it matters most.

Commercial Plumbing Services

Our commercial plumbing services support both daily operations and long-term infrastructure needs.


  • Water heaters (all sizes): Installation, service, upgrades, and emergency replacement
  • Drainage systems: Sanitary and storm drainage, inspections, repairs, and upgrades
  • Backflow prevention: Installation, testing, certification, and compliance
  • Piping infrastructure: Refurbishing and renewing deteriorating plumbing systems
  • Underground plumbing & excavation: Repairs and replacements for plumbing systems, including work not covered by the City of Ottawa
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commercial HVAC services

We provide complete heating, cooling, and ventilation solutions for commercial spaces of all sizes.



  • Rooftop units: Service, maintenance, installation, and replacement
  • Hydronic heating systems: Service and installation for boilers and related components
  • Ventilation & Makeup Air Units: Service and installation for code-compliant airflow and air quality
  • Heating and cooling solutions: Customized systems for new construction, retrofits, and upgrades
  • Energy efficiency & air quality: Advanced dynamic air filtration solutions to improve performance and comfort


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maintenance & emergency services

Preventative maintenance helps reduce breakdowns and extend equipment life. We offer customized commercial maintenance programs tailored to your building and operational needs.


When issues can’t wait, our team provides 24/7 emergency plumbing and HVAC service, including:


  • No heat or no cooling
  • No hot water
  • Flooding, leaks, or burst pipes
  • Gas issues
  • Equipment failure
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BACKFLOW PREVENTION PROGRAM:

What Commercial Property Owners Need to Know

Keeping tap water pure serving Ottawa. An Initiative by the City of Ottawa to preserve the purity of city water.

What is Backflow Prevention?

Typically, drinking water flows from the City’s distribution system into a property’s private water system. Backflow is the undesired reversal of water flow between the City’s distribution system and a private system, due to changes in water pressure. This reversal or “backflow” can cause contaminants to enter the drinking water distribution system.


Causes of backflow

Backflow can occur due to back siphonage or back pressure.


  • Back pressure occurs when pressure in a private water system is greater than pressure in the City’s water supply system, which may be caused by pumps, elevated tanks, temperature increases in boiler systems, and other local pressure events. This can result in water from the private system forcing its way into the City’s distribution system.
  • Back siphonage occurs when pressure in the City’s water supply system is lower than pressure in a private system, which may be caused by nearby firefighting or water main breaks. This pressure reversal can pull (siphon) contaminated water from the private water system into the City’s distribution system.

Types of backflow devices

There are two common types of backflow prevention devices (or assemblies):


  • Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA): Consists of two check valves, which help provide protection if one valve does not close tightly. Required for facilities classified as “moderate hazard.”
  • Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP): Consists of two independently acting, internally loaded check valves, separated by a reduced pressure zone. Required for facilities classified as “severe hazard.”

Timelines for Program Compliance

By 2023, the City had notified affected property owners of the requirement to submit an initial survey. 


Severe hazard properties

Owners of severe hazard properties have one year to complete a site survey and an additional year to install backflow devices.


Moderate hazard properties

Owners of moderate hazard properties have one year to complete a site survey and two years to install backflow devices.


  • Deadlines are based on the date that a property owner receives initial written notification from the City.
  • Annual backflow test results for premise isolation assemblies should be filed with Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) Online after results of the Survey of Premise Isolation have been provided, or when the property owner has received an annual testing notice from BSI.
  • Backflow devices must be tested at the time of installation and annually. Property owners will receive a reminder of their annual testing deadline 30 days in advance.

Exceptional circumstances

  • Owners of moderate risk properties that require a significant investment in backflow device installations may request additional time to complete the work. Submit a plan by the site survey deadline for review and approval, providing a rationale for the request and demonstrating how installations will be completed by 2027.
  • Properties scheduled for demolition within the implementation timelines may be exempt from the requirements. Submit a demolition plan by the site survey deadline for review and approval.

Roles and Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the property owner

Between 2018 and 2027, based on the severity of the hazard, all affected property owners will be required to hire a qualified person to:


  • Conduct site surveys every five years to identify risks and report backflow prevention requirements to the City for review. Property owners will receive a reminder to submit an updated survey prior to the deadline.
  • Install premise isolation backflow devices to prevent contaminants from entering the City’s water supply.
  • Test backflow devices every year to make sure that they are functioning properly and submit the test results to the City for review. Property owners will receive a reminder of their annual testing deadline 30 days in advance.

Property owners must notify the City within 30 days of any change in hazard level. This could be due to a change in building operations or activities, or any changes in the service connection to the building or property.


Responsibilities of the City of Ottawa

Testers who have successfully completed the required training with an accredited organization and have a current tester’s certificate will:


  • Maintain a current tester’s certificate.
  • Pre-register with Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) Online to provide information on qualifications and submit annual calibration test data for testing equipment.
  • Submit site surveys and test results on behalf of an owner.
  • Collect tester and administration fees and submit them to the City of Ottawa.

The City is responsible for administering the program and complying with the program as a property owner. The City will:


  • Oversee the administration of the program.
  • Inform property owners about the program and their responsibilities.
  • Send notifications on site survey and testing requirements.
  • Allow testers to register and submit test results on behalf of owners.
  • Provide owners access to review their test data.
  • Track the City’s backflow device assets for maintenance and other purposes.
  • Collect City administration fees from testers.

Step-by-Step Guide to Program Compliance

Step 1: Initial notification letter from the City

The property owner receives a letter instructing them to survey the affected property.


Please note: The Backflow Prevention Program asks that the property owners receive initial notification before conducting any work on the property.


Step 2: Hire a contractor

The property owner must hire a contractor (a qualified person, as per the City’s Water By-law) to conduct a Survey of Premise Isolation for the affected property.


Step 3: Submit survey results

The contractor submits a Survey of Premise Isolation to the Backflow Prevention Program for review.


Step 4: Review of survey and City’s response

The Backflow Prevention Program reviews the Survey of Premise Isolation. The property owner(s), building contact and the contractor (the qualified person who surveyed the property) receive a response providing at least one of the following instructions:



Notice to Obtain Building Permit


Notice to Repair Existing Device(s)

  • Contact Building Code Services to confirm if a Building Permit is required before making any repairs. If required, apply for a Building Permit through Building Code Services.
  • A contractor must be hired to make the required repairs to the backflow device(s) (also referred to as “assemblies”).
  • Repeat Step 3, requiring a qualified contractor to submit a new Survey of Premise Isolation to the Backflow Prevention Program.

Notice to Test Existing Device(s)

  • For existing backflow device(s) (also referred to as “assemblies”) from the submitted Survey of Premise Isolation, test results are required to be reported to the Backflow Prevention Program by a qualified tester based on the date provided on the survey.

Step 5: Submitting test results for device(s) to the City of Ottawa

Once the Survey of Premise Isolation has been reviewed and all necessary action has been taken to install and/or repair devices (also referred to as “assemblies”), the City of Ottawa will begin tracking the annual test results of each device (or “assembly”). Testing must be done by a qualified tester and the results must be submitted to the City of Ottawa through Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) Online.


Qualified testers must pre-register with Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) Online and provide information on qualifications. Testers are also required to submit annual calibration test data for testing equipment.


Request to extend a deadline for survey submission or device installation

how we can help

Don’t wait! Ottawa Plumbing and Heating is specially trained and licensed to participate in the Backflow Prevention program. We have years of experience surveying, designing, pulling permits, installing and testing backflow devices.


We would be happy to assist with the entire process of your backflow project. Whether you have received notice to comply with the program from the City of Ottawa or are interested in it, all on your own, feel free to contact us today! Ottawa Plumbing and Heating, we take calls 24/7 to meet all your plumbing needs.

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Why Choose Ottawa Plumbing and Heating for Plumbing Services?


  • 24/7 emergency repairs for leaks, burst pipes, and backups
  • Quick solutions for clogged or slow drains
  • Fast leak repair services to prevent water damage
  • Professional piping and tubing installation for new or upgraded systems
  • Reliable drain installation for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements
  • Backflow device certified for code-compliant plumbing


Whether your kitchen sink is clogged or you're experiencing a full-scale flood, our plumbers are equipped for any job. Contact us today for trusted plumbing solutions in Ottawa.

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