Backflow Preventer Testing in Plano and Collin County
Standard residential backflow test: $75 to $95
Every lawn irrigation system connected to a public water supply in Texas must have a backflow prevention assembly, and that assembly has to be tested by a licensed tester when it is installed, repaired or moved, and every year where the state classes it a health hazard or, as in most cities here, the local cross-connection program requires it. Frisco, Allen and Wylie require irrigation backflow assemblies to be tested every year by a TCEQ-licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester registered with the city, and Plano, Richardson, Murphy, Sachse and McKinney require a licensed tester to test the assembly and file the report with the city when it is installed or repaired or when the city sends a notice.
What the test involves
A backflow preventer is a mechanical device that keeps water from your sprinkler lines, which can carry fertilizer, pesticide and soil bacteria, from flowing back into the drinking water supply if pressure drops in the city main. The test uses a calibrated gauge kit to confirm each check valve and relief valve holds at the required pressure differential. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes and the irrigation water is off for the duration.
Common assemblies on homes in Plano are the pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) mounted above ground near the meter, the double check valve assembly (DCVA) in a ground box, and, on commercial properties and some newer homes, the reduced pressure zone assembly (RPZ).
We handle the paperwork
The report has to reach the water utility in the format they want, by the deadline on your notice. We submit it directly to your city's water utility (Plano Utility Operations, Frisco Public Works through BSI Online, Allen Water and Sewer through Aqua Backflow, Wylie and Sachse through SC Tracking, or the relevant city office) and send you a copy for your records. If you own property in more than one city, we track the different deadlines and formats for each.
Repairs and replacements
If the assembly fails, the tech tells you whether a rebuild kit will fix it or the unit is worn out. Freeze damage is the most common reason a PVB fails in Collin County. A cracked bonnet or body cannot be rebuilt and gets replaced, usually the same visit. Insulated covers are cheap insurance and we can add one while we are there.
Pricing
A standard residential test and report filing is $75 to $95. A rebuild kit or a replacement unit is priced on the spot, while the water is still off. Property managers and HOAs with several assemblies get a per-device rate.
Call (972) 585-6256 with the deadline from your notice and we will schedule before it.