Spring Backflow Testing Season: What Texas Property Owners Should Know
Spring is the busiest time of year for backflow testing in Texas. Here's why timing matters, what to expect, and how to avoid last-minute scrambles.
If you're a property owner or manager in Texas, spring means more than just bluebonnets and warmer weather. It's also backflow testing season â the time of year when water utilities across the state start sending out compliance notices and deadlines start looming.
At 1-A Services, we're a family-owned backflow testing company based in Boyd, Texas, and spring is our busiest time of year. We test hundreds of backflow devices across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex every spring, and we've learned a thing or two about how to make the process go smoothly. Here's what you need to know.
Why Spring Is Backflow Testing Season
Most water utilities in Texas set their annual backflow testing deadlines in the spring or early summer months. There are a few reasons for this:
- Weather: Testing backflow devices involves working with water outdoors. Spring temperatures in Texas are generally comfortable for this kind of work â not too cold to risk freezing, not yet at the brutal summer heat that makes outdoor work miserable.
- Irrigation season: As landscaping comes back to life in spring, irrigation systems get turned back on. This is a natural time to verify that the backflow preventers protecting those irrigation connections are working properly.
- Fiscal year alignment: Many utilities align their compliance cycles with the calendar year or fiscal year, with deadlines falling in the March through June window.
The result is that a huge number of properties all need testing around the same time, which creates a rush. Backflow testing companies get booked up fast, and property owners who wait until the last minute often find themselves scrambling to find someone available before their deadline.
When to Schedule Your Testing
Our number one piece of advice: schedule early. As soon as you receive your compliance notice from the water utility â or even before â get on your backflow tester's calendar. Here's a rough timeline we recommend:
- January - February: Contact your backflow testing company and schedule your appointment. This is the sweet spot â you'll have your pick of dates and times.
- March - April: Prime testing season. Most companies are busy but can still accommodate you with a week or two of lead time.
- May - June: Crunch time. If your deadline is in this window and you haven't scheduled yet, you may have difficulty finding availability. Don't wait this long if you can help it.
Remember, if any of your devices fail the test, you'll need time for repairs and retesting before the deadline. Scheduling early gives you that buffer.
What Happens During a Backflow Test
If you've never been present for a backflow test, here's what to expect. The process is straightforward, but it helps to know what's happening so you can prepare your property and your tenants.
Locating the Devices
The tester will need access to every backflow preventer on your property. These are typically located in valve boxes at ground level, in mechanical rooms, or in underground vaults. If you know where all your devices are, great â point them out. If not, the tester will need to locate them, which takes extra time on the first visit.
Connecting Test Equipment
The tester connects a calibrated differential pressure gauge to the test ports on the backflow preventer. This gauge measures the pressure differential across the device's internal check valves and relief valve to determine if they're sealing properly.
Running the Test
The tester opens and closes valves in a specific sequence to isolate and test each internal component. During this process, there may be a brief interruption to water flow downstream of the device â usually just a minute or two. The tester records the pressure readings for each component.
Pass or Fail
Each component must meet specific pressure thresholds to pass. If all components pass, the device is certified for another year. If any component fails, the device needs repair. Common failures include check valves that don't seal tightly (often due to worn rubber discs) and relief valves that open at the wrong pressure.
Submitting Results
After testing, the results are documented on a test report and submitted to your water utility. At 1-A Services, we handle this paperwork for you â we submit the reports directly to your utility so you don't have to worry about it.
Preparing Your Property for Testing Day
A little preparation goes a long way in making testing day efficient:
Clear Access to All Devices
Make sure valve boxes aren't buried under mulch, dirt, or debris. If devices are in locked mechanical rooms, have the keys ready. If they're in areas blocked by parked cars or stored equipment, clear the area before the tester arrives. Every minute spent digging out a buried valve box or tracking down a key is time that could have been spent testing.
Know Your Device Count
Have a list of all backflow devices on your property, including their locations and types. This helps the tester verify that every device gets tested and nothing is missed. If you're not sure how many devices you have, ask your backflow company to do an inventory â we're happy to help with that.
Notify Tenants
If testing will affect water service to occupied spaces, give your tenants advance notice. A simple email or posted notice explaining that water may be briefly interrupted during testing goes a long way in preventing complaints.
Check for Obvious Problems
Walk your property and look at your backflow devices before testing day. Are any of them visibly leaking? Is there standing water in a valve box? Is a device damaged or missing components? Identifying these issues early lets you plan for repairs rather than being surprised on testing day.
What If a Device Fails?
Don't panic. Failed backflow tests are common, especially on devices that are more than a few years old. The rubber components inside backflow preventers are wear items â they're designed to be replaced periodically.
Most failures can be fixed with a rubber kit replacement, which involves replacing the rubber discs, O-rings, and springs inside the check valves and relief valve. This is a relatively quick and affordable repair that can often be done on the same visit as the test.
After repair, the device is retested to confirm it passes. The passing test report is then submitted to your utility. As long as the repair and retest are completed before your compliance deadline, you're in good shape.
In some cases, a device may be too corroded, damaged, or outdated to repair cost-effectively. When that happens, replacement is the better option. We'll always give you an honest assessment of whether repair or replacement makes more sense for your situation.
The Cost of Missing Your Deadline
Every water utility handles non-compliance a little differently, but the general progression is the same:
- Late notice: A letter reminding you that your test is overdue and giving you a short extension
- Violation notice: A formal notice that you're in violation of the utility's cross-connection control program
- Disconnection warning: A final notice that your water service will be disconnected if you don't comply
- Disconnection: Your water service is shut off until you provide passing test reports
For commercial properties, water disconnection can mean closing your business, sending employees home, and losing revenue. For apartment complexes, it means angry residents and potential legal issues. The cost of a backflow test is a tiny fraction of what non-compliance can cost you.
Schedule Your Spring Testing With 1-A Services
Whether you have one backflow device or fifty, we'll get them tested, handle any repairs, and submit all the paperwork to your water utility. We serve properties throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, and the entire DFW metroplex. Don't wait until the deadline is breathing down your neck â give us a call today and let's get you on the schedule. As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on treating every customer right, and we'd love to earn your trust.
