Backflow Testing & Prevention in High Point, NC
Backflow assemblies protect the drinking water supply from contamination. Testing, repair and installation keep yours working and compliant.
- Irrigation and commercial assemblies
- Repair and replacement
- Test reports
- Free install estimates
What Backflow Is And Why It Is Regulated
Backflow means water flows backward in a pipe. Water from an irrigation system, boiler or commercial process can then be pulled into the drinking water supply. A backflow preventer is a valve assembly that stops this. A cross-connection is any link between drinking water and a possible contaminant.
North Carolina regulates cross-connection control in Title 15A, Subchapter 18C of its administrative code. Local water utilities run the programs. They set test schedules and keep records. The City of High Point's Public Services department can tell you what applies to your address.
Common Backflow Assemblies
Different hazards call for different assemblies. The utility decides which type your property needs.
| Assembly | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced pressure zone (RPZ) | Commercial, high-hazard and many irrigation systems | Highest protection, with a relief valve that discharges if it fails |
| Double check valve (DCVA) | Lower-hazard commercial and fire lines | Two check valves in series |
| Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) | Some irrigation systems | Installed above the highest sprinkler head |
| Atmospheric vacuum breaker | Hose connections and some fixtures | Limited to specific situations |
Got A Test Notice?
Call and read the notice to the dispatcher. It lists the due date and assembly details.
Who Can Test And How Often
A certified backflow assembly tester must do the testing, and the report goes to the utility. Commercial assemblies are usually tested every year. After North Carolina Senate Bill 166 in 2024, some utilities moved eligible residential irrigation systems to testing every three years.
Requirements vary by utility, so confirm yours. Some NC ordinances, such as the Town of Warrenton's, also require testers to recertify every two years and file reports within ten business days.
Utilities generally accept assemblies approved by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. Reduced pressure zone assemblies are built to ASSE Standard 1013. The International Plumbing Code (IPC) sets where assemblies are required.
A failed assembly must be repaired or replaced by the utility's deadline. Sprinklers run from an outdoor spigot are generally not compliant with the NC Plumbing Code and can be flagged.
What To Do Before A Backflow Test
A little preparation makes the visit short.
- 1
Find the assembly. It is usually near the water meter, along the irrigation line or in a mechanical room, and may sit in a green box.
- 2
Clear brush, mulch and debris around it so the tester can reach the test cocks and valves.
- 3
Gather the test notice, the last report and any account number the utility gave you.
- 4
Expect a short water shutoff while valves are closed for testing.
- 5
Ask for a copy of the test report once it is filed.
How A Backflow Test Goes
- 1
Check in
The tester confirms the assembly, location and account.
- 2
Test
Pressure readings are taken across the check valves and relief valve.
- 3
Repair if needed
Worn rubber parts and springs are replaced, then the assembly is retested.
- 4
Report
The result is submitted to the utility and a copy is provided.
Signs An Assembly Needs Attention
Water discharging from an RPZ relief port
Often a sign the assembly is failing or debris is lodged in a check.
Leaks at test cocks or unions
Worn seals or loose fittings.
Frost damage
Cracked bodies after freeze exposure.
Tampering or removal
Missing assemblies create unprotected connections.
Past-due test notice
The utility can shut off service for non-compliance.
Age
Rubber parts wear out after years of service.
Who Needs Backflow Protection Around High Point
Restaurants, apartment buildings and showroom buildings across downtown often have domestic or fire-line assemblies that need annual testing. Homeowners with lawn sprinklers, especially those in newer subdivisions around Oak Hollow Lake, are the usual residential customers. Landlords and property managers should keep reports on file for each building.
Freezes are mild here but not absent, and above-ground assemblies can crack in a hard cold snap. Covering or draining the assembly before a forecast freeze costs little. For businesses, commercial plumbing work covers the wider work of keeping a building compliant.
What Affects Backflow Service Cost
Free estimates for installation
Testing and repairs are quoted by assembly type. New installations get a free estimate. Call for your real number.
Backflow Service Across The Area
Backflow testing is available in High Point and in west Greensboro. For irrigation leaks or failed lines tied to the same system, see leak detection service.
Backflow Assemblies Near The Market And Oak Hollow Lake
Showrooms in the High Point Market district, with its 11.5 million square feet of exhibit space, rely on fire sprinkler and irrigation assemblies that must be tested on schedule. Properties near Oak Hollow Lake and the city's reservoir lands often have irrigation systems too.
A failed test means the assembly needs repair or replacement before the report is filed. Book testing early, because the weeks before Market and the end of the year are busy.
Backflow Testing Questions In High Point
A valve assembly that stops water from flowing backward into the drinking water supply, protecting it from contamination.
Commercial assemblies are usually tested annually. Residential irrigation assemblies may be tested annually or every three years, depending on the utility's rules.
A certified backflow assembly tester recognized by your water utility. The tester submits the report to the utility.
It must be repaired or replaced within the utility's deadline and then retested.
Systems that connect to an outdoor spigot are generally considered noncompliant under the NC Plumbing Code. Ask the utility or a plumber about a compliant setup.
Test due? Call to schedule.
Call (336) 453-0472Backflow Test Due?
Call about backflow testing and prevention in High Point, Jamestown, Archdale, Trinity, Thomasville, Randleman and Greensboro.
Call (336) 453-0472