Backflow preventer testing, repair and replacement.

A backflow preventer stops water in the irrigation lines, fertilizer, pool splash, whatever is in the yard, from being pulled back into the potable supply when pressure drops. Northeast Florida utilities generally require one on any irrigation system tied to the meter, and many require it to be tested on a schedule by a qualified tester. MacGregor Sprinkler tests, rebuilds and replaces the common residential assemblies: double-check valves, pressure vacuum breakers and reduced-pressure zone assemblies.

What this covers

• Testing

  Differential-gauge testing of each check and relief valve, with the results recorded for the utility’s paperwork.

• Rebuilds

  Worn checks, springs, seats and relief valves replaced with the manufacturer’s kit when the body is sound, cheaper than a new assembly.

• Replacement

  Cracked or obsolete assemblies replaced with a like-for-like unit, unions and shut-offs so the next test does not need a saw.

• Freeze damage

  The two or three hard freezes a Clay County winter gets are enough to split a body. Repaired, replaced and insulated so it does not repeat.

• Relocation and enclosures

  Assemblies moved out of the mower’s path or raised to the required height; insulated covers fitted where they belong.

The three assemblies you will see in a yard

Double-check valve (DCVA), the most common on residential irrigation, two spring-loaded checks in a row. Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB), the tall one on risers above grade, common on older systems. Reduced-pressure zone (RPZ), the one with the relief valve underneath, required where the hazard is higher, such as fertilizer injection or reclaimed water nearby. Each is tested differently and each has its own rebuild kit.

Who requires what

Requirements come from the water provider, not from the state as a whole, and they differ across the four counties: JEA in Duval and parts of St. Johns and Nassau, Clay County Utility Authority in Clay, St. Johns County Utilities, the City of Fernandina Beach and several smaller providers. Your notice tells you the deadline and how results must be filed. Bring it to the appointment, or text a photo of it, and the paperwork gets handled with the test.

When the test fails

A failed check usually means debris or a worn seat, and a rebuild kit fixes it on the spot. A body that has cracked, or an assembly old enough that kits are no longer made, gets replaced. Either way you get one quote before the work, and the assembly is re-tested afterwards.

Questions about backflow preventers