Backflow Testing & Prevention
Inspect, test and repair the device that stops yard water from reaching the drinking supply.
Plumbing guide
Backflow Preventers and Irrigation in Goodyear, AZ
Your yard irrigation connects to the same supply that feeds your kitchen tap. A backflow preventer stops water from reversing.
By the Goodyear Express Plumbing team ·
Why backflow happens
Water normally flows from the main to your house. If pressure in the main drops, because of a break or heavy use, water can be pulled backward. Without protection, irrigation water, fertilizer or pool water could enter the supply.
A preventer places a one way barrier in the line.
Types of devices
A pressure vacuum breaker sits above ground on the irrigation line. A reduced pressure assembly has two check valves and a relief port, and it protects against higher risk connections. Hose bibs often have a simple vacuum breaker.
Which type you need depends on the connection and your local rules.
Common backflow devices
Which device goes where.
| Device | Location | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hose bib vacuum breaker | Outdoor faucets | A small cap at the spout |
| Pressure vacuum breaker | Irrigation lines | Mounted above ground |
| Reduced pressure assembly | Higher hazard connections | Has a relief port and test cocks |
Why it leaks or spits
A device may spit water when pressure shifts. Constant dripping suggests worn seals or debris on a check valve. A cracked body from impact or heat needs replacement. Shut off the irrigation supply and call.
See backflow testing and prevention for the details.
Reclaimed water in Goodyear
The City of Goodyear produces A+ reclaimed water, which is treated wastewater for uses such as watering landscaping. It is not for drinking and must never connect to household taps. Reclaimed lines are usually marked, and use is regulated.
If your property uses reclaimed water, ask the city what rules apply to your irrigation and equipment.
Irrigation maintenance
Check heads, valves and drip lines each spring. A leaking valve wastes water and strains the device. Winterize the line if cold weather arrives, and drain exposed parts.
A broken sprinkler head near a preventer can flood the box.
Testing and records
Some utilities require periodic testing by a certified tester. Keep the reports. If a device fails, repair or replacement is needed before it can pass. Ask your water provider what applies to your address.
Keep the box accessible and clear of rocks and shrubs.
Signs the device needs attention
Spitting from the relief port during a pressure change can be normal, but a constant stream is not. Wet soil around the box, a hissing sound, a cracked body, a missing test tag and low water pressure to the sprinklers all deserve a look.
Take a photo of the assembly and the tag before you call. The make, model and size help a contractor bring the right parts.
Questions to ask a tester
Ask whether they are certified for the device in your area, how the report reaches your water provider and what happens if the assembly fails. Ask whether repair kits are used or the assembly is replaced, and whether a retest is included.
A failed test is not unusual. Internal rubber parts wear, and debris from the line can keep a check valve from seating.
Protecting the device
Keep it clear of shrubs, mulch and soil, and shade it if you can. Heat from the sun speeds wear on rubber parts. A lockable cage discourages tampering and theft of brass assemblies.
Before a long absence, close the irrigation supply so a failure cannot flood the yard.
Other connections that need protection
Hose bibs, pool fill lines, boilers, fire sprinklers and some water treatment equipment can all connect a non-drinking source to the house. Each has its own protective device. Ask your plumber to walk the house and list every protected connection.
See pool leak detection if your pool fill line has a suspected leak.
How irrigation systems are laid out
A typical yard system starts at a tee off the house supply, passes through the backflow device and then splits into zones, each with its own valve. A controller opens one valve at a time. Drip zones use filters and pressure regulators, and sprinkler zones use heads that pop up.
Knowing this layout helps when something leaks. A wet spot near a valve box points at a valve or a fitting. Soggy ground along a line points at a break. A drop in pressure across all zones points back toward the device.
Water use and summer heat
Desert landscaping can still use a lot of water in summer. Run drip zones for longer, less often, so water reaches roots instead of evaporating. Water early in the morning, before the heat builds. Adjust the controller each season, and use a rain sensor if the system has one.
A leak in a buried line can run unnoticed for weeks because the yard is expected to be wet. The meter test in our leak detection page works for irrigation too: turn the controller off and see if the dial stops.
Before you call
Know whether your property uses city water or reclaimed water for irrigation. Take a photo of the device, the valve box and any labels. Note when the problem began and whether any zone has changed. If the device is spraying a steady stream, close the irrigation supply valve first.
These details help the dispatcher match you with someone who handles testing, repair or replacement and let them plan the right parts.
Costs and timing, in plain terms
Testing a device is a short visit. Repairing worn internal parts takes longer, and replacing an assembly is a larger job that may need a permit. Ask for a written quote and whether parts and labor are included. Request the test report in writing, whatever the result.
If the device is part of a property sale or a new connection, tell the contractor the deadline so the work and the paperwork fit the schedule. Delays in filing a report can hold up water service or an inspection.
Keeping records
Store test reports, receipts and photos in one folder. If the property changes hands, the next owner will want them.
Common questions
Backflow and irrigation questions
Most irrigation systems do. Ask your utility what it requires.
No. It is for approved outdoor uses only.
Worn seals or debris are common causes.
A certified tester, where testing is required.
Related services
Pool Leak Detection & Repair
Tell evaporation from a leak, then trace pool water loss to the fitting or line responsible.
Leak Detection
Pinpoint concealed water loss in walls, floors or buried pipe using listening gear and pressure tests.
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Use a bucket and a pen to decide if your pool is losing water to the sun or to a crack.
Why is my water bill so high?
Seven common reasons a bill jumps, and a quick way to separate a leak from heavy use.
Backflow device leaking or spitting?
Call and describe it. The dispatcher will find a contractor nearby.