Backflow Testing in Chantilly, VA

How do I know if my Franklin Farm sprinkler assembly is due?

If it has not been tested within the past year, assume it is. Fairfax County Land Development Services runs the cross-connection program with Fairfax Water, and the rule for testable assemblies is a test when installed, after any repair or move, and at least once a year after that. Lawn irrigation in particular needs a testable assembly suited to a high hazard. Chantilly's median home was built in 1987, and subdivisions such as Franklin Farm and Greenbriar have many systems installed when the houses were new, so a lot of these devices have long since passed the point where seals and springs start to tire. A tag on the device or a past report will show the last test date; if you have neither, book one.

Who is allowed to do the test, and where does the result go?

Only a Backflow Prevention Device Worker certified by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation who appears on the County's authorized vendor list. That tester submits the report through the County's online system, so the result is on file without you mailing anything. Ask for a copy for your records, and confirm the plumber's certification and listing when you book. Commercial buildings and office campuses near Route 50 and Route 28 often have larger assemblies on fire lines and service connections that fall under the same program.

What does replacing an assembly involve?

When a body is cracked, a model is obsolete or the device is the wrong type for the hazard, the plumber removes it and installs a new one, then tests it before it goes into service. Installing or replacing an irrigation assembly needs a Fairfax County plumbing permit filed through PLUS. Freeze damage is the usual trigger in Chantilly; a device left full of water through a cold snap can split overnight. Fairfax Water's moderately hard to hard water also leaves deposits that wear check seats over the years.

A local note

Many Chantilly owners open their irrigation in spring and close it in fall. Pair the annual test with the spring start-up, and drain the device before the first hard freeze. If water is spraying now, close the irrigation shutoff inside the house and turn off the controller until the plumber arrives.