Reston is in unincorporated Fairfax County and on Fairfax Water, so testable backflow assemblies on sprinklers, in-ground pools and directly connected hot tubs follow the County's program: a test at installation, after any repair, and at least once a year by a certified tester on the County's authorized list. For a test, a leak or a replacement, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Reston.
Backflow in Reston, briefly
Reston was planned from 1964 around village centers such as Lake Anne, Hunters Woods and South Lakes, with four man-made lakes and a heavy tree canopy. Its homes are mostly from the 1970s through the 1990s, with a median year built of 1983, so many irrigation assemblies here have been in the ground for decades. Fairfax Water supplies the water, and the County's Land Development Services runs cross-connection control with it. A new or replacement sprinkler assembly needs a County plumbing permit.
What to do now
- Find the device. Sprinkler assemblies usually sit outside near where the irrigation line leaves the house, often above ground beside the foundation.
- Stop any leak. If water is running from it, close the irrigation shutoff inside the house, usually on the branch line in the basement or utility room.
- Look for a date. A tag or an old report shows when it was last tested. No record means it is probably due.
- Note what it protects. Sprinklers, a pool fill, a hot tub or a fire sprinkler line each matter for the paperwork.
- Book a certified tester. The tester must be on Fairfax County's authorized list so the report is accepted.
- Keep the report. Hold on to a copy for the next test and for any future sale of the house.
Symptoms and likely causes
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Steady drip from the relief port | Debris or scale under the first check, or a worn relief valve seat |
| Water bursts from the vent when zones start | Worn float or poppet in a vacuum breaker |
| Sprinklers weak after a repair | A shutoff valve left partly closed or a clogged strainer |
| Crack or bulge in the brass body | Water froze inside over the winter |
| Test cock will not close fully | Worn cock or grit in the seat |
What affects the cost
- Whether the device passes on the first test or needs parts and a retest
- The assembly type: a reduced pressure unit has more parts than a vacuum breaker
- Freeze damage that turns a rebuild into a replacement with a permit
- Access, such as a unit hidden behind shrubs or set low against a wall
- Whether the plumber's price includes submitting the report
Backflow Testing questions in Reston
Who is allowed to test my backflow assembly?
Why is water dripping or spraying from my backflow device?
Do pools, hot tubs and fire sprinklers need backflow protection?
What does a backflow test actually involve?
More plumbing services in Reston
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