Does This Apply to You?
Not every property requires annual testing, but many with irrigation, fire protection, or commercial connections do. If any of these apply, it's worth confirming your requirement.
When you schedule a backflow test, we'll confirm your device type and location, along with when your last test was filed. That helps us bring the right gauges and paperwork. You'll get a confirmed appointment window.
We connect testing gauges to the backflow preventer and check each internal component against the required standard. If everything passes, we complete the report on site. If not, we explain the repair needed and the cost before doing anything further.
We file the test report with your water provider or the city, and leave you with a copy for your records. If a repair was needed, we retest before considering the job complete.
Certified Testing & Documentation
PlumbSmart provides certified backflow preventer testing for residential, commercial, and multi-family properties, along with the repair and paperwork needed to keep your account in good standing with the city or your water provider.
Our testers follow the required testing procedure for your device type and file the report with the correct provider. If a filing issue comes up after your test, we'll resolve it.
You'll know the testing fee up front, and if a repair is needed, we'll quote that separately before doing the work. No surprise charges after the fact.
A backflow preventer is a mechanical device that stops water from reversing direction and flowing back into the public supply. Without one, a cross-connection, an irrigation system, a fire sprinkler line, or certain commercial plumbing setups, could allow contaminated water to be pulled back into the drinking water system during a pressure drop. That risk is exactly why cities and TCEQ require these devices on qualifying properties and mandate annual testing to confirm they still work.
Testing isn't a formality. Internal seals and check valves wear out over time like any mechanical part, and a device that passed last year's test can fail this year's without any visible sign from the outside.
Missing a testing deadline can result in a compliance notice from your water provider, and in some cases a risk of service interruption if it goes unresolved. We handle the scheduling, the test itself, and the paperwork filing so the compliance side stays off your plate.
During a backflow testing visit, we typically cover:
Property managers: ask us about scheduling backflow testing across multiple units or buildings on one visit.
Serving Homes and Businesses
From single-family homes with irrigation systems to commercial buildings with multiple backflow assemblies, PlumbSmart provides certified testing across San Antonio and the surrounding suburbs.
Diane Mcelroy
Recent Google review
I am having a weird issue with intermittent dampness in my garage. Roger spent about 1.5 hours trying to locate the problem. He assured me it was not a plumbing problem and told me not to worry about the service call.
Andrew Schaffrinna
Recent Google review
Joey was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Excellent service, excellent advice, went above and beyond by providing me with recommendations on how to prevent future issues. Highly recommend.
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So happy with our new system! The team was absolutely fantastic! Thank you!
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PlumbSmart was the only plumbing company that responded the same day to fix a leak. Excellent work and coordination. All over great team.
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A backflow preventer keeps water from flowing in reverse and potentially contaminating the public water supply, for example through an irrigation system or a cross-connection at a commercial building. Cities and TCEQ require annual testing on qualifying properties to confirm the device is still working correctly.
Properties with irrigation systems, fire sprinklers, boilers, or certain commercial and multi-family connections typically fall under testing requirements. Residential requirements vary depending on your specific connection type. If you've received a renewal notice from your water provider, that's a good sign your property is on record as requiring it.
A certified tester connects gauges to the backflow preventer and checks that the internal check valves and relief mechanism are holding pressure correctly. The test typically takes under an hour. If the device passes, we file the required documentation with the city or water provider on your behalf.
We'll walk you through repair options on the spot when possible. Many failures come down to worn seals or a stuck check valve, which are often quick fixes. Once repaired, we retest the device and file the passing report so your property stays in compliance.
We submit the required paperwork to your water provider or the appropriate city department, and we give you a copy for your own records. That way you have documentation on hand if a property manager, inspector, or insurer asks for it.
Did you know that approximately 9-13% of our service calls are to come out to fix other companies' mistakes?
From the Blog
Practical tips and local insights from the PlumbSmart team.
1233 Safari St, San Antonio, TX 78216
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Backflow testing is one of the more paperwork-heavy services we provide, and that's by design. The point of the annual requirement is to catch a worn check valve or a degraded relief mechanism before it becomes an actual cross-connection risk, not just to generate a form for a filing cabinet.
We test residential irrigation assemblies, fire sprinkler backflow devices, and commercial connections across San Antonio, and we file the completed reports directly with the correct water provider or city department so you're not the one tracking down where the paperwork needs to go.
If your property manages multiple backflow assemblies across one or several buildings, we can schedule testing for all of them in a coordinated visit rather than piecing it together one appointment at a time.