If you have an in-ground sprinkler system in North Atlanta, there is a small brass or bronze assembly between your water meter and your zones doing one very important job: keeping sprinkler water — which sits in pipes with fertilizer, soil, and standing water — from ever flowing backward into the water you drink.
That device is the backflow preventer, and it isn’t optional.
Why it matters
Normally water flows one way: from the city main, through your meter, out to your sprinkler heads. But a pressure drop — a water-main break, heavy demand, a fire hydrant opening down the street — can reverse that flow and siphon irrigation water back toward the potable supply. The backflow preventer physically blocks that reversal.
Georgia requires it — and requires testing
Georgia plumbing code requires a backflow prevention assembly on every irrigation system, and most local water authorities require it to be tested annually by a certified tester to prove it still seals. A failed or missing assembly can mean a red tag on your system.
What we do
- Install new code-compliant assemblies on new and existing systems
- Repair or replace failed units (worn seals, freeze cracks, corrosion)
- Test and certify so you stay compliant with your water authority
Backflow installation starts at $800, and we handle the paperwork your water provider needs. See the full breakdown on our pricing page.
One seasonal warning
The backflow assembly usually sits above ground, which makes it the part of your system most likely to crack in a hard freeze. If yours isn’t insulated heading into winter, read our guide on winterizing your system before the first cold snap — a cracked backflow is a far more expensive fix than a $95 winterization.