Backflow Prevention & Annual Testing for Highland Lakes & Hill Country Homes
Texas requires your backflow preventer to be tested every year by a licensed tester.
Lantz Home Services handles the testing, certification, installation, and repair, and files your passing report so your water stays safe and your service stays on.
50+ years serving the Highland Lakes · TCEQ-licensed assembly testers · Same-week testing & repair
What backflow prevention does
A one-way barrier between your clean water and everything you don't want in it
Backflow is when water reverses direction in your pipes, usually after a pressure drop on the main, a water-main break, or a fire hydrant being opened nearby. When that happens, water sitting in an irrigation line, a pool fill, or a boiler can get pulled backward into your drinking water. A backflow preventer is the mechanical valve that stops that reversal cold. Because those valves have internal seals and springs that wear out, Texas law treats them as safety devices that must be tested on a schedule, not installed and forgotten.
Built for Highland Lakes & Hill Country water
Generic plumbing advice doesn't account for how people actually use water out here. We do.
- Lake-area irrigation From Lago Vista to Horseshoe Bay, large lots run heavy irrigation through the dry months. Every irrigation tie-in needs a tested assembly, and that's the most common backflow call we run.
- Granite Shoals & LCRA districts Many Highland Lakes water providers require you to file a passing test report annually. We complete the test and submit the paperwork so you're not chasing it down.
- Marble Falls & Burnet growth New construction and remodels across Marble Falls and Burnet County add fire lines, pools, and softeners, each of which can trigger a backflow assembly requirement at inspection.
- Hard water on the assemblies Hill Country hard water leaves mineral scale on check valves and relief valves, a leading reason assemblies fail their annual test. We rebuild on the spot instead of scheduling a return trip.
Which backflow assembly is on your property?
Different hazards call for different assemblies. Knowing which one you have tells you how often it has to be tested and what a failure means.
| Assembly | Where you'll find it | Annual test required? |
|---|---|---|
| PVB — Pressure Vacuum Breaker | Most residential irrigation systems | Yes |
| DC — Double Check Valve | Lawn irrigation, fire sprinkler lines | Yes |
| RPZ — Reduced Pressure Zone | High-hazard: boilers, chemical feeds, some pools | Yes |
| DCDA — Double Check Detector | Light-commercial fire systems | Yes |
| Air gap | Dishwashers, certain fixtures | No (visual check) |
Not sure what you have? Send us a photo of the device near your meter or irrigation manifold and we'll identify it before we roll a truck.
What a Lantz backflow visit looks like?
- Locate & identify — We find the assembly, confirm the type, and check it against your water provider's requirements.
- Test with calibrated gauges — A licensed tester runs the assembly through the TCEQ-required test sequence and records the readings.
- Repair or rebuild if it fails — Worn check valves and relief valves get rebuilt on site so we can re-test the same visit.
- Certify & file — You get the passing certificate, and we submit the report to your water district where that's required.
When you need plumbing, HVAC, or electrical service in Austin, TX, trust the local team dedicated to serving Central Texas homeowners with dependable service and professional care.