Licensed master plumber since 2002
Backflow Repair in Fort Smith & Van Buren, AR
Backflow repair fixes a backflow preventer that failed its annual test, is leaking, or was damaged by a freeze. Glenn is a licensed master plumber certified for both backflow testing (#ATT-1102) and backflow repair (#RT-466). We repair or replace assemblies in Fort Smith, Van Buren, and the Arkansas River Valley, retest them, and submit the updated report.
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- Licensed Master Plumber #5822
- Certified Backflow Tester #ATT-1102
- Insured & Bonded
- Serving the River Valley Since 2002
What Is Included in a Backflow Repair
- Finding out why the assembly failed. Often it is debris on a check valve seat, a worn rubber disc, a tired spring, or a relief valve that will not seal.
- Rebuilding the assembly on-site with manufacturer-approved repair parts whenever it can be repaired.
- Replacing the whole assembly when it is cracked, frozen, too worn to rebuild, or a model that parts are no longer made for.
- Retesting the repaired or new assembly with a calibrated test kit.
- Submitting the updated test report to your water provider.
Because we are certified to test and repair, you do not need a second contractor when something fails. One visit can often take you from a failed test to a passing report.
Should You Repair or Replace a Failed Backflow Preventer?
Most failed assemblies can be repaired. The parts that wear out, such as check valve discs, seats, springs, and relief valve seals, are made to be replaced, and a rebuild costs far less than a new assembly.
Replacement makes more sense when the body is cracked, often after a hard freeze, when the shutoff valves are seized, when the assembly has failed again and again, or when your water provider requires a different type than what is installed. We will tell you plainly which way we would go and why, and then you decide.
Backflow Preventers After a Hard Freeze
Outdoor assemblies on irrigation lines and pools are exposed to cold. When water inside them freezes, it can crack the body or push out seals and test cocks. If you see water spraying or pooling around your assembly after a cold snap, shut the water off to it if you can and call or text us. We will repair it or replace it, then retest it before the water goes back on.
Signs You Need Backflow Repair
- Your assembly failed its annual backflow test, here or with another tester.
- The relief valve on your RPZ keeps dripping or dumping water.
- Water is leaking from the body, a test cock, or a shutoff valve.
- The assembly cracked or started spraying after a freeze.
- You have low water pressure after the assembly, even with fixtures closed off.
- Your water provider asked for a different type of assembly than the one you have.
Backflow Repair for Homes and Businesses
For homeowners, most repairs are on the assembly that protects a sprinkler system or pool. These are usually smaller assemblies, and many can be rebuilt in a single visit.
For businesses, a failed assembly can come with a compliance deadline. We repair and replace RPZ and double check assemblies on restaurants, churches, offices, retail buildings, and fire lines, and we get the retest report submitted so your water provider can close it out.
Why Choose Arkansas Backflow & Plumbing
When you call about backflow repair, you talk with Glenn, the licensed master plumber who will do the work. He has served Fort Smith, Van Buren, and the River Valley since 2002, and he follows through from the first call to the cleanup.
- Licensed master plumber with more than 20 years of experience.
- Certified for both backflow testing and backflow repair, so one call covers both.
- Licensed, insured, and bonded.
- Locally owned and based in Van Buren since 2002.
- We clean up when we are done.
- Licensed Master Plumber
- #5822
- Backflow Testing
- #ATT-1102
- Backflow Repair
- #RT-466
- In business since
- 2002
Backflow Repair Photos from Recent Jobs
Real photos from our own jobs. See more in the project gallery.
RPZ backflow preventer 
Industrial backflow assembly 
Backflow enclosure service 
Outdoor backflow service
What Customers Say About Glenn
Glenn offered prompt service and fixed my plumbing issue quickly.
from a Google review
I've used Glenn multiple times over the years for all my service plumbing needs.
from a Google review
Glen is thorough in his communication, easy to work with and talk to!
from a Google review
Areas We Serve for Backflow Repair
We are based in Van Buren and serve homes and businesses across the Arkansas River Valley. We also travel to Northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville, for plumbing and backflow work.
Backflow Repair Questions
What happens if my backflow preventer fails the test?
We are certified to perform both testing and repair, so a failed assembly can typically be repaired on-site using manufacturer-approved parts. If the assembly cannot be repaired, we will walk you through replacement options. A retest is performed once repairs are complete, and the updated report is submitted to the water authority.
Can you repair a backflow preventer that someone else tested?
Yes. If another tester failed your assembly, you can call us for the repair. We are certified for backflow repair (#RT-466) and backflow testing (#ATT-1102), so we fix the assembly, retest it ourselves, and submit the updated report to your water provider.
Why did my backflow preventer fail?
The most common reasons are debris caught on a check valve seat, worn rubber discs or seals, weak springs, and relief valves that will not close all the way. Freeze damage and age also play a part. We find the cause first, so the repair actually fixes the problem instead of just getting it through one more test.
Will my water be off during the repair?
Water through the assembly has to be shut off while we work on it, so the fixtures it feeds will be off for a while. For a sprinkler or pool assembly, that usually does not affect the house. For a business, we will talk with you ahead of time so the shutoff lands at a time that works.
What's the difference between an RPZ and a double check valve?
A reduced pressure zone (RPZ) assembly has two check valves plus a relief valve that opens and drains water if pressure between the checks gets too close to the supply side. It is used for high-hazard connections. A double check valve assembly has two check valves and no relief valve, and is used for lower-hazard connections. Your water provider decides which one you need.
Related Services and Guides
- Backflow Testing in Fort Smith Backflow testing is the yearly check that proves your backflow prevention assembly still keeps dirty water out of the public drinking water supply.
- Commercial Plumbing in Fort Smith Commercial plumbing keeps restaurants, churches, offices, and retail buildings running, and backflow compliance is a big part of it.
- Plumbing Repair in Fort Smith Plumbing repair covers the everyday problems in your home or business: dripping faucets, running toilets, bad valves, leaking water lines, worn-out pipes, and sewer lines.
- What to Do If Your Backflow Test Fails A plain-English guide from Glenn.
- Backflow Repair in Fort Smith Our Fort Smith page: local services, directions, and questions.
- Backflow Repair in Van Buren Our Van Buren page: local services, directions, and questions.
- Contact Glenn Call, text, address, and service area.
Talk to the plumber, not a call center
Call or Text Glenn at (479) 719-1263
Tell us what is going on, and we will help you figure out the next step. You will talk with Glenn, the licensed master plumber who does the work.
Licensed Master Plumber #5822 · Backflow Testing #ATT-1102 · Backflow Repair #RT-466 · Licensed, insured, and bonded