Spencer's water comes from Salisbury-Rowan Utilities, which requires residential irrigation backflow assemblies to be tested every year by a tester on SRU's list, with reports filed through BSI. SRU has also put check valves on new customer meters since 1988 and recommends an expansion tank where one is added. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Spencer.
Backflow in an old railroad town
Spencer grew up around Southern Railway's Spencer Shops, now the NC Transportation Museum, and its homes are among the oldest in the region: median build year 1950, with about a third built before 1940. A house that old wasn't built with sprinklers, but once a yard gets irrigation, or a newer meter goes in, SRU's backflow rules come into play.
What to do now
- Check for an irrigation assembly. If your yard has in-ground sprinklers on SRU water, there should be a backflow assembly on that line.
- Test it yearly. SRU requires residential irrigation assemblies to be tested annually.
- Use a listed tester. The tester must be on SRU's list, and files the report online through BSI. Each report carries a $15.95 BSI fee, in place since July 1, 2023.
- Look at the water heater. If your meter has a check valve, SRU recommends a thermal expansion tank. A relief valve that drips after hot water use is a common sign one is missing.
- Know your side of the line. SRU maintains the pipe from the main to the meter; repairs from the meter to the house are yours.
Symptoms and causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water heater relief valve drips after use | Thermal expansion with a check valve at the meter |
| Irrigation assembly leaks at the body | Freeze crack or failed gasket |
| Test reported as failed | Worn check, spring or rubber seat |
| Pressure jumps when the heater runs | Closed system with no expansion tank |
| Relief port on an RP assembly discharging | Fouled check or supply pressure swing |
Cost factors
- Whether you need a test, a rebuild, or a new assembly
- Adding an expansion tank, which is separate from the backflow test
- Older piping that makes connections harder to make up
- Rowan County Building Inspections permits for new installs, after town zoning approval
- How easy the assembly is to reach
Spencer shares its water system with Salisbury, Rockwell, East Spencer and the other towns Salisbury-Rowan Utilities serves, so the same testing rules apply across the line. When you call, you'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Spencer. Tell them whether this is the yearly irrigation test, a leak, or a water heater relief valve that keeps dripping, and they can plan the visit around it.
Backflow Testing questions in Spencer
What does a check valve at the meter have to do with my water heater?
Why is my backflow device dripping or spitting water?
How do I keep an outdoor backflow assembly from freezing?
Who is allowed to perform the test?
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