Each device on your water line has a yearly due date set by your water district. Miss it and you'll start getting follow-up letters. We get the test done before that date and send the report in for you.
- Price$105 flat
- TimeUnder an hour
- SchedulingSame week
- FilingIncluded
Pricing
| Backflow size | Flat fee per backflow |
|---|---|
| Under 4" | $105 |
| 4" and larger | $175 |
Includes the test and filing with your water district. No hidden fees.
Need it done soon? Most tests are scheduled within a few days.
How the yearly cycle works
- The report goes to the district in its required format
- We test the device on site
- A reminder letter shows up from your water district
- Your next due date is a year out
Why California asks for a test every year
A backflow assembly sits on your water line doing nothing most of the time. It only matters in the moment pressure drops on the street side or rises on your side, and nobody sees that moment happen. That's why the state's cross-connection rules lean on a yearly test instead of waiting for a problem.
Inside the device are rubber discs, springs and seats. Over a year, sand and scale from the water main collect on those parts. Rubber hardens in the sun and heat. Springs lose a little tension. None of that shows from the outside, but a gauge picks it up right away.
The test proves the device would still stop dirty water from flowing back into the supply that feeds your neighbors. Your water district keeps a record for each device and expects a fresh passing report every year.
What the yearly visit looks like
Most annual tests in Riverside take less than an hour from the time we pull up. The tester finds the device, checks that the shutoff valves and test cocks are in good shape, and hooks up a calibrated differential pressure gauge.
Water to the property is off for a few minutes while the readings are taken. On a home that usually means the sprinklers or the house water pauses briefly. On a business we'll ask first so it doesn't catch anyone mid-task.
If every reading passes, we turn everything back on, record the results and send the report to your water district in the format they ask for. You get a copy by email for your records. If something fails, we show you the reading, explain what it means and give you a price for the repair before touching anything. Many repairs can be done on the same visit, followed by a retest.
Staying ahead of your due date
Every device has a due date on file with your water district. The first reminder usually arrives a few weeks ahead. Ignore it and you'll get a second letter, then often a final notice with a shutoff date printed on it.
Booking when that first letter arrives takes the stress out of it. We can usually get to Riverside addresses within the same week.
Already past the date? Call anyway. Send us a picture of the notice, and we'll get the test done and the report filed fast. As soon as the district has a passing report, the letters stop. If you'd rather not keep track of this at all, our due date management service keeps your dates for you and contacts you before each one comes up.
Homes, businesses and everything in between
At a house, the yearly test is usually simple: one device on the sprinklers or the main line, tested in well under an hour for a flat $105 if it's under 4 inches.
Commercial properties often have several. It's common to see one device protecting the building's drinking water, one on landscape irrigation and a bigger assembly on the fire sprinkler line. The district tracks each one separately, so each one needs its own passing report every year.
Higher-risk businesses such as restaurants, clinics, labs and car washes usually have RP assemblies, which take a few extra readings. Devices 4 inches and larger, often found on fire lines, are $175 each. When a property has more than one device, we can test them all in one visit, and multi-device pricing is available if you call.
Picking a tester
Not just anyone can test a backflow device. Districts accept reports only from certified testers, and many maintain a list of approved testers for their area. It's worth asking any company three things: are you certified, is your gauge calibrated and do you file the report?
The answer from us is yes to all three. Certified testers, calibrated gauges, and the report goes to your district as part of the price.
Why your copy of the report matters
Hold on to each year's report. If the district ever loses a submission, or a buyer, insurer or inspector asks for proof, your copy settles it quickly.
The report also tells the story of your device. A device that passes cleanly year after year is in good shape. One that needed repairs two years running might be nearing the end of its life. We keep copies of every report we file, so if you misplace yours, just ask and we'll send it again.
Never miss a year
With due date management, we track the date and reach out before it's due.
Questions
What if I skip a year?
Your district will send follow-up letters and can eventually shut off water to the device. It's easier to just get it tested.
Do new devices need an annual test too?
Yes. A new device is tested when it's installed, and then every year after that.
Can you test several years' worth at once if I'm behind?
No, a test only covers the year it's done. One passing test now brings you current, and the next one is due in about a year.
Can I test early?
Yes. Testing before the due date is fine, and your next due date usually moves to a year from the test.
Is the annual test the same every year?
Yes. Same test, same report. The only thing that changes is whether the device needs a repair.
Does the due date change after I test?
Usually it moves to about a year after your test date. Your next notice will show it.
Working with a local backflow company
When you call us about annual backflow testing, you're talking to a company that focuses on backflow prevention. That focus means we know the devices, the test procedures and what your water district expects to see on the report.
Here's what you can count on: certified testers, calibrated gauges, a price before any work, and filing with your district included. Testing is $105 flat per device under 4 inches and $175 for 4 inches and up. We pick up seven days a week from 6am to 12pm, book most visits within the week and take emergency calls 24/7. Every customer gets a copy of the report for their records.
Annual Backflow Testing in Riverside and nearby
Need annual Backflow Testing outside Riverside? We also cover Jurupa Valley, Grand Terrace, Colton, Loma Linda and Moreno Valley. Same-week visits are normal, and booking takes a couple of minutes.