Most homeowners first hear about their backflow device when a notice shows up. It's usually on the sprinkler line, the main water line, a pool fill or a fire sprinkler service. We find it, test it and handle the filing.
- 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.
Where devices usually are
- By the water meter near the street
- Next to a pool or spa fill line
- On the irrigation line near the sprinkler valves
- At the fire sprinkler riser
How the district tracks your backflow device
A lot of people in Riverside first learn they have a backflow device when a letter shows up from the water district. That's because the district keeps a list of every device in its service area, usually created when the device was installed or when a property was surveyed.
Devices are required anywhere water on your side of the meter could flow back into the public supply. Sprinkler systems, pools and spas with automatic fill lines, private wells, home fire sprinklers and many businesses all fall into that group.
Once a device is on the list, it stays there. The district expects a passing test report every year and sends reminders as the date gets close. Moving into a house doesn't reset anything; the new owner inherits the device and its due date.
Got a letter? Here's the next step
Look at two things first: the due date and how many devices are listed. Larger properties sometimes have several, each due separately.
Next, call or schedule online. If you have the notice nearby, it helps, since it usually shows the device size, serial number and where it's located. If it's lost, we can still find the device when we arrive.
We submit the report to your district when the test is done, so there's nothing to mail. If a repair is needed, you'll get the price before we start. For more about what's on the letter, see our guide to backflow test notices.
Getting ready for the tester
You usually don't need to be home for a residential test as long as we can reach the device. A few small things help the visit go quickly.
Make sure we can get to it. If it's behind a locked gate, share the code or unlock it for the day. Keep dogs inside. If the device is buried in bushes, trimming them back saves time.
Turn off any automatic sprinkler schedule that would run during the appointment window. And let us know if the device is in a box that floods, has a cage with a lock, or sits somewhere unusual. With that, most residential tests are done in well under an hour, and you'll get the report by email.
What it costs and what's included
Testing is a flat $105 per device under 4 inches. Nearly every home device falls in that range, whether it's on the sprinklers, the main line or a pool fill. Devices 4 inches and larger are $175 each, but those are rare on houses.
The price includes the trip, the test and filing the report with your water district. There's no separate filing fee and no charge for sending you a copy.
If the device fails and needs parts, we'll give you a quote first. You decide whether to go ahead. Repairs include a retest so the district gets a passing report. And if you'd like a reminder before next year's due date, ask about due date management.
Renters and landlords
At rental properties, the water district usually sends notices to the property owner or the account holder on file. Most leases put backflow testing on the owner, but some commercial leases shift it to the tenant.
If you're a tenant and a notice lands in your mailbox, pass it to the owner or manager. If you're a landlord, we can coordinate access with your tenant directly so you don't have to be there.
Pools, wells and home fire sprinklers
Irrigation is the most common reason a house has a backflow device, but not the only one. Pools and spas with automatic fill lines often have one. So do homes with a private well connected to any part of the plumbing, and homes with fire sprinkler systems.
Each of these gets the same yearly test and the same flat price by size. If your notice lists a device you can't find, these are good places to look.
Can't find yours?
Our tester can find it. Read what to do with a test notice.
Questions
Why does my house have a backflow device?
Usually because of irrigation, a pool, a well or a fire sprinkler line. Your district requires one wherever water could flow back into the public supply.
What does it cost?
$105 per device under 4 inches. Most homes fall in that range.
Do I need to be home?
Not if we can reach the device. A gate code and a phone number are usually enough.
I just bought the house. Is the test my responsibility?
Yes. The device and its due date stay with the property, so the new owner takes over the yearly test.
Can I test it myself?
No. Districts only accept reports from certified testers with calibrated gauges.
What if I have more than one device?
Each one needs its own test and report. We can do them all on the same visit.
What to expect when you book backflow device testing
Booking takes a couple of minutes by phone or online. We confirm the address, the device and how to reach it, and we'll give you a time window that works for you. For most homes, you don't need to be there.
On the visit, a certified tester does the work with a calibrated gauge and explains anything that comes up in plain terms. If a repair is needed, you'll get the price before anything happens. When the device passes, we send the report to your water district and email you a copy. Our office is open seven days a week, 6am to 12pm, and emergency calls are answered around the clock.
Where we offer Backflow Device Testing
Our testers handle backflow Device Testing across Riverside and the surrounding area, from Jurupa Valley, Grand Terrace, Colton, Loma Linda and Moreno Valley. Call for the next opening or schedule online.