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.
Want to get on the schedule? Call or book online.
How the yearly cycle works
- You book a test with a certified tester
- The passing report gets filed with the district
- Your district mails a notice before the due date
- The clock resets for another 12 months
Why the test comes back every 12 months
Nobody can look at a backflow device and tell whether it still works. It can look clean and shiny and still have a check valve that won't seal. That's the reason California's cross-connection rules call for a test at least once a year, on every assembly, at every property.
The parts that do the work are small: rubber discs, seats, springs and, on some devices, a relief valve. Grit from the water main settles on them. Heat dries out the rubber. Springs weaken slowly. Any of those can let water slip backward when pressure changes.
A yearly test catches that while it's still a cheap fix. It also gives your water district the paperwork it needs to show the public supply is protected, which is why they track every device by address and due date.
How a typical annual test goes
Most annual tests in Fontana 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 Fontana 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.
Annual testing for homes and for businesses
For most homeowners, annual testing means one device, usually on the irrigation line or near the meter. The visit is quick, and the price is the flat $105 for anything under 4 inches.
Businesses tend to have more going on. A single commercial property can have a device on the domestic line, another on irrigation and a larger one on the fire sprinkler service. Each device has its own due date and its own report, even when they sit side by side.
Restaurants, medical and dental offices, car washes and buildings with boilers or cooling towers usually have high-hazard protection like RP assemblies. These get the same annual test, just with a few more readings. Fire line devices of 4 inches and larger are $175 each. If you have several devices, ask about our multi-device pricing so they can all be tested on the same trip.
Choosing who tests your device
Your water district only accepts reports from certified backflow testers, and many keep a list of testers approved to submit in their area. Before you book anyone, it's fair to ask whether they're certified, whether their gauge is current and whether they file the report for you.
We check all three boxes. Our testers are certified, our gauges are kept in calibration, and filing with your district is part of the flat price. You won't be handed a report and told to mail it yourself.
Keeping your records
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.
Want reminders?
With due date management, we track the date and reach out before it's due.
Questions
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.
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.
Do new devices need an annual test too?
Yes. A new device is tested when it's installed, and then every year after that.
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.
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.
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.
How we handle annual backflow testing in Fontana
Our approach is simple. Show up when we say we will, do the work right, and handle the paperwork so you don't have to. Every tester is certified, every gauge is kept in calibration, and filing with your water district is included.
Pricing is clear. Tests are a flat $105 for devices under 4 inches and $175 for 4 inches and larger, and anything beyond the test is quoted before we start. We're available seven days a week from 6am to 12pm, with emergency calls answered 24/7. Most Fontana appointments are within the same week, and you'll have a copy of your report by email when we're done.
Annual Backflow Testing near Fontana
We offer annual Backflow Testing throughout Fontana and nearby cities, including Rialto, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, San Bernardino and Ontario. Most appointments are available within the week, and you can call or book online.