Annual Backflow Testing
Annual backflow testing checks that your backflow prevention assembly still stops reverse flow, using gauge readings at each check valve and relief valve. Many cities and counties require this test every year, and FlowFast Plumbing connects you with an independent local plumber who performs the test, records the results, and submits the report to your water utility before the deadline.
- Connected with an independent local pro — never a call center queue.
- Part of our Backflow Prevention Testing & Installation services — explained up front.
Parent service
Backflow Prevention Testing & InstallationBackflow test due? What backflow preventers do, testing requirements, and how to get connected with an independent local plumber.
View all Backflow Prevention servicesBackflow preventers contain springs, seals, and check valves that wear with time, debris, and pressure swings. A device that passed last year can drift out of tolerance silently, and the only way to know is a proper gauge test of each internal component. That is why many cities and counties require annual testing by a qualified tester: the test proves the assembly still protects the public water supply, and the filed report becomes your proof of compliance. Skipping the test can lead to warning letters, fines, or even water service interruption in some jurisdictions.
Through FlowFast Plumbing, an independent local plumber arrives with calibrated test gauges, isolates the assembly, and measures the performance of each check valve and relief valve against the passing criteria. You receive the readings on a test form, and the pro submits the report to your water utility in the format it requires — paper, portal, or both. If the device fails any part of the test, the pro will explain exactly which component failed and what repair is needed to bring it back into compliance, so you can act before the deadline lapses.
Warning signs
Signs you need this service
- Your water utility mailed an annual test notice with a due date, reminding you that your backflow assembly must be tested and the report filed.
- More than a year has passed since the last test — most programs run on a strict yearly cycle, reminder or not.
- You are buying or selling a property and the transaction paperwork asks for current backflow test records or proof of compliance.
- A previous test form shows borderline readings, which suggests this year's test may catch a component that has drifted out of tolerance.
What to expect
The process, step by step
Setup: the pro locates the assembly, verifies it is accessible, and attaches calibrated test gauges to the device's test cocks.
Isolation: shutoff valves are closed in sequence so each check valve and relief valve can be measured independently without disrupting the building's water.
Measurement: the pro records pressure readings at every test point, compares them to passing thresholds, and notes any component that falls short.
Reporting: you get a completed test form with all readings, and the pro files the report with your water utility before the compliance deadline.
Prevention
How to avoid this problem
- Schedule the test a few weeks before the deadline so a failed result still leaves time for repair and retesting.
- Keep past test reports in one folder so you can spot declining readings year over year and predict the next repair.
- Protect the assembly from freezing and debris between tests, since damage is the most common cause of a surprise failure.
Frequently asked questions
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