Are Re-Tests Required After Repairs?

A passing re-test is required after any backflow prevention repair, rebuild, replacement, or relocation—often on the same day the work is completed. Your water utility won’t consider you compliant until a certified tester submits a passing report.

To avoid fines or service interruptions, schedule repairs and re-tests together with the Backflow Testing San Diego experts recommend at Atlas Backflow Services.

Why Re-Tests Are Required After Repairs

Backflow prevention assemblies are precision devices. When a component fails or is replaced, utilities require verification that the assembly once again provides the intended protection.

A re-test:

• Confirms repairs restored performance to code-defined standards.

• Documents compliance in your utility’s cross-connection control program.

• Protects public health by ensuring contaminants can’t backflow into the potable water system.

• Closes your violation notice or failed-test citation quickly.

Our Backflow Testing San Diego experts recommend complete the repair and perform the post-repair re-test immediately, then submit the official report to your water provider.

When Exactly Is a Re-Test Required?

While wording varies by city and utility, these scenarios almost always require a re-test:

• After any repair or rebuild (rubber kit, springs, checks, relief-valve components, seats)

• After device replacement (model upgrade or swap due to age/obsolescence)

• After relocation or reorientation (moving the assembly, changing installation height/orientation)

• After an initial failed test (annual test failure must be followed by repair and a passing re-test)

• After an observed backflow event or major pressure anomaly (as directed by your utility)

Whether your assembly is an RP/RPZ, DC/DCVA, PVB, or SVB, the re-test confirms each check, relief valve, and air inlet meets the required criteria.

How Soon Must the Re-Test Happen?

Utilities commonly require correction and a passing re-test within a defined window, typically:

• Standard assemblies: 10–30 days from the failure notice

• High-hazard sites: 5–10 business days, or immediate action if risk is imminent

• Fire-line assemblies: Often prioritized; re-test expected promptly after service work

Best practice: schedule the re-test the same day as the repair. If parts must be ordered, plan your installation appointment with an immediate re-test and report submission. Atlas Backflow Services builds both steps into one visit whenever possible.

Who Can Perform the Re-Test?

Most water purveyors require:

• A certified backflow tester registered with the utility

• A calibrated test gauge with current calibration certificate

• Official report forms or digital submissions in the utility’s required format

Our technicians meet these criteria across San Diego-area programs. The Backflow Testing San Diego experts experts recommend handle testing, documentation, and direct utility submission so your compliance is on record.

What Does a Post-Repair Re-Test Involve?

A proper re-test is a full performance test, not a quick visual:

• Verification of model, size, serial number, and installation (orientation, height, clearance, freeze protection)

• Functional checks by device type:

  • RP/RPZ: check valve differential, relief valve opening point, tightness under backpressure

  • DC/DCVA: tightness of checks and differential pressure of first and second checks

  • PVB/SVB: air inlet opening point and check valve tightness

• Recording all readings with pass/fail determinations

• Completion and submission of the report to your water provider

If anything still doesn’t pass, we provide a clear repair or replace path and retest promptly.

Common Repair Scenarios That Require Re-Testing

• Worn rubber components (seats, discs, O-rings) causing leakage or low differential

• Fouled relief valve in RPs resulting in continuous discharge or late opening

• Weak or out-of-tolerance springs reducing check performance

• Debris lodged in checks preventing tight closure

• Corrosion or body damage requiring replacement of the entire assembly

In each case, the only way to confirm the fix meets standards is to perform the certified re-test and submit the passing results.

Documentation Your Utility Expects

A re-test isn’t complete until documentation is in your utility’s hands. Expect to provide or have us submit:

• Official test report with measured readings

• Tester certification and gauge calibration details

• Repair notes and kit/model part numbers (often required for RPs and DCs)

• Photos or as-built notes if the device was relocated or replaced

Atlas Backflow Services, our Backflow Testing San Diego experts recommend, files your paperwork directly and keeps copies for your records.

Step-by-Step: From Failure to Passing Re-Test

1. Receive the fail notice and note the deadline, device details, and utility instructions.

2. Call Atlas Backflow Services to diagnose and quote repair vs. replacement.

3. Approve parts quickly. We stock common rebuild kits to minimize downtime.

4. Perform repair and immediate re-test.

5. Submit the passing report to your water provider (we handle this).

6. Confirm acceptance from the utility; we’ll also set your reminder for the next annual test.

Special Considerations by Device Type

• RP/RPZ assemblies: Utilities are strict due to higher protection level. Relief valve performance must be verified post-repair; re-testing is always required.

• DC/DCVA assemblies: Both checks must meet minimum differential. Any rebuild or seat work triggers a re-test.

• PVB/SVB assemblies: Air inlet and check performance must be re-verified, especially after spring or rubber replacements.

• Fire-line assemblies: Coordinate with your fire protection vendor if valves or impairments are involved; re-testing is part of returning the system to service.

Not sure which assembly you have? The Backflow Testing San Diego experts recommend can identify your device on-site and advise on the exact test requirements.

What Happens If You Skip the Re-Test?

• You remain out of compliance even if the device was repaired.

• Fines, re-inspection fees, or water service interruption can follow.

• Insurance and liability risks increase if a backflow incident occurs without proof of a passing test.

Avoid the hassle. Book your repair and re-test in a single visit with Atlas Backflow Services.

FAQs

• Are re-tests always required after repairs?

  • Yes, in practice. Utilities nearly universally require a passing re-test after any repair, rebuild, replacement, or relocation to document restored protection.

• Can my maintenance team repair the device without a re-test?

  • They can perform repairs where permitted, but a certified re-test and official report are still required for compliance.

• How long does a re-test take?

  • Typically 20–45 minutes per device, depending on size, access, and type. Complex repairs or multiple assemblies can add time.

• What if the device fails again on the re-test?

  • We’ll provide options—additional rebuild, deeper component replacement, or a like-for-like device swap—and retest promptly.

• Do I need to notify the utility after a passing re-test?

  • Your utility must receive the official passing report. We submit it for you and confirm acceptance.

Work with the Backflow Testing San Diego Experts Experts Recommend

Re-tests after repairs aren’t just a formality—they’re the key step that puts you back in compliance and protects your water supply.

Whether you manage a single irrigation assembly or a campus with high-hazard devices, Atlas Backflow Services makes the process seamless: rapid repairs, same-day re-testing, and direct utility submission.

• Certified testers, calibrated equipment

• Stocked parts for faster turnarounds

• Utility-approved reporting and recordkeeping

• Proactive reminders for your next annual test

Need a repair or re-test now? Contact Atlas Backflow Services—the Backflow Testing San Diego experts recommend—and get a passing report on file fast.