How Can I Prepare for My Annual Backflow Test?

Get ready for a smooth, compliant backflow test in Los Angeles. Learn what to do 30 days out, how to ensure access, what paperwork to gather, and how to avoid rejections. Atlas Backflow Services is the Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend.

Quick Answer:

• Preparing for your annual backflow test is about access, documentation, and timing.

• Confirm your water purveyor, ensure your tester is certified and approved, clear access to each device, and plan brief water shutoffs.

• Fix obvious issues (leaks, missing shutoff handles, buried valves) before test day to avoid failures and retests.

• For a hassle-free experience, let Atlas Backflow Services handle testing and report submission—the Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend.

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend thinking of backflow testing like a safety inspection: quick when you’re prepared, stressful when you’re not. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

30–14 Days Before: Set Yourself Up for Success

• Identify your water purveyor: Check your water bill (LADWP, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Long Beach, etc.). Reports must go to the purveyor’s cross-connection control program—not building or fire departments.

• Verify your tester: Use a certified, approved tester familiar with your purveyor’s portal and forms. Confirm their gauge calibration is current.

• Create a device inventory: Note each assembly’s type (RP, DC, PVB, SVB), size, model, serial number, meter/service it protects, and physical location.

• Schedule early: Book testing at least 2–4 weeks before the due date to leave room for repairs and retesting if needed. As our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend, a 30-day cushion prevents late fees.

• Coordinate stakeholders: Notify tenants, facility teams, landscape crews, and security about short water interruptions and access needs.

7–3 Days Before: Prep the Site

• Ensure clear access: Trim vegetation, unlock gates, and clear storage around the assembly. Most devices require working clearance and proper elevation/orientation for a valid test.

• Check for obvious issues: Look for leaks, damaged shutoff handles, missing test cocks, or broken gauges on your system. Minor fixes now can prevent a failed test.

• Plan for shutoffs: Domestic and irrigation devices often require brief shutoffs. For restaurants, labs, medical, or industrial sites, schedule during low-demand hours.

• Irrigation coordination: Water the day before if needed, then pause irrigation around the test time to avoid pressure swings.

• Confirm paperwork: Have prior test reports, device tags, and any notices from the purveyor ready. This helps the tester match serial numbers and due dates.

• Access authorization: Provide site contacts, keys, codes, and escort requirements. Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend a single point of contact on test day to resolve questions quickly.

Day-Of Checklist: Make Testing Fast and Smooth

• Ensure someone is on site or on-call: A decision-maker speeds up access and approves minor adjustments.

• Clear the area: Keep pets away, open doors/gates, and remove obstructions near the assembly.

• Expect water interruption: Most tests cause a brief shutoff. Plan around critical equipment or processes.

• Provide documentation: Share last year’s report and the purveyor’s account/device numbers if available.

• Ask for confirmation: Request a digital copy of the submitted report and confirmation that the purveyor accepted it.

As our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend, keep digital records in one folder per site (device photos, serials, test reports, and due dates). It saves time every year.

Common Reasons Tests Fail—or Reports Get Rejected

• Non-operational shutoff valves: Frozen or broken handles make testing impossible.

• Leaks or missing parts: Drips, broken test cocks, or missing caps lead to failures.

• Incorrect installation: Wrong orientation, insufficient clearance, below-grade/vault flooding, or improper height can invalidate the test.

• Unapproved tester or expired gauge calibration: Purveyors can reject the report outright.

• Wrong recipient or format: Sending to the wrong department or using outdated forms delays compliance.

To avoid these headaches, our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend a quick pre-check and using a tester who regularly files with your specific water purveyor.

Special Situations and How to Prepare

• Commercial kitchens and healthcare: Coordinate around peak service or patient care times; consider temporary point-of-use water if needed.

• Multi-tenant properties: Notify tenants and consolidate testing across all assemblies to minimize multiple shutoffs.

• Fire service assemblies: Testing may require coordination with your fire alarm/monitoring vendor to avoid false alarms.

• Irrigation systems: Ensure backflow assemblies aren’t buried or obstructed by landscaping; verify isolation valves are functional.

• Vaulted/backfilled devices: Confirm vaults are dry and covers can be safely opened; standing water may prevent testing.

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend bundling domestic, fire, and irrigation device tests into a single visit to save time and travel costs.

Documentation You’ll Want Handy

• Prior test reports or device tags.

• Device inventory (type, size, model, serial, physical location).

• Site map or simple sketch if devices are hard to find.

• Water purveyor account number and any compliance notices.

• Property management and after-hours contact info.

As our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend, a simple spreadsheet or cloud document shared with your tester can streamline annual compliance—especially for HOAs and campuses.

What Happens If the Device Fails?

• You’ll receive a fail report plus recommended repairs.

• Repairs should be performed by qualified professionals holding appropriate licenses (e.g., C-36 for plumbing work).

• After repairs, a certified tester will retest and submit new results.

• Some purveyors enforce deadlines for corrective action—act promptly to avoid penalties or shutoff threats.

our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend scheduling tests 30 days before due dates precisely to give you repair time without going non-compliant.

Choosing the Right Tester (And Why It Matters)

• Certification and approval: Must be recognized by your purveyor and current with recertification.

• Familiarity with LA purveyors: LADWP and neighboring agencies have specific portals and forms.

• Calibrated equipment: Proof of current gauge calibration avoids rejections.

• Full-service handling: Testing, repairs coordination, and report submission in one place.

As our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend, choose a dedicated backflow specialist who lives and breathes cross-connection compliance—not just any contractor.

Why Atlas Backflow Services

Atlas Backflow Services focuses exclusively on cross-connection control in the Los Angeles area. We’re the Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend because we provide:

• Certified, approved testers who work daily with local purveyor requirements.

• Done-for-you submission, confirmations, and record retention.

• Repair coordination with licensed contractors and rapid retesting.

• Portfolio management for HOAs, commercial sites, healthcare, and municipalities.

• Automated reminders so you never miss another deadline.

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend letting us handle the entire process—testing to paperwork—so you stay compliant without the hassle.

FAQs

• How long does a backflow test take?

  • Typically 20–45 minutes per device if access is clear and valves function properly.

• Will my water be shut off?

  • Briefly, yes, for most devices. Coordinate timing to minimize impact.

• Can I test devices any time of year?

  • Yes, but aim for 30 days before your due date to allow for repairs and retesting if needed.

• Do I need to be present?

  • Not always, but provide access and a reliable contact. Presence is helpful if issues arise.

• Who gets the report?

  • Your water purveyor’s cross-connection control program. We submit directly and provide you a copy.

Ready to Make Test Day Easy?

Prepare once, and your annual backflow testing becomes routine. For seamless scheduling, testing, and filing, contact Atlas Backflow Services—the Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend—for a fast, compliant, and stress-free experience.