A badly placed assembly can fail inspections or be impossible to test. We install yours above grade where required, at the right height, with clearance for testing, then test it and file the first report.
- PriceFree quote
- TimeUsually 1 day
- TestIncluded
- FilingIncluded
Want to get on the schedule? Call or book online.
Installation rules we follow
- RP assemblies above grade, never in a pit
- Clearance for testers and repairs
- Vacuum breakers above the highest downstream outlet
- Freeze and theft protection where needed
Placement and height
Where an assembly sits affects whether it can work and whether it passes inspection. RP assemblies must be installed above ground, with enough space under them for the relief valve to drain freely. Putting an RP in a pit or a box that floods is one of the most common mistakes we see.
Pressure vacuum breakers and spill-resistant vacuum breakers have to be higher than the highest sprinkler head or outlet they protect, usually by at least 12 inches. On hillside lots, that can mean placing the device near the top of the yard instead of by the meter.
Double checks have more flexibility and are sometimes placed in vaults, especially on fire lines, but they still need room to be tested and repaired.
Leaving room to test and service
Every backflow assembly has to be tested every year, so it needs to be reachable. That means space around the test cocks for the gauge hoses, room to turn the shutoff valves and enough clearance to remove the check covers for repairs.
Devices wedged against walls, buried in shrubs or installed overhead in tight ceilings turn a 30-minute test into a two-hour job, or make repairs impossible without cutting pipe. We install with access in mind from the start.
We also think about who needs to reach it. A device behind a locked gate is fine for a home, but a commercial property might want it where a tester can get to it without an escort.
Freeze and theft protection
Southern California doesn't freeze often, but it does happen in some inland and higher-elevation areas. A single cold night can crack a brass body or bonnet. Insulated covers or enclosures help where it's a risk.
Theft is a bigger concern in many neighborhoods. Brass backflow assemblies near streets and parking lots are targets for scrap thieves, and a stolen device leaves an open pipe and an urgent repair. Locking cages bolted to a concrete pad are the usual answer.
We'll recommend protection based on where the device is going. If you'd like a cage or cover, it can be added to the installation quote.
Finishing the job
After installation and flushing, we test the new assembly using the same procedure as the yearly test. It confirms the device is installed right and working.
We file that first passing report with your district. That puts the device on record and sets its first annual due date. A copy goes to you.
After that, it needs a test every year. Add due date management if you'd like us to track the date and schedule it for you.
Raising or relocating an existing assembly
Some assemblies were installed in the wrong spot years ago: an RP in a pit, a PVB below the sprinklers or a device boxed in where no one can test it. Moving it is often the right fix.
Relocation involves new piping and fittings, and the device is retested afterward. If the old device is in good shape, we can often reuse it, which keeps the cost down.
Installs on construction projects
On new construction and remodels, backflow installation is one piece of a bigger schedule. We work with general contractors, plumbers and landscape contractors to install the assembly when the site is ready and test it when water is available.
The startup test report is often needed for final inspection, so we make sure it's filed in time.
Pipe, fittings and supports
What connects to the assembly matters as much as the assembly. We use potable-rated fittings sized to the device and add unions where they'll make later repairs simpler. Bigger assemblies get supports so the pipe isn't carrying the load.
Outdoors, we choose fittings that stand up to sun, soil and water. You won't see these choices on the report, but they decide whether the install lasts or starts leaking in a few years.
Once it's in
We test it right away and file the first report. After that, it needs an annual test.
Questions
Can an RP go underground?
No. The relief valve has to drain, so RPs go above ground.
Can you move an existing assembly?
Yes. A moved assembly has to be retested afterward, and we include that.
How long does installation take?
Most installs for 2-inch and smaller assemblies take a day.
Do you add a cage or cover?
If theft or freezing is a risk, we recommend one and include it in the quote.
Can a PVB go next to the meter?
Only if the meter is higher than every sprinkler it protects. On sloped yards it often needs to go uphill.
Do you pour a pad for a cage?
Yes, when a cage is part of the job we include the pad it bolts to.
Why Corona customers call us for backflow assembly installation
We're a local company that focuses on backflow prevention. Every test is run by a certified tester with a calibrated gauge, and every report is filed with your water district as part of the job, not as an add-on.
You'll know the price before any work starts. Testing is a flat $105 per device under 4 inches and $175 for 4 inches and up, and repairs, replacements and installs are quoted first. We answer the phone seven days a week from 6am to 12pm, same-week appointments are normal, and emergency calls are taken 24/7. When the job's done, you get a copy of the report by email so you always have proof on hand.
Where we offer Backflow Assembly Installation
Our testers handle backflow Assembly Installation across Corona and the surrounding area, from Norco, Eastvale, Home Gardens, Weisel and Arlington. Call for the next opening or schedule online.