Backflow Testing & Prevention in Loveland, CO
Certified annual backflow testing, plus installation and repair of backflow prevention assemblies for irrigation and other connections that require one.
What Prompts A Backflow Call
Annual Testing Notice
A notice from the water utility requiring proof of a current test.
New Irrigation System
A new sprinkler system typically requires a backflow preventer installed.
Failed Previous Test
A device that didn't pass and needs repair or replacement.
Real Estate Transaction
A closing or refinance sometimes requires current backflow documentation.
Why Backflow Prevention Exists
Backflow is water flowing the wrong direction through the system, back toward the clean supply instead of forward toward the fixture. Under normal conditions this doesn't happen, but a sudden pressure drop, like a water main break nearby, can pull water backward through a connection. If that connection is an irrigation system that's been treated with fertilizer or pesticide, or any other cross-connection with a non-drinking-water source, backflow is how that contamination could end up pulled into the clean water supply. A backflow prevention assembly is what stops that from happening.
The annual testing requirement exists because a backflow preventer can fail quietly. Its internal check valves are mechanical parts that wear over time, and a valve that's stopped sealing properly gives no outward sign that anything's wrong until it's actually tested under pressure. That's different from most plumbing failures, which usually announce themselves with a leak, a smell, or a change in water flow. A backflow device can look and sound completely normal while no longer doing its job, which is the whole reason the test is required annually rather than left to whenever something seems off.
Missing the testing window isn't just a compliance issue either. Some water utilities can restrict or shut off service to a property that lets its backflow certification lapse, since the utility is ultimately responsible for the safety of the broader water supply the connection feeds into. Testing itself is performed by a technician certified to the ASSE cross-connection control testing standard, which is what most municipalities require for results to be accepted.
What To Do If You Suspect A Backflow Failure
- Stop using the affected irrigation zone or connection until it's inspected.
- Note any unusual taste, color, or odor in nearby drinking water and mention it when you call.
- Do not attempt to disassemble or adjust the backflow assembly yourself.
- Contact your water utility if you have any concern the drinking water supply itself may be affected.
Got A Testing Notice?
We handle the test and file the results with the city.
What We Actually Do
Annual testing checks whether an existing backflow prevention assembly's internal check valves are still holding and closing properly, since a device can fail quietly over time without any visible sign. New installation is a separate service, most commonly needed when a new irrigation system goes in, sized and installed to the local code requirement for that type of connection. A failed test usually means a repair or, if the device is old enough, a straightforward replacement.
Annual testing on the low end, a new backflow preventer installation on the high end. Exact quote before any work begins.
How A Backflow Call Works
Locate
Confirm the device and connection type on the property.
Test/Inspect
Certified test, or assessment for a new installation.
Repair/Install
Fix a failed device or install a new one to code.
File
Results filed with the water utility on your behalf.
Backflow Questions From Loveland Homeowners
Many municipalities, including Loveland's, require annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies on irrigation systems and certain other connections, to confirm the device is actually working. The notice usually comes from the water utility, not us, but we handle the actual test.
It's when water flows backward through the system instead of forward, which can pull contaminated water, like irrigation chemicals or standing water, back into the clean drinking water supply if there's nothing stopping it.
Irrigation systems are the most common reason a residential property needs one, but certain other connections, like a boiler system or a well, can also require one depending on the setup.
A certified tester checks that the backflow prevention assembly's internal check valves are holding pressure correctly and closes properly, then files the results with the water utility on your behalf.