Annually. Most jurisdictions require it, testing must be performed by a certified tester, and results are typically reported to the water authority. For commercial properties this is an active compliance obligation with real consequences for missing it.

Why Annual Testing Is Required

A backflow assembly has internal check valves, springs, seals, and on RPZ units a relief valve — all of which wear, foul, or stick. The failure is silent: the device sits there looking fine while no longer providing protection. Testing is the only way to know it still works, which is why regulators require it on a schedule rather than on suspicion.

What Testing Involves

A certified tester connects a differential pressure gauge to test cocks on the assembly and verifies each check valve holds against reverse flow, that the relief valve on an RPZ opens at the correct differential, and that no internal component is leaking past. It takes under an hour, and results are documented and submitted where required.

What Fails, and Why

Debris fouling a check valve seat, worn springs and seals, mineral scale, and freeze damage. Hard water is a real factor in Albuquerque — the same mineral deposits that pit faucet valve seats build on backflow assembly internals and prevent a clean seal. Freeze damage matters too, since many assemblies sit outdoors on irrigation systems and need winterizing.

Maintenance Beyond Testing

  • Winterize outdoor assemblies before the first freeze — drain and insulate, or shut off and drain the irrigation system
  • Keep the assembly accessible for testing and repair
  • Address any discharge from an RPZ relief valve promptly; it means an internal check has failed
  • Repair or rebuild rather than ignoring a failed test

Who Needs to Track This

Any property with irrigation, a boiler, a fire suppression system, a pool, or — for commercial properties — essentially any connection the water authority has flagged. We test, repair, and replace, and we help you stay ahead of the schedule rather than reacting to a notice.

Contact B. Carlson about backflow testing in Albuquerque.