Smoke bombs or liquid smoke are common ways to create an odor in a plumbing system. Using a blower device or smoke bomb, you can create smoke in a sanitary sewer system to check for odors. All maintenance holes and vent lines should be blocked or partially blocked to protect your system from smoke damage. To avoid damage to your home, you should look for smoke testing plumbing systems to perform a smoke test regularly.
Identify the Source of Odors
There are several ways to determine the source of an odor. If you smell sulfur, think about where you used to live. If you grew up near the sea, you might have a source of odor from the sea. You may also have a sulfur odor if you have a good system. Hydrogen sulfide is also present in groundwater, plants, and animals and can be found in water heaters and plumbing systems. In high concentrations, it is harmful to humans, but you can detect it through pipe corrosion and black stains on plumbing fixtures.
If you are experiencing foul sewer odors inside your home, you are likely missing a component of your plumbing system. For example, some drains have poor vent systems or traps that don’t close properly. These traps and vents help carry wastewater safely to the public sewer and provide a barrier against sewer gases. If you notice foul odors from the sewer, it could result from a clogged drain or other plumbing system problem. Old cast iron piping, toilets, and basement drains are familiar sources of odors.
Identify Potential Leak
Creating smoke with a smoke bomb or a liquid smoke test effectively identifies a drain’s potential leak. While this method can be used on new plumbing sites, it is most commonly used to detect sewer gas leaks. Smoke is produced by heating a smoke bomb or a liquid in a chamber, and the resulting pressure propels the smoke into the drain. This method helps identify sewer intrusion, and unlike traditional drain testing, smoke is harmless to live organisms and does not pose a fire risk.
In many cases, leaks aren’t large enough to be noticed by the naked eye, so it is essential to find the source of the problem. Even small cracks are too small to be seen by the naked eye, but a smoke bomb or liquid smoke test is useful in revealing the exact location of a leak. By forcing artificial smoke through the pipes, plumes of smoke will emerge at the leak site and alert the plumber to its presence.
Detect Problems with Connections
A blower device is used for smoking tests in plumbing systems. The blower is placed over an open clean-out, maintenance hole, or pipe. It forces smoke through the access hole in the blower housing. When smoke enters the system, it is an indication that it has a defect. The smoke may cause harmful sewer gases to enter the building. This is why smoke testing is necessary.
City of Oregon staff completes sewer smoke testing. Two to three men work with a blower device to force smoke into maintenance holes. The smoke travels through the sewers under pressure and emerges from cracks or leaks. It will quickly reveal any areas where sewage has leaked or is connected. It will also reveal if there are problems with the connections.
Detect Problems in a Sanitary Sewer System
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to detect problems in a sanitary sewer system is by performing a smoke test. Smoke testing is a method of sending non-toxic smoke through a blocked portion of a sewer line. It can help identify leaks in a sewer pipe, manhole breaks, cracks in a pipe, or unknown sections of a sewer pipe. Smoke can escape through cracks or other defects in a sewer pipe, such as a dirty faucet or a leaky pipe.
The smoke released during a sewer test may enter a residence or a building. It is not harmful and does not leave any residue, but it can be unpleasant and pose a health risk to occupants. If you notice smoke in your home, it is important to contact a licensed plumber to have it investigated. If the smoke remains, it will dissipate in a few minutes.