As we often say, the quicker you can detect a plumbing leak, the better off you’ll be. It’s as simple as that! With most plumbing issues, the longer they sit, you run the risk of either the leak intensifying or becoming a safety risk for all occupants. We tell this to fellow Kansas City homeowners all the time! Procrastination is one of the worst things you can do with plumbing issues.
On this week’s blog, we wanted to discuss a service that not everyone is as familiar with and that is a SMOKE TEST. It’s the perfect safety precaution that can be completed relatively quickly and works for both residential and commercial plumbing systems. We’ll walk you through what exactly a smoke test is, as well as a few of the reasons why so many Kansas City homeowners and businesses find it so beneficial!
What is a Smoke Test?
While a smoke test can certainly be added to your annual plumbing maintenance tasks, it isn’t a mandatory one. In fact, most people opt to utilize it when they suspect something may be wrong. So, to kick off this blog, what exactly is a smoke test? The methodology behind this service is fairly straightforward. You have a smoke ball or smoke bomb that’s going to be creating the visible smoke. Through a variety of different set-up’s, you’re transmitting this into the sewage or water lines of the house/building with the use of a blower. While one person is blowing the smoke into the lines, another person is physically in the building looking for any smoke. If there are any cracks or leaks in one of the plumbing lines, visible smoke will appear in the room.
Detection of Sewage Gas
A major reason for many people that call us about a smoke test revolves around the possibility of a sewer gas leak, which is nothing to mess around with. It’s typically going to come with a rotten egg smell that’s nearly impossible to miss! To get a more detailed definition of sewer gas, we’re going to reference Healthline.
“Sewer gas is a byproduct of the breakdown of natural human waste. It comprises a mixture of gases, including hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and more. Sewer gas isn’t necessarily toxic at low levels. However, chronic exposure, or higher levels of exposure, can cause symptoms of sewer gas poisoning.”
Having said that, any time you suspect there may be a sewer gas smell, make sure to get a licensed plumber out as soon as possible to run a smoke test. To put it in context of how a normal plumbing system works, there are traps in the lines that prevent smoke from finding its way into your home, thus sending it through the plumbing vents.
The pictures shown below come from a smoke test our service team performed for a Riverside-based business, Marcon. They were experiencing a sewage-like smell in one of their restrooms. After creating an opening to transmit the smoke, we then navigated throughout their office area until the visible smoke was revealed.
Benefits of Smoke Testing
When it comes to your plumbing system, anything you can do to avoid a plumbing emergency is going to be worth the investment. This is particularly the case because most precautionary measures can be completed in as little time as a 1-hour service call, whereas major plumbing repairs can easily take multiple days! As you’ve likely started to see throughout this blog, smoke testing is about as efficient as you get. If you see smoke, you have a problem! That’s about as simple as it gets! Nonetheless, here are the three primary benefits we see with this service:
Reliable Testing – Search “Leak Detection” on Amazon and see how many results populate. As we all know, the entire plumbing industry has advanced rapidly with technology. Tankless water heaters, low-flow showerheads, touchless fixtures, the list goes on. That includes leak detection tools, such as WiFi enabled devices and fluorescent dyes. These are all great and certainly useful, but it’s tough to say anything is more reliable than a smoke test! If you don’t see smoke, then there’s likely nothing to worry about.
Quick and Accurate Results – Having been in the service plumbing world for a few decades now, I understand plumbing issues can be annoying for homeowners! After all, you usually have to take off work to meet the plumber at your house and it can mess with your daily routine. We understand that and strive to get your issues resolved in as efficient of a manner as possible. In terms of a smoke test, you’ll have answers quick and be able to diagnose the next steps moving forward!
Prevent Unnecessary Repairs – Since you’re adding a visual component to the odor, there is very little guesswork involved with a smoke test. You’ll be able to pinpoint the exact location and make any necessary repairs. And when you have a sewer gas smell, it doesn’t always mean the sewer pipes are to blame, as well as it doesn’t always require major repairs to be made. Sometimes, it can even just be a wax ring on the toilet or p-trap under your bathroom sink that’s causing these issues!
Sanitary Sewer System Testing
Keep in mind that this idea of quick results (often completed in as little as a single hour) is in regards to testing a single house or building. There is also smoke testing for the sanitary sewer system, which is typically completed by the city. With these tests, you might see a crew knock out an entire block in a day. So again, it’s allowing for quick testing relative to the square footage it’s covering!
To provide more about this, let’s take a quick look at KC Water’s Smart Sewer Program. This project commenced in 2010 in an effort to “reduce the volume and frequency of overflows from the City’s sewer system.” It is a critical testing program to determine where they need to make future repairs, as well as setting guidelines for future programs.
KC Water provides another nice overview of the purpose of smoke testing as well. “Smoke testing involves blowing air and artificially-produced smoke into the sewer system and seeing where it emerges. If the sewer is in good condition, the smoke will emerge from manhole covers and house vents on roofs. If the smoke emerges anywhere else, there is potential for water to enter the sewer system.”
Plumbing Smoke Testing in Kansas City
Whether you’d like to have your house or a commercial facility tested for a plumbing leak, we have a service plumber for you! All of our technicians have been trained to test residential and commercial properties. In the case that the test does reveal a leak somewhere in your system, our trained technicians can walk you through the next steps moving forward. From pricing for the repairs to the actual severity of the issue, we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
To schedule a smoke test, feel free to fill out the free quote form on our website and a member of our team will be in touch to set up an appointment. In addition, we’re more than happy to service the entire Kansas City area, as well as all of the surrounding cities! We look forward to working with you!