If you notice a foul smell in your home that seems to be coming from your sewer system, it often can be difficult to locate exactly where the odor is coming from. A smoke test can help you to locate the exact problem, says Rick Hedge, who is president and owner of The Plumber’s Plumber in Southwestern Florida.
Oftentimes, odors are detected by a smoke testing system. You inject an odorless and harmless smoke into the system. The smoke goes where the odors go. First we always call the fire department and let them know we are getting ready to smoke test the system. Then we do it, looking for any kind of odor. This type of smoke testing is commonly used to find sewer gas leaks, which can smell like rotten eggs and be unpleasant. Oftentimes, as a result of the test, we’ll find unglued pipes or cracked pipes in attics.
This smoke testing method is also used to blow smoke through waste and drain pipes to find leaks, often when a property is new. Cities and municipalities often use this to test for leaks in their sewer systems. It is a good method to use as it finds the problems straightaway and it never makes a mistake.
The smell of sewer gas can be the result of several things, not just a crack in the pipes. The seal on your toilet could be at fault, there could be no water in the trap, or no trap on the fixture. Some problems, however, will require a smoke test to discover the exact culprit.
As a professional plumbing repair company, we always give our clients quality plumbing services 24 hours a day, without costing them a fortune. For your satisfaction, we provide you with honest, detail-oriented service. So if you notice a foul smell in your home, don’t live with it. Give us a call today!
