What is Smoke Testing and How it is Done?

Have you heard about smoke testing? You might have heard about this service offered for vehicles, especially when there is an emission test. However, do you know that this is also performed in plumbing? Your plumbing system needs a smoke test too. However, it is not like the vehicle smoke testing you imagined.

Smoke testing in plumbing uses smoke that is colored and harmless to detect leaks. It is a leak detection method and is part of inspection services. Why do some people prefer to smoke testing when there is a camera-inspection? Not all leaks can be detected by cameras and other testing tools. There are very small leaks that are hard to see. Smoke testing is a special method to check for small leaks, which other leak detecting tools cannot see.

So, if you want to check your plumbing system for any leaks, even the small ones, you should opt for smoke testing. Remember, big things come from small beginnings. If your leak is small today, it can grow big for the next days or weeks. And we all know that burst pipes are mainly caused by undetected and unattended leaks.

Not all plumbers offer smoke testing services. You should choose a professional plumber like the plumber in Miami-Dade County, FL because they offer different types of plumbing services.

The Process of Smoke Testing for Your Plumbing System

Step 1. Before performing the smoke test, a camera inspection is conducted first. This is to ensure that there are no complex problems within your pipelines.

Step 2. On open manholes, large downdraft fans are placed. It is placed on either end of the sewer lines with the suspected leak. The other lines are blocked to help in finding where the location of the leak is.

Step 3. The smoke, guaranteed harmless, is then generated. This is done by either pouring a liquid smoke or by using a smoke bomb.

Step 4. The fans will blow the smoke towards the lines.

Step 5. The plumber will observe the lines. They can detect the location of the leak because the plumes of the smoke will escape from it. This will show a clear view of the exact leak location, which makes repairing a lot easier.

Step 6. The plumber will put on a marker on the location of the leak.

Step 7. Once the markers are done, it is time for the plumber to repair the pipes with problems.