Cities smoke test public sewer mains to find storm water getting in, and they notify residents. A plumber smoke tests the private drain and vent system inside a building and its lateral. The property owner is generally responsible for private piping, so a building's smell problem is the owner's to trace.
City smoke test: the main
Utilities blow smoke into the public sewer through a manhole. Erie County describes it as using "a blower over a manhole" to push smoke into the system so it reveals defects and cross connections (Erie County). The goal is to find stormwater and groundwater entering the sewer, not to fix your building's odor. Crews give notice by door hangers or mail, usually 24 hours or more ahead (RJN Group).
If smoke shows up in your yard or lot during a city test, it may mean your lateral has a crack or a bad connection.
Building smoke test: the private system
A plumber tests the building's drain, waste and vent pipes, and can test the lateral out to the connection. The point is odor and gas leaks, found through cleanouts and roof vents. HQ does this test with professional liquid-smoke equipment that forces air into the vent system. For the steps, see how a sewer smoke test works.
Who owns and pays for the fix
In Phoenix, "property owners are responsible for maintaining and repairing the sewer and water lines that run through their property and connect to the City's main lines," per the City of Phoenix, which also says your responsibility may vary in a condo or an association. Other Valley cities set their own rules, so read the code for your city. For the Phoenix rule in detail, see who is responsible for the sewer line in Phoenix.
Which do you need?
- Smell inside your building: a building test.
- Smoke in your yard after a city test, or a backup at the lateral: a camera on the lateral, and a repair on your side.
- Neither, smell still there: compare methods in smoke test vs camera vs peppermint.
What it means for you
A city notice is not an odor diagnosis. If tenants complain, the property manager needs a plumber's test of the private system. And smoke from a city test that shows up in your building, unless it was a dry trap, means the owner has a repair to make.
For a site-specific test plan, see HQ's plumbing smoke-testing service.