Plumbing Smoke Testing in Phoenix

A plumbing smoke test pushes a thick, non-toxic smoke into a building's drain and vent system under light pressure. Smoke escapes wherever the pipe is cracked, a joint is open, a cap is missing or a fixture is not sealed, so you can see the leak instead of guessing at it.

When the smell keeps coming back and the easy causes are ruled out. Dry traps, a bad toilet seal and a dirty drain are the common causes, and they are cheaper to check first. If those are fine, a smoke test shows whether the drain or vent piping is leaking gas into the building.

The smoke used for sewer and drain testing is specified as non-toxic, white to gray, and free of residue, and it clears quickly. It can still be startling, and people with breathing conditions should stay out of the area during the test. Tell us ahead of time if anyone in the building is sensitive to smoke.

Smoke that shows up inside a building can alarm people who do not expect it, which is why notice matters. HQ does not work on fire alarm or sprinkler systems, so if your building has them, ask your alarm company or fire safety contact how to handle the test before we start.

That spot is the leak or a problem worth chasing. Smoke at a floor drain, a cracked pipe, a loose cap, or a wall or ceiling near the piping points to where sewer gas can get in. We mark it, photograph it and explain the repair.

That is a useful result too. It means the tested piping is tight, so the smell likely comes from something else, such as dry traps, a dirty drain or a vent that is blocked or too close to an air intake. A camera inspection can look for damage a smoke test cannot show.

Yes. A restaurant, a strip center, an office building or a multifamily property can be tested by area or zone. The plan is easier when tenants and staff are told in advance, and we can schedule outside business hours when the building needs it.

Both. A home with a sewer smell in a bathroom, a closet or one wall gets the same test as a restaurant or an office: traps filled, smoke into the vent system, and every leak marked and photographed. Call HQ or use the form to set a time.

Anywhere in the Phoenix metro. That includes Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear and Avondale.

The price depends on the size of the building, how many separate drain and vent systems it has, roof and cleanout access, and whether tenants need to be notified or the test done after hours. We give you a free estimate and an upfront price before any work starts.

Most often a dried-out trap. Low-use restrooms, mop sinks, mechanical rooms, and seldom-used floor drains lose the water seal in their P-traps to evaporation, which is fast in Phoenix, and sewer gas rises in. Refill the traps with water; install trap seal primers on drains that keep drying out.

Most often a dried-out floor drain. The water seal in a P-trap blocks sewer gas, and floor drains in a restaurant sit unused for days, so the seal evaporates and rotten-egg gas rises up. Other causes are a full grease trap, a blocked vent, or a broken sewer line.

Most often a dried-out P-trap. The trap holds a 2 to 4 inch water seal that blocks sewer gas, and in a seldom-used sink, tub, or shower that seal evaporates, fast in Phoenix heat. Run water down the drain for a minute to refill it.

A P-trap is the U-shaped bend in the drain pipe under every sink, tub, and shower. It holds a small pool of water that blocks sewer gas from rising into your home. Plumbing code sets that water seal at 2 to 4 inches deep and requires a trap on every fixture.