Here at the Twin Home Experts, we have performed over 3600 smoke tests to drain lines to detect sewer odors, faulty Sewer lines, & rodent Entry points in the past decade.
A question our plumbing company gets frequently asked is: HOW MUCH DOES SEWER SMOKE TESTING COST?
This is one of the first & most frequent questions we get here at Twin Home Experts.
The smoke testing investment depends on these factors:
1- Size of the sewer system
2- Single story property, 2 stories or higher
3- How accessible is the roof
4- Crawl space & attic access
5- How Accessible the drain system is
6- Sewer odor heaviness in smell
7- Is there a Sewer main clean-out on the property? And if there is, is it accessible
8- Do you want nontoxic smoke or safe smoke
9 – Do you want to open walls, ceiling, cabinets once the smoke is exposed
All these 9 sewer smoke questions dictate the cost of a sewer odor test. You can expect to pay on the high side of about $3,800.00 to the low side of $475.00.
How Is Smoke Drain Testing Done?
Sewer smoke testing takes some plumbing skills, as it requires the right tools, equipment, and a little knowledge on how a Drain system is running.
STEP #1
The ideal situation is locating the main sewer line that exits the property and using a Test balloon, you will insert it past the sweep and air it to block the sewer system. ( no use of water during this time)
STEP#2
Now it’s time to get on the roof and begin to inject smoke on the roof.
Where ever in the property you’re getting the issue, for example, a specific bathroom, the kitchen, laundry, etc.) then start with the roof waste vent above that impacted area.
STEP#3
Once the smoke has been injected, with some Duct tape, you will start seeing smoke come out of the roof vents, start capping off each one with the tape.
STEP # 4
Start inspecting inside the attic, under crawl space, and the interior portions of the property that have plumbing.
STEP # 5
If you see smoke, then you have succeeded and have found the area(s) of the breach.
STEP # 6
You’ll have to make an incision to expose and make repairs.
How Long Does It Take To Perform Sewer Smoke Testing?
The time it takes to conduct a proper smoke test can range from 1 hour to 3 hours, depending on these factors.
1- How large the drain system is.
2- Is the property a single story & 2 story
3- Is there an accessible sewer cleanout
4- -How accessible is the crawl space & attic
5 – How small OR large the breach is
The above dictate not only the time it takes but also will reflect the overall cost of the smoke test.
Conclusion
Hiring the right Smoke Test company is super important. You may be able to hire a company that sounds inexpensive, but if they misdiagnose, it can cost you more in the long run. Hire someone with a lot of experience who has the right equipment, even if you have to pay a little more.
