Sewer Gas Leak Detection

Sewer Gas Leak Detection – Vapor Testing

Vapor testing, also known as “smoke” testing is often performed to locate sewer gas leaks, sources of sewer gas smell, and entry points for insects and rodents in homes and buildings. A vapor test often accompanies a sewer pipe video inspection to provide a thorough diagnosis of sanitary drainage, storm drainage, or commercial greasy waste drainage systems.

What Does Sewer Gas Leak Testing Involve?

At Pipelining Technologies, Inc., we only use petroleum-free, non-toxic vapor that is approved for indoor and outdoor use and safe for both humans and pets. Please be sure to ask about the safety qualifications, licenses, and permitting of any services you choose to have when working with a provider.

A steady stream of vapor will be blown into the sewer, storm, or grease system via an access point such as a roof vent stack or a drainage cleanout. The vapor will then travel throughout the pipes, pressurizing the drainage system, and present itself at or near the source of leaks. In other words, the technicians will be able to identify the area(s) of concern where there is vapor present.

What Does Sewer Gas Smell Like?

Sewer gas odor is most often described as a “rotten-egg” or sulfur smell. It’s sometimes laced with a moldy scent, but it is quite different from the usual bathroom smells.

Though not toxic at low levels, sewer gas contains methane, which is an explosive hazard. At extremely high levels, the hydrogen sulfide in the gas can make you sick and potentially lead to fatality, according to public health guidelines.

Once you suspect there may be an issue, you may wonder how to eliminate sewer odor and how to find the cause of a sewer gas leak. With more than three decades of experience in professional plumbing contracting and thousands of happy customers, our best advice is to schedule a Vapor Test.

Benefits of Sewer Gas Leak Testing

Smoke/vapor testing is a fast and easy way to avoid having to tear open walls in search of the source(s) of toxic sewer gases/odors, insects, rodents, or water damage. Guesswork is eliminated since a visible element is added to the odor source.

If your shower drain smells like sewer gas, or there’s a sewer smell in your bathroom, you may greatly benefit from vapor testing.

Having the vapor test performed may save you from undertaking unnecessary repairs in an attempt to address the issues listed above. Sewer odors do not always indicate a major deficiency in the sewer pipes. The smoke/vapor test results may point to a simple solution, such as replacing a wax ring on a toilet or replacing a p-trap under a sink.

Areas Where Smoke/Vapor May Appear During Testing

During the test, the non-toxic smoke/vapor may appear in several locations. When there is a leak present, the vapor will first fill the void behind a wall or in the ceiling and then appear through the nearest wall or ceiling opening. Some of the locations that smoke may appear include:

• Electrical Outlets – Usually indicates a leak in adjacent pipes behind the wall.
• Light Fixtures – Usually indicates a leak in pipes in the ceiling.
• Wall Penetration Under Sinks – May indicate defective trap or leak in an adjacent vertical stack.
• Urinals – May detect deteriorated gaskets and defective traps.
• Base of Toilets – May detect deteriorated wax rings and defective traps.

Sewer smoke testing is a quick and easy way to pinpoint the source of the sewer gas leak.

During a smoke test, smoke/vapor may come from unlikely places, which may mean an easier fix.

Visible vapor usually indicates a leak in the surrounding sewer pipes, such as a bathroom stack, kitchen stack, or overhead pipe. The professional performing the test should have an idea of where the source of the leak is located at the first sight of vapor.

Once the general area of the leak has been identified, the technician may require further investigation by means of a small inspection camera which is inserted behind the wall via light fixture openings, outlets, etc.

Sewer Gas Leak Smoke/Vapor Testing Contractor, FL

Here at PTI, we have more than 35 Years of experience as Certified Plumbing Contractors in the State of Florida. If you are within our service area and are interested in having an inspection done of your sanitary drainage, storm drainage, or commercial greasy waste drainage system, we would be happy to help.