Gallery: Using Your Smoke Tester                 © 2001 Randall Hilton all rights reserved. 
       

 Smoke testing will show you bad connections, dry traps and will even help identify problems with prevailing winds which could cause a building to inhale the nasty stuff from the roof vents each time a door is opened.

We buy our smokeys from Johnstone Supply. If you don't have them in your area you might try ordering part #H24-733, (buy several, you'll be hooked) Call 800-635-1001

Next (If you don't build yourself one of my Non Patented Smoke Machines) you get a cheapo bathroom exhaust fan in the 50-70 cfm range for less than $25. Connect a length of plastic dryer vent hose to the fan (remeber.. be professional, use black duct tape to secure the connections. On the other end, connect whatever adapter you need to fit the clean-out or vent stack etc.

I usually start at a ground level EXTERIOR c.o. simply because they are easiest to connect to. The next best choice is the roof vents.

Position a helper, or cooperative occupant, inside the building near where the odor has been a problem. You can usually do it without assistance because the minute or so it takes to circulate the smoke is often enough time for you to get into position to watch for smoke. With the fan on it's back, light a smokey and lay it inside the fan housing, near the blower. ( put the charge into the test tee if you're using the NPPBSPPSB) It will inhale 90 percent of the smoke unless it's a windy day. In just a few minutes, you'll see smoke from the roof vents.

If there is a DWV opening inside, it will show up. Also observe the path the smoke takes on the roof. Sometimes it will show you how odors are being captured through fresh air intakes or restroom vent fans. Be sure to look in attic spaces, especially above ceilings when that space is used as a return air plenum.

I once found a dry floor drain, which had been covered with vinyl floor tile, that was beneath a refrigerator. Another time I found a urinal which was broken internally... the smoke came out through the wash down holes. Once a remodel "plumber wannabe" muffed a connection on a wye below a fiberglass shower stall. The smoke found it's way up through poorly finished concrete and came out from under the shower. We had to rip the shower out to repair the problem.

Another wierd one was a bathtub drain which had fallen apart above the trap. No smoke showed up because the trap was intact and stayed primed by a few splashes when the tub was drained. The odor emanated from the "cess pool" below the tub. How did we figure it out? The smoke pretty well ruled out the soil vent system so we just looked harder in the smelly room. (Smoke testing helps to find decaying vermin carcasses the same way).

Some basic notes: 1. Inform the occupants that they may see smoke. Don't do this during business hours in a restaurant... can you imagine the reaction when the ladies room stool starts smoking?!

2. if the odor can find it's way in, so will the smoke. You will find the source, if it's from the soil vent system.

3. There may be more than one source. Be sure your customer knows that once you fix one problem, a re-test may show another problem.

4. Sometimes you may need to test with the lights off, using a flashlight to follow telltale smoke trails.

5. Try it on your own home or office first. That way you are experienced when you go do the real thing.

6. Never say "The smoke test proved there was no problem". Say "There was no visible sign of smoke during this procedure". Never say "This is the problem". Say "This is A problem". Mind you, we're not "blowing smoke" when we blow smoke but you should report test results rather than conjecture.