If you are ever notified that a sewage smoke test is going to be conducted in your neighborhood, you may be left with a lot of questions. Smoke tests, after all, are something many homeowners never encounter. Learn more about this simple maintenance trick and what to do when your area is affected.

Understand Its Purpose

A plumbing smoke test serves an important role in protecting and maintaining public drainage pipes. Technicians release different kinds of smoke inside sewage pipes to determine whether there are any leaks in that segment of the line. A leak is easy to spot because the smoke will exit and rise into the air from that location. The information these technicians gain from the tests allows them to repair leaky areas so groundwater cannot make its way into the sewage lines. This helps prevent the sewage system from being overloaded with fluid.

Limit Exposure To Smoke

Although the smoke used for these tests is not considered to be hazardous, it is a good idea to reduce your exposure as much as possible. One thing you can do to avoid letting smoke into your house is run water down each of your drains. Additionally, be sure to close all your windows and any other entrypoints.

Adhere To Regulations

Smoke tests sometimes reveal that homeowners have established illegal connections to their sewage line. Sump pumps and down spouts, for instance, cannot be drained into the public lines. Make sure your home complies with these regulations to avoid facing any consequences should a test occur in your neighborhood. 

While smoke tests and sewage line repairs may be a pain, they are necessary to keep up your city’s sewage system. This way, you can go on using and draining water as normal without worrying about backups or other issues.