Sewer & Drain Smoke Testing · Los Angeles & SoCal
See exactly where your sewer line is leaking — before we dig.
Non-toxic smoke run through sewer and drain lines to find leaks, cracks and bad joints.
Smoke testing fills the sewer and drain lines with a dense, non-toxic smoke under low pressure. Where the line is sound, the smoke stays inside. Where there's a crack, a failed joint, a separated connection or an unsealed cleanout, the smoke comes back up — visibly, at the exact spot — in the yard, at a wall, through a floor drain or up a vent. It turns a guess into a map.
It's the fastest way to confirm what a camera inspection found, and the cheapest way to avoid digging up the wrong place. We use it to chase sewer gas odors, find the source of a wet patch in the yard, prove a repair before concrete or landscaping goes back, and check that vents and traps are actually doing their job.
Signs you need this
- Sewer gas smell in the house or near a floor drain
- A damp or smelly patch in the yard
- Sewage backup with no obvious cause
- A repair needs proving before concrete or landscaping goes back
What's included
- Smoke and air-pressure test of the sewer and drain lines
- Cleanout, trap and vent checks
- Every escape point marked and mapped on the property
- Written summary of findings with the repair options
Why Leon Plumbing
- Smoke tests scheduled fast, emergencies answered 24/7
- In business since 1983 — CSLB licensed C-36 #474827
- Members save 10% on service labor
Sewer & Drain Smoke Testing: common questions
Is the smoke harmful to my family or pets?
No. The smoke is non-toxic, stain-free and leaves no residue behind — the same kind used for leak detection and tracing. It can set off smoke alarms, so we tell you before we start and cover alarms in the work area, and we air the house out when we finish.
How long does a smoke test take?
Most homes take 30 to 60 minutes once the cleanout is reachable. Clearing the cleanout and sealing the vents takes most of that time — the smoke itself moves quickly through the line.
Will a smoke test find everything?
It finds anywhere the line leaks to the outside: cracks, open joints, unsealed cleanouts, dry or failed traps. It won't show a blockage or a low belly in the pipe, so when the line needs both we pair it with a camera inspection.
Sewer & Drain Smoke Testing near you
Leon Plumbing Advantage
Pay less for every plumbing visit — for $34.99/mo.
- Free $149 whole-home inspection
- $99 dispatch fee waived*
- 10% off all repairs & labor
- Same / next-day priority
- 2-year workmanship warranty
- 50% off after-hours premium