Smoke Testing for Drain & Sewer Leaks in BC

 🔄 Reviewed and maintained by the AnyLeak team — August 2026. Rated 5 stars by BC customers.

Some drainage problems leak air before they leak water you can see: the sewer smell nobody can locate, the drain that breaches somewhere behind a wall, the mystery connection between a downspout and the sanitary line. Smoke testing answers these — a safe, non-toxic smoke is introduced into the drainage system, and wherever it escapes, that’s your breach, open fitting or failed trap. AnyLeak.ca uses smoke testing alongside camera inspection across BC. Since 1999.

What smoke testing finds

• Sewer odour sources — dried traps, failed wax rings, open cleanouts, cracked vents inside walls — the smell’s actual doorway, located instead of guessed.
• Drain and vent breaches — cracks and open joints that camera heads can’t reach or see, especially in vent stacks.
• Cross-connections — roof drains or perimeter drains tied into the sanitary system (or vice versa), a frequent surprise on older BC properties.
• Illicit or forgotten connections — the abandoned line still tied in somewhere.

How a test runs

Traps are protected or noted, the section is isolated, and smoke is introduced with a blower at a cleanout. Escaping smoke is photographed where it appears — at a baseboard, a rooftop vent, a yard box — and the finding goes in writing. The smoke is non-toxic, non-staining and leaves no residue; occupants are briefed before any test. Pairs with drain & stack leak testing when the symptom is water rather than odour.

Who calls for smoke testing

Homeowners with a smell no plumber has solved; stratas chasing an odour through three units; commercial tenants with a recurring washroom mystery; and facility teams mapping old drainage before renovations.

FAQ

Is the smoke safe indoors? Yes — purpose-made, non-toxic test smoke; we ventilate as part of the procedure.

Will it set off alarms? We coordinate that before testing — detectors are accounted for in the plan.

Camera or smoke first? Water symptoms → camera; air/odour symptoms → smoke. Often both, one visit.

Smell you can’t source? Call (604) 269-5325 for a free phone consult or book a smoke test.