Most leaks don’t show themselves. No damp spot, no smell you can place — just a problem getting worse behind a wall or under a slab. Plumbing smoke testing solves that. We push non-toxic smoke through your lines and watch where it comes out. Wherever smoke escapes, that’s a crack, a bad joint, or a connection that shouldn’t be there.
Small crack or bigger problem, the smoke finds it the same way. We locate the issue and give you a real fix, not a guess.
Signs You Might Need Plumbing Smoke Testing in Kansas City, MO
A few signs point straight to a smoke test:
- Persistent sewer odors. Usually a leak or a damaged sewer line.
- Slow drains or repeat backups. Something in the pipe is causing it.
- Wet spots or sinkholes you can’t explain. Can mean a sewer line leaking underground.
- A water bill that jumped for no reason. Often a hidden leak driving your usage up.
Why Smoke Testing is a Smart Option for Finding Leaks
Accurate Leak Detection
We fill the line with safe artificial smoke. Wherever it comes out, that’s the leak or the bad connection. Nothing hidden gets missed.
Non-Invasive Inspection
No digging, no tearing into walls or floors. We find the problem without touching your house, which saves you time and money.
Prevents Future Damage
Catch a leak early and you avoid mold, structural damage, and the expensive repairs that come with waiting.
Cost-Effective Solution
Finding the exact spot fast means we’re not guessing where to work. Less labor, a faster repair, a lower bill.
Environmentally Friendly
The smoke is safe. It doesn’t leave anything behind and it won’t harm your home or the environment.
10,000-Hour GuaranteeEvery plumber we send has at least 10,000 hours on the tools. If it isn't fixed right, we come back at no charge.
Common Issues Detected with Smoke Testing
Smoke testing catches a specific set of problems:
- Broken or cracked pipes. Fractures that turn into serious leaks if left alone.
- Leaking sewer and drain lines. Gas or water escaping that you’d never find otherwise.
- Faulty or missing pipe connections. Smoke escapes at joints that were never sealed right.
- Damaged vent pipes. Lets sewer gas into your home — we find it fast.
Why Choose Us for Professional Smoke Testing in Kansas City, MO?
Experienced Plumbers
Every plumber we send has put in more than 10,000 hours on the tools. That means a clear, detailed smoke test inspection — and a plumbing system that’s actually free of leaks.
Advanced Technology
We run the best smoke testing equipment there is — finds even the smallest leaks fast, without invasive digging.
Fast and Efficient Service
A leak left alone gets worse. We move quick — find it, confirm it, fix it.
Transparent Pricing
Before we start any smoke test, you get a clear estimate. No surprises.
How We Work at Smedley
Get in Touch With Us Call or send a request online and we’ll get you a 2-hour arrival window — no waiting around all day.
Let Us Identify the Issue
Our plumber shows up, takes a look, and figures out what’s actually going on.
Review Your Options
Once we know the problem, we walk you through the options that make sense for your house.
Let us do the rest
You pick the option. We get to work and get it done fast.
How We Perform Smoke Testing
We follow the same careful process every time.
- Initial inspection and prep. We inspect the system and prep the pipes for accurate results.
- Injecting the smoke. Non-toxic smoke goes into the line — we watch closely where it travels.
- Locating issues. Smoke where it shouldn’t be means a leak, crack, or loose connection.
- Review and next steps. We go over what we found and tell you straight — repair, or a deeper look.
Clear and Simple Pricing for Our Smoke Testing Services
Good leak detection shouldn’t come with hidden costs. Before we start, we check your system and give you a clear estimate — you’ll know the number before we touch anything.
You only pay for the work you need. Small repair or bigger problem, we tell you the cost upfront so it fits your budget, with no surprise fees added on later.
Our Plumbing Services in Kansas City, MO
Water Heater Replacement When the tank’s shot, we pull it and set a new one so hot water’s not a gamble every morning.
Sump Pump A working sump pump is what keeps groundwater out of your basement during a storm. We make sure yours is one you can count on.
Tankless Water Heater Installation Tired of running out of hot water mid-shower? A tankless unit heats water on demand, and we size and install it right for your house.
Bathroom Plumbing Services Toilets, sinks, tubs, showers — we handle the repairs and upgrades that keep your bathroom actually working.
Pipe Repairs and Leaks A slow leak behind a wall or under a slab adds up fast on your water bill and your foundation. We track it down and close it up.
Toilet Repair Running toilet, weak flush, water pooling at the base — we find the actual cause instead of just tightening a bolt and hoping it holds.
Emergency Plumber A burst pipe doesn’t wait for business hours, and neither do we. Call any time, day or night, and a real plumber answers.
Drain and Sewer Solutions We diagnose what’s backing up your drains and sewer line, then fix the real problem instead of just running a snake through it once.
Sewer Piping Service From small repairs to a full line replacement, we handle the pipe that carries everything out of your house.
Trenchless Pipe Relining For pipe that’s cracked or worn from the inside out, we run a new liner through the old one — no trench, no torn-up lawn.
Sewer Line Repair Solutions Cracks, offset joints, root intrusion — we target the actual break in the sewer line instead of replacing more pipe than you need.
Trenchless Pipe Repair A damaged pipe doesn’t mean tearing up your yard. Our Simple Sewer™ method needs one hole in the basement, one in the yard — no trench.
Clogged Drain Standing water in the tub or shower after every use means something’s blocking the line. We clear it fast so you’re not stepping into a swamp.
Drain Cleaning Slow drains get worse, not better, on their own. We clear the line all the way through so water moves like it’s supposed to.
Sewer Video Inspection A camera run down the line shows us roots, cracks, and blockages before we ever pick up a shovel.
Plumbing Smoke Testing We push safe smoke through your lines to find cracks and leaks you can’t see or smell any other way, so we know exactly where to work before anything gets opened up.
Excavation Some jobs still call for digging. When trenchless isn’t the right fit, we excavate carefully and put your yard back the way we found it.
Gas Water Heater Repair Pilot won’t light, no hot water, a burner acting up — we work on gas units safely and get the heat back on.
Hassle-Free Plumbing Services Leaky faucet, running toilet, a fixture that’s never worked right — we handle the everyday plumbing jobs most homeowners keep putting off.
Main Sewer Line Clog Services When every drain in the house backs up at once, that’s the main line, not a single fixture. We clear it and get everything moving again.
Drains Repair Services A drain that clogs again and again usually has a damaged pipe behind it, not just a hairball. We fix what’s actually broken so it stays clear.
Floor Drain Repair Services A floor drain that’s slow or backing up in the basement or garage is usually a warning sign, not a one-time fluke. We find out why and fix it before it floods.
Expert Plumbing Services Every plumber we send has put in real time on the tools — most of our guys have 20 years in the trade. That’s who shows up at your door.
Pipe Restoration Services Old pipe doesn’t have to come out to get fixed right. We rebuild what’s failing inside the line so it holds for years, not months.
Clogged Sink Repair Services Kitchen or bathroom sink not draining right? We clear the line and check for the buildup that’ll clog it again in a month.
Worried About Hidden Plumbing Leaks?
Smoke testing finds hidden leaks before they turn into real damage. Fill out the form here or call us at (816) 763-3539 to schedule an inspection.
Our Service Areas
Smedley Plumbing handles the everyday plumbing work for homes across the Kansas City metro — faucets, toilets, drains, gas pipes, sump pumps, water heaters, leaky pipes. Communities we cover include:
- Missouri
- Blue Springs
- Buckner
- Belton
- Grain Valley
- Independence
- Lee’s Summit
- Raymore
- Raytown
- Olathe
- Gladstone
- Shawnee
- Kansas
- Lenexa
- Leawood
- Kansas City
- Mission
- Oak Grove
- Overland Park
- Prairie Village
- Roeland Park
- Leavenworth
- Liberty
- North Kansas City
- Parkville
Wherever you are in the metro, we’ve got you covered.
FAQs for Our Smoke Testing Services
What is smoke testing in plumbing?
A smoke test finds leaks and bad connections in your sewer system. We push non-toxic smoke into the lines — wherever it escapes, that’s a leak or an illegal connection.
How does the smoke testing process work?
A smoke blower pushes non-toxic smoke into the sewer pipes. As it travels through the line, it shows up at any crack, leak, or wrong connection. It’s fast and it doesn’t harm anything.
What types of problems can smoke testing detect?
It also catches illegal connections — yard drains, roof leaders — tied into your sanitary sewer that shouldn’t be there. Problems that are otherwise hard to see show up fast.
Is the smoke used in smoke testing safe?
Yes, the smoke is safe. It’s a liquid smoke that clears fast and leaves nothing behind — no harm to your home or the environment.
Why do I need a smoke test for my sewer system?
Bad sewer gas smells, blockages you can’t explain, or backups that keep coming back — a smoke test finds the actual cause instead of leaving you guessing.
How do you notify people before doing smoke testing?
We notify affected homes ahead of time with door hangers, so you know when the test is happening and what to do before it starts.
Will the smoke enter my home?
If your plumbing’s working right, smoke stays out of your house. If it shows up through a drain or fixture, that tells us exactly where the problem is.
What should I do if I see smoke during the test?
See smoke inside your home during a test? It’s safe. Tell our crew and we’ll track down and fix the issue right there.
How is smoke testing different from dye testing?
Dye testing uses colored liquid to trace flow. Smoke testing is better for catching gas leaks and illegal connections dye can’t show you.
How often should smoke testing be done on a sewer system?
Older homes or any suspicion of a main line issue call for more frequent testing. Catching it early beats paying for a bigger repair later — we treat it as part of regular sewer care.
Straight answers
Will my whole yard be dug up?
Usually not. Our semi-trenchless method — The Simple Sewer — uses one hole in the basement and one hole in the yard, then pulls the new line underground between them. Your lawn, driveway, and sidewalks stay intact. Not every line qualifies, and a camera inspection tells us in one visit.
How long does a sewer line replacement take?
Most residential sewer replacements are finished in one to three days, depending on the length of the run, how deep the line sits, and whether it crosses under a roadway. We give you the timeline in writing before we start.
How much does sewer line replacement cost in Kansas City, MO?
Most sewer replacements land between roughly $9,500 and $20,000 depending on line length, depth, basement access, and whether the run goes under a street. You do not have to guess or wait for a bid — our calculator at /build-your-own-price/ shows you a real price instantly, with the monthly payment next to it, and it never asks for your name, email, or phone number.
How do I know the line is actually bad?
A sewer camera inspection shows you the inside of your own pipe. We find cracks, bellies, root intrusion, and collapses on video, and we show you the footage. If trenchless is not right for your line, we will tell you straight and show you the options.
How much does it cost to come out?
Our service charge is $89, and it is applied toward the work when we do the repair. You will know the full price to the penny before we start anything.
Are you available after hours?
Yes. Smedley Plumbing is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a real person answers the phone. Call (816) 763-3539 — that spells (816) SMEDLEY.