Sewer Smoke Testing Equipment: A Checklist for Municipal Crews

Sewer smoke testing is a proven method for locating inflow and infiltration defects in sanitary sewer systems. When a crew arrives at a test segment without the right equipment, the day stalls: a missing manhole hook, the wrong blower size, or smoke that runs out before the survey is complete. This checklist covers every piece of equipment a municipal crew needs to run a sewer smoke test from setup through documentation. For the full operational procedure including public notification, flow isolation, and defect recording, see the guide on how sewer smoke testing works. For smoke supply and commercial quantities, Shutter Bombs provides professional smoke products at shutterbombs.com.

Sewer Smoke Testing Equipment

A well-equipped smoke testing crew operates with two categories of gear: the equipment needed to introduce smoke into the system and hold it at pressure, and the equipment needed to document what that smoke reveals. Missing an item from either category means incomplete results or a repeat mobilization.

Blower Unit and Flow Isolation Equipment

The blower is the core of the operation. It forces air and smoke through the sewer segment, pressurizing it enough to push smoke out of any defect connected to the surface. For sanitary sewer smoke testing, crews typically use a gasoline or battery-powered blower rated for the pipe diameter and segment length being tested. A blower that is undersized for the segment will not create adequate pressure, and smoke will not reach all laterals connected to the main.

Standard crew checklist for blower setup:

• Blower unit with appropriate CFM rating for the pipe size (typically 2,500 to 5,000 CFM for 8-inch to 12-inch mains)
• Blower inlet smoke candle holder or smoke feed attachment
• Flexible duct or boot to seal the blower to the manhole opening
• Manhole plug or pneumatic sealing bag sized for the pipe diameter to isolate the upstream end of the test segment
• Extension cord or generator for electric blowers; fuel can and spark arrester for gas units

Flow isolation is what makes the test work. If the upstream manhole is not sealed, air pressure equalizes through the upstream opening and smoke migrates out of the manhole rather than through the system. The plug or sealing bag must hold under the blower pressure without allowing bypass. Test the seal before introducing smoke.

Smoke Generation Equipment

Municipal sewer smoke testing uses non-toxic smoke candles or smoke fluid injected at the blower intake. The smoke travels with the pressurized airstream and exits at any defect point connected to the surface: foundation drains, downspouts, roof leaders, cleanouts, cleanout caps with failed seals, or sewer service laterals with cracked pipe. The smoke product must produce enough volume to fill the segment being tested and exit visibly at defect points.

Smoke supply checklist:

• Smoke candles rated for the segment length and pipe volume, or smoke fluid with a compatible generator/injector
• Quantity calculation: a standard 8-inch main segment of 500 linear feet holds roughly 175 cubic feet of pipe volume; account for connected laterals, which can add substantially to the total volume
• Backup candles or fluid reserve for extended segments or repeat test passes
• Ignition tool (lighter or matches) in a weatherproof pouch if using candles

Shutter Bombs supplies high-output smoke products used by inspection crews for professional applications. For commercial quantities suitable for a full-day testing program covering multiple segments, review the available options at shutterbombs.com/collections/all.

Access Equipment

Sewer testing requires working around open manholes and accessing service laterals at the property line. The access equipment list is straightforward but every item earns its place.

Manhole access checklist:

• Manhole hook (T-bar or J-hook style to match the lid type in the system being tested)
• Traffic cone set and advance warning signs if working in or adjacent to a roadway; local traffic control permit where required
• Manhole safety barrier: a folding guard or barrier ring to prevent foot traffic near the open hole during the test
• Confined space monitoring equipment if the work plan includes any entry (most smoke testing operations do not require entry, but have the monitor available per your agency's confined space program)

Lateral access:

• Cleanout locating maps from the utility GIS or as-built drawings; field-confirmed before testing begins
• Cleanout plug wrench or chain tongs if any cleanouts require opening for the test
• Lateral inspection flags for marking visible defect points on the right-of-way before the observer crew records them

PPE and Crew Safety Equipment

Sewer smoke testing exposes the crew to sanitary sewer atmosphere and to the combustion products of smoke candles. The applicable regulatory framework is OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 for permit-required confined spaces, which applies if any crew member enters a manhole during the operation. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration maintains the full confined space standard at osha.gov. For non-entry smoke testing, atmospheric monitoring is still recommended when crew members work directly at the manhole opening.

PPE and safety checklist:

• Nitrile or rubber gloves for all crew members handling smoke candles and working at manhole openings
• Safety glasses or goggles; smoke at the blower intake point can be concentrated
• High-visibility safety vests for all crew members in roadway environments
• Four-gas monitor (oxygen, LEL, H2S, CO) if crew members are working at manhole openings for extended periods or if the sewer system receives industrial discharge
• First aid kit accessible in the crew vehicle

Documentation and Field Recording Equipment

A smoke test without documentation is not a defensible finding. Municipal programs need records of what was tested, when, under what conditions, and what defects were observed. This is the information that supports a capital improvement plan, a property owner notification, or a regulatory compliance report.

Documentation equipment checklist:

• Field log sheets or tablet-based data entry with fields for: segment ID, date, crew names, weather conditions, blower size, smoke product used, test start and end time, and each observed defect with location description
• Digital camera or phone with camera for documenting visible smoke exits at defect points; timestamped photos paired with field notes are the standard record
• Measuring wheel or GPS unit for locating defects relative to the manhole or property address
• Spray paint or marking flags in a designated color for marking ground-level defect locations before the observer team documents them; use a color distinct from utility marking conventions in your jurisdiction
• Clipboard and waterproof writing materials as backup to digital documentation

For programs managing multiple segments across a full-season testing schedule, the guide on sewer smoke testing contractor operations covers segment scheduling, crew coordination, and report delivery to the utility or municipality. For programs comparing smoke testing against other infiltration investigation methods, see the analysis of smoke testing versus pressure testing.

Vehicle and Site Setup Equipment

The crew vehicle carries everything listed above and also serves as the staging point for the test segment. A properly equipped field truck for a smoke testing program should include:

• Truck or trailer with enough deck space to carry the blower, duct, plug set, and smoke supply; crews running multiple segments per day need quick access to equipment without unpacking
• Generator strapped and secured if the crew uses electric blowers on the job
• Water supply for crew hydration and for washing hands after handling smoke candles and working near manholes
• Spare blower sealing boot or flexible duct sections; a torn boot at the beginning of the day stops the entire operation
• Contact sheet for the utility dispatch, local fire department, and the public works coordinator in case a smoke sighting triggers an emergency response call

Pre-deployment public notification is a standard part of a municipal sewer smoke testing program. Residents and businesses in the test area who are not notified will sometimes call 9-1-1 when they see smoke exiting a drain or cleanout on their property. A notification that goes out 48 to 72 hours in advance, by door hanger or by mail, eliminates most of these calls and allows property owners to identify active defects on private laterals. For a full public notification protocol and sample letter language, the resource on municipal inflow and infiltration smoke testing programs covers the notification requirement in detail.

Having the right equipment on the truck before deployment is the work. The checklist above covers everything a municipal crew needs for a standard sanitary sewer smoke test from blower setup through defect documentation. For non-toxic smoke supply in quantities sized for a full-day or multi-day testing program, Shutter Bombs can be reached at shutterbombs.com.