City of Chesapeake Virginia
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • A-Z Index
  • My Chesapeake
Advanced >>
  • Residents
    • A-Z Citizen's Guide
    • Adopt a Pet
    • Boards & Commissions
    • Bulk Trash Collection
    • Church Directory
    • City Employment
    • City Services – Request
    • Civic League / HOA Directory
    • Events Planning
    • Farmers Market
    • Fine Arts
    • Flooding
    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
      • Maps Gallery
      • Property QuickSearch
    • Human Services
      • Adult Protective Services
      • Child Protective Services
      • Licensed Child Care
      • Parent and Youth Resources
    • Library
    • Mosquito Control
    • New Residents
    • Parks, Recreation and Tourism
    • Permits
      • Building Permits and Inspections Information
      • Forms and Permits List
    • Public Schools
    • Real Estate Assessments
    • Senior Citizens
    • Welcome to Chesapeake
    • Chesapeake TV
      • Watch Live!
      • On Demand
      • Program Schedule

  • Visitors
    • Visiting Chesapeake?
      • Official Visitor Center
      • Chesapeake Tourism
      • History of Chesapeake
    • Chesapeake Expressway
    • City Activities and Info
      • City Calendar of Events
      • Parks, Recreation and Tourism
      • Library
      • Directions to City Facilities
    • Communities
      • South Norfolk
    • Attractions
      • Arboretum
      • City Park
      • Deep Creek Park
      • Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
      • Fun Forest
      • Northwest River Park
      • Oak Grove Lake Park
      • Planetarium
      • Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation

  • Business
    • Resources for New and Relocating Businesses
      • Economic Development
      • Opening a New Business
      • New Business Listing
      • Tenant Build-Outs
      • Development Review Process in Chesapeake
    • Doing Business with the City
      • Process
      • Bids and RFPs
    • Development, Land Use & Construction
      • Comprehensive Guide
    • Resources
      • Building Permits and Inspections Information
      • Forms and Permits List
      • Get Your Permit Online
      • Public Facilities Manual (PFM)
      • GIS: Geospatial Data
    • Departments
      • Commissioner of the Revenue
      • Development & Permits
      • Economic Development
      • Health Department
      • Planning
      • Public Utilities
      • Public Works
      • Treasurer

  • Government
    • Welcome to Chesapeake
    • City Council
      • Meetings
      • Members & Mayor
      • Upcoming Agenda
      • Previous Meeting Agendas, Videos & Minutes
      • City Clerk's Office
      • Watch Meeting Live
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
    • Boards and Commissions
    • City Departments
    • City Budget
      • Operating & Capital Improvement Budgets
    • Constitutional Offices
      • Clerk of the Circuit Court
      • Commissioner of the Revenue
      • Commonwealth's Attorney
      • Sheriff
      • Treasurer
    • City Manager
    • Animal Services
    • Fire
    • Human Resources
    • Human Services
    • Public Schools
    • Real Estate Assessor
    • Planning Dept
    • Public Works
    • Public Utilities
    • Police
    • Voter Registrar

  • Online Services
    • Request a Service Online
    • Bulk Trash Collection
    • City Forms & Applications
    • Online Payments
      • Treasurer's Payment Center
      • Income Tax Return Information
    • Public Library
      • Library Card Application
    • Submit a FOIA Request
    • Parks and Recreation Online Class Registration
    • Property Information
      • Real Estate Property Information Search
      • Property Quick Search
      • GIS Map Gallery
      • School Zone Lookup
      • Outstanding Real Estate Taxes & Fees Information
    • City Employment
    • Voting
      • Where do I vote?
      • Who is my Legislator?
    • Construction
      • Apply for a Permit
      • Inspection Results
      • Request an Inspection
    • Public Safety
      • File a Police Crime Report
      • Interactive Crime Map

I Want To
  • Pay my bill
  • Apply for service
  • Report a backup or leak
  • Find rates and fees
  • Request an adjustment
  • Connect to my property
  • Develop property
  • Learn about Chesapeake's water
This Section
  • Public Utilities Department
  • Sewer Service
  • Smoke Testing
  • Smoke Testing Schedule
  • Smoke Testing FAQs
  • Example of Smoke Test Notice
  • Smoke MSDS Info - Lubspar 107
  • Smoke MSDS Info - Hurco LiquiSmoke
print
 > City of Chesapeake, Virginia > Government > City Agencies, Departments, and Offices > Departments > Public Utilities Department > Sanitary Sewers > Smoke Testing of Sanitary Sewers > Smoke Testing Frequently Asked Questions

Smoke Testing Frequently Asked Questions


  • Is Smoke Harmful?
  • What can you do to prevent smoke from entering your house?
  • What do you do if the smoke gets into your house/business?
  • What is the purpose of smoke testing?
  • I will not be at home during the smoke testing and have pets in the house. What should I do?
  • If smoke gets into the house/business, how long does it take for the smoke to dissipate?
  • Can smoke stop up the sewer?
  • What happens if you find a bad sewer or lack of traps in a building?
  • What about …………………..?


Is Smoke Harmful?

No. It may make you cough, but it is not harmful to your health and will not harm your clothing, drapes or furniture.

  • View the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the materials used »

What can you do to prevent smoke from entering your house?

When you receive a notice that smoke testing will take place, you should check to see that all traps under basins, washing facilities and floor drains have water in them. Pay particular attention to sinks and drains which receive little use. Pour water in garage floor drains, spare bathrooms and mop sinks. This smoke will enter any defective seal or pipe..


What do you do if the smoke gets into your house/business?

First, there is no cause for alarm; identify where it is coming from, such as under sink, around toilet or through a wall. Open windows and doors. This smoke will dissipate quickly. Then contact numbers on the flyer.


What is the purpose of smoke testing?

To find possible leaks in the sanitary sewer system and roof drain connections. Smoke testing can help locate bad connections that home owners or occupants are not aware of.


I will not be at home during the smoke testing and have pets in the house. What should I do?

If you must leave your pets unattended, proper ventilation should be provided in the event any smoke enters the building.


If smoke gets into the house/business, how long does it take for the smoke to dissipate?

This will depend upon how much smoke enters the building and how much ventilation you can provide.


Can smoke stop up the sewer?

There is no way smoke can stop up a sewer. The smoke is made up of a vaporous substance.


What happens if you find a bad sewer or lack of traps in a building?

This information will be documented and given to appropriate City and State agencies, and it will be incumbent upon those agencies to determine what steps are necessary to remedy the problem.


What about …………………..?

Call Jesse Ryan at Hydrosturctures, 757-631-7989, or Chris Scheible at Chesapeake Utilities, 757-644-7499, to discuss any questions related to smoke testing sanitary sewers that you may have.

 
City of Chesapeake Virginia

City Hall Address:
306 Cedar Road
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Blue Heron
Connect with Us Connect with Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Chesapeake Television
  • All Social Media Sites
  • Email and RSS Notifications
  • Chesapeake Alert
QuickLinks QuickLinks
  • Request a City Service
  • Contact Us
  • News Room
  • Calendar
  • Chesapeake Television
  • Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Policies Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

© Copyright 1996 - 2021 • City of Chesapeake • All rights reserved