Yes. Seminole County's Emergency Operating Center is notified as well as the nearest fire department.

No, you do not have to be home during smoke testing.

Approximately 15-20 minutes.

It is recommended that you do not enclose animals in any area of the home/building that has plumbing. This recommendation is due to the slight possibility of smoke entering through a dry P-trap in a sink, tub, shower, washer machine, floor drain and/or a plumbing defect.

Although the smoke testing smoke is considered to have no adverse health effects, individuals with respiratory conditions should take special precautions and avoid exposure to the smoke. The smoke rarely enters a home/building, but it would be best if you sat outside for the duration of the smoke test. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes. If you cannot sit outside, it may be beneficial to open the windows of the home/building. If at any time you experience respiratory distress contact your doctor.

The most common causes of defects are broken clean out caps due to lawn mowers and tree root infiltration. If a pipe develops a crack, tree roots tend to grow toward the moisture and penetrate the pipe. This penetration causes the crack to widen. If the clean out cap is broken or missing this allows rain water and other debris to enter sewer system. Please avoid planting trees and large shrubs near sewer lines and use caution when mowing near clean outs.

Prior to testing, please pour approximately two gallons of water in the seldom-used sinks, tubs, showers and floor drains to prevent sewer gases and smoke from entering the premises.

If smoke enters your home/building it is an indication that there is a dry P-trap in a sink, tub, shower, washer machine, floor drain and/or a plumbing defect. If the smoke is entering the home/business so too are the sewer gases. Sewer gases can be both unpleasant and a health risk.Seminole County Environmental Services may advise you to take some simple actions to try to determine where the smoke is coming into the house. Seminole County Environmental Services may advise you to contact a plumber.

Smoke testing is a vital preventative maintenance measure that helps pinpoint the location of sewer defects that may need repairs. Sewer system defects allow rain water to infiltrate the sewer system. This raises the cost of wastewater treatment for the entire community and increases the risk of sewage overflows during storms.

Contact Marc Maheu at (407) 665-2884 for more information about the procedure as well as dates and times of the testing.

For public health-related inquiries contact the Seminole County Health Department Environmental Health Program at (407) 665-3619 or Epidemiology Program at (407) 665-3266.

In rare cases smoke may enter a home/business during the test even if the P-traps are full of water. If smoke does enter your home during testing, remain calm and open windows and doors to ventilate the smoke. The smoke usually clears out in about 15-20 minutes. Remove yourself from the home/building and kindly notify the crews that are conducting the test.