Real-World Case Studies: Plumbing Smoke Tests in Rodent Control
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Why Plumbing Smoke Tests Matter in Rodent Control
- Case Study 1: Multi-Story Apartment Building – Los Angeles, CA
- Case Study 2: Fast-Food Restaurant – Phoenix, AZ
- Case Study 3: Single-Family Home – Chicago, IL
- Case Study 4: Commercial Office Space – Miami, FL
- What These Cases Have in Common
- How Sewer Assassin & FogTrace Work Together
- Benefits of Plumbing Smoke Tests for Pest Control Pros
- FAQ: FogTrace Smoke Test Machine for Pest Control
- Conclusion: Smoke Testing for Proven Rodent Control
When it comes to rodent infestations, even the most experienced pest management professionals (PMPs) can find themselves stumped. Rats adapt quickly, use resources cleverly, and grow bolder in urban environments. Traditional exclusion and trapping methods solve many infestations, but some persist — resisting logic, inspections, and repairs.
Below are real-world examples of how plumbing smoke testing — particularly with modern fogging systems like FogTrace, a smoke test machine for pest control to detect hidden entry points of pests and rodents, uncovered hidden rodent entry points and helped prevent future infestations.
Case Study 1: Multi-Story Apartment Building – Los Angeles, CA
When facing rodent infestations, even the most experienced pest management professionals (PMPs) sometimes struggle to find the cause. Rats adapt quickly, use resources cleverly, and grow bolder in urban environments. Traditional exclusion and trapping methods solve many infestations, but some persist — defying logic, inspections, and repairs.
In these challenging cases, plumbing smoke tests become the missing diagnostic link.
Below are real-world examples of how plumbing smoke testing — particularly with modern fogging systems like FogTrace, a smoke test machine for pest control to detect hidden entry points of pests and rodents, uncovered hidden rodent entry points and helped prevent future infestations.
Problem: A high-end apartment complex continued experiencing rodent sightings on the 5th and 6th floors despite a recent exterior exclusion and months of aggressive trapping.
Action Taken: Exterior entry points had been ruled out, so the PMP deployed the Sewer Assassin monitor in bathroom clean outs to determine if rodent activity was present in the plumbing system. Within 48 hours, rat evidence was confirmed. A FogTrace plumbing smoke test was then performed using a rooftop vent as the smoke entry point. Smoke was seen billowing from behind a bathroom vanity on the 6th floor — revealing an abandoned waste line that had not been capped during a prior renovation.
Result The line was sealed by a plumber, and no further rodent activity was reported. The PMP added plumbing smoke testing to their regular rodent protocol for all multi-unit structures.
Case Study 2: Fast-Food Restaurant – Phoenix, AZ
Problem: Rodents were being caught nightly near a mop sink and food prep line, but no entry point could be located. Exterior walls and loading docks were sealed, and the attic showed no signs of activity.
Action Taken: A fog test was run using a rear clean-out as the entry point. Within minutes, smoke was observed leaking from a hairline crack in the concrete floor under the prep line. The plumbing line below had corroded, and rats were using it to come up from the sewer.
Result: A section of the floor was jackhammered, the pipe was replaced, and the area was sealed. Rodent activity ceased immediately, and the restaurant passed its next health inspection.
Case Study 3: Single-Family Home – Chicago, IL
Problem: A homeowner reported rodent noises in walls and occasional sightings in the kitchen. A competing company had set traps and claimed success — yet within two weeks, the rats returned.
Action Taken: A new PMP was hired who took a plumbing-first approach. A Sewer Assassin monitor placed in the basements plumbing clean out showed chew marks by day two. A FogTrace test was performed using the roof vent. Smoke was detected coming from an open toilet flange in an unused basement bathroom that had no water trap seal, effectively leaving a direct path from the sewer.
Result: A new toilet was installed and sealed properly. No further rodent activity occurred, and the homeowner signed up for ongoing monitoring services.
Case Study 4: Commercial Office Space – Miami, FL
Problem: Rats were seen after hours on security footage, but janitorial and maintenance teams could not find where they were entering. The building had been recently remodeled.
Action Taken: After placing monitoring devices yielded mixed results, the PMP performed a smoke test using the building’s main clean-out. Smoke escaped from a suspended ceiling space in a breakroom — directly above a coffee station. The culprit: an uncapped vent line left behind during plumbing rerouting.
Result: The vent was capped, ceiling tiles cleaned, and monitoring resumed. The building remained rodent-free from that point forward.
What These Cases Have in Common
Each of these infestations had one or more of the following:
- Prior exclusion and trapping efforts that failed
- Hidden or abandoned plumbing lines not visible during standard inspection
- Rodent activity confirmed only after deploying the Sewer Assassin with non-toxic monitor.
- Entry points only revealed by smoke testing
What These Cases Have in Common
Each of these infestations had one or more of the following:
- Prior exclusion and trapping efforts that failed
- Hidden or abandoned plumbing lines not visible during standard inspection
- Rodent activity confirmed only after deploying the Sewer Assassin with non-toxic monitor.
- Entry points only revealed by smoke testing
Plumbing Smoke Tests for Pest Control – How Sewer Assassin & FogTrace Protect Against Rodents and Pests
Rodents that enter through plumbing systems can remain undetected for months — even years — unless PMPs are equipped with the right diagnostic tools. As these case studies show, plumbing smoke tests aren’t just for plumbers — they’re essential for pest control when traditional methods fail.
Tools like Sewer Assassin and FogTrace are changing the game. Together, they allow professionals to:
- Detect sewer-based rodent & pest activity on Day One
- Isolate exact entry points with visual confirmation
- Eliminate guesswork and prevent costly callbacks
- Be what your customer expects, a problem solver
Read more about the benefits for the Fogtrace smoke test machine for pest control and the Sewer Assassin rodent and pest bait station and how these 2 tools help it can benefit your pest control business.
Rodent control is no longer about guessing — it’s about proving.
Smoke testing gives you the proof you need to solve the toughest infestations — and prevent them from coming back. Visit our online store for pest control professionals to shop the Sewer Assassin & Fogtrace.
FAQ: FogTrace Smoke Test Machine
Smoke testing gives you the proof you need to solve the toughest infestations — and prevent them from coming back. Visit our online store for pest control professionals to shop the Sewer Assassin & Fogtrace.
What is the FogTrace smoke test machine?
The FogTrace smoke test machine is a professional tool designed for pest control and plumbing diagnostics. It fills sewer and drain lines with a safe, visible fog that escapes through cracks, gaps, or faulty seals. This process pinpoints exactly where pests such as rodents, roaches, and drain flies are entering a building.
How does the FogTrace machine help pest control professionals?
By revealing hidden entry points, FogTrace allows pest management professionals (PMPs) to target infestations at the source. This eliminates guesswork, reduces callbacks, and helps build customer trust by providing visual proof of pest access points.
Is FogTrace safe to use indoors and around customers?
Yes. FogTrace produces a non-toxic, clean fog that is scentless by default and safe for use in both residential and commercial properties. It dissipates quickly without leaving odors or residues.
What pests can FogTrace detect?
FogTrace is highly effective at detecting sewer-based pests including rodents, American cockroaches, and drain flies. By exposing their hidden access routes, professionals can stop infestations before they spread.
Why choose FogTrace over smoke candles?
Unlike traditional smoke candles, FogTrace is reusable, cost-effective, and eliminates risks from open flames or lingering odors. It’s a modern, reliable solution for frequent and large-scale pest inspections.
How do Sewer Assassin and FogTrace work together?
FogTrace identifies the hidden entry points by pushing fog through plumbing systems, while the Sewer Assassin bait station is installed in cleanouts to intercept and control rodents at those entry points. Together, they give PMPs both the diagnostic tool (FogTrace) and the control solution (Sewer Assassin) to solve sewer-based infestations more effectively.
