I was chatting with my neighbor yesterday (he's a plumber, pretty chill guy), and he mentioned something kinda funny. Apparently, in some areas, inspectors test plumbing systems by filling them up with peppermint oil to check for leaks. If you smell mint where you're not supposed to, you've got a leak. I mean, peppermint... who knew plumbing could smell like toothpaste? Wonder if anyone else has heard of other quirky plumbing rules or tests like this.
A plumber friend of mine told me something similar once, but instead of peppermint, they used smoke bombs. Seriously, they pump smoke into the pipes and if you see smoke curling out from under sinks or fixtures, you've got leaks. He said people freak out sometimes thinking there's a fire or something... imagine seeing smoke coming from your bathroom cabinet. I'd probably panic too before remembering it's just plumbing. Peppermint sounds way less stressful honestly.
Smoke bombs, huh? I've actually seen plumbers use that method before, and while it does sound dramatic, it's surprisingly effective. Peppermint might be less stressful, sure, but smoke testing can pinpoint leaks even in tricky spots peppermint might miss. Plus, smoke doesn't just detect leaks—it can reveal improper venting or hidden plumbing issues. I'd say the brief panic is worth it if it saves you from bigger headaches down the line... though maybe warn tenants first to avoid unnecessary 911 calls.
- Smoke tests are great, but yeah, always give tenants a heads-up first.
- Peppermint's decent for quick checks, but smoke catches those sneaky venting issues peppermint won't.
- Seen too many hidden leaks missed without smoke testing... better safe than sorry.
Interesting points about smoke tests—I've actually had inspectors use them on my properties before. Peppermint oil is new to me, though. Wonder how effective it really is compared to smoke, especially for catching smaller leaks. Might give it a go next time I have a minor issue just out of curiosity. Seems like it'd be less of a hassle than smoke, at least for quick checks... plus, probably smells better.
