Smoke testing can be a quick and effective way to test laterals and find faults that lead to odors, leaks and inflow. Superior Signal Company’s 5E FLEX Smoke Blower takes everything offered with the company’s original 5E plug-in unit and adds the portability of battery power.
The 5E FLEX is compatible with leading 18- to 20-volt tool batteries most utility workers already have in the toolbox. Utilizing a high-quality power adapter, the 5E FLEX integrates seamlessly into an existing electric tool set. In addition, it can also run off a 12-24 volt DC power source, such as a car or truck battery, using the DC Clips power adaptor. The unit comes with the smoke blower unit, hose, and the selected power adaptor compatible with a pre-purchased battery. According to Helen Kovacs, director of marketing for Superior Signal, while the 5E is popular for a variety of plumbing applications, they have recently seen increased interest from municipalities, particularly for testing sewer laterals.
“One municipality purchased it after a recent trade show to demonstrate to homeowners when a sewer fault or leak in a lateral occurred on private property and was therefore the homeowner’s responsibility,” she says. “While the 5E has always been available with 120-volt power, the recent proliferation of battery-operated tools made us realize that compatibility to that popular and convenient ecosystem was key for our customers who are working in the field and not always near a convenient power source.”
The 5E easily connects to any clean-out, port or vent to smoke test the entire system in just a few minutes. It gently pushes smoke throughout a system to find cracks or leaks and quickly identify problems. It comes complete with 8 feet of industrial-grade hose, and when used with Superior Smoke Candles, the solution is ideal for hard-to-find odors, leaks and other faults in commercial, residential and municipal facilities. Kovacs says the industry reaction to the added portability of the FLEX unit has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Customers have noted how much easier and more affordable it is to smoke test with the lightweight 5E FLEX compared to heavy and expensive alternatives,” she says. “The adaptable battery power has taken that convenience to the next level, and customers are thrilled with the ease of use and portability.” 732-251-0800; www.superiorsignal.com
