You know it when you smell it: sewer gas. It smells like sewage, and it’s unpleasant, but is a sewage small in the bathroom dangerous? It can be. However, in most cases, you’ll start to smell it well before it reaches dangerous levels.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Sewer Gas?
Sewer gas is a mixture of gases produced by decomposing waste, and can include hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and other volatile compounds.
Hydrogen sulfide is the gas most responsible for the classic rotten egg odor. As humans, we’re sensitive to that smell, so hydrogen sulfide can be detected at extremely low concentrations. In other words, your nose is a sensitive early warning system.
When you detect a sewage gas smell in your home, it typically means a plumbing seal has failed somewhere. The most common cause in the Phoenix area is a dried-out P-trap, especially during extreme summer heat when water evaporates quickly inside the trap. But it can be a more serious plumbing problem.
Can Sewer Gas Make You Sick?
Yes. While it’s not necessarily toxic at low levels, the EPA https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality classifies sewer gas as a volatile organic compound (VOC) and says that exposure to sewer gas can cause symptoms, including:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Nose or throat pain
- Eye irritation
- Vomiting
- Coughing or shortness of breath
Those with asthma or breathing issues are at greater risk.
Is Sewage Smell in a Bathroom Dangerous?
In most homes, sewer odors are present at very low levels and are unlikely to cause serious harm. However, regular exposure in enclosed spaces can lead to discomfort, especially for children, older adults, pets, or individuals with respiratory conditions. So, if that sewage gas smell is around, you’ll want to address it before it impacts your indoor air quality.
How can you tell if it’s something serious? If the smell disappears after running water in the sink, shower, or down the drain, the likely issue is a dry P-trap under your fixture. That trap is designed to keep some water in the pipes to stop sewer gas from backing up into your home. Flushing your pipes by running the water for a few minutes often solves the problem.
However, some situations need closer attention. For example, if the smell is strong and persistent, multiple drains are affected, or slow draining and gurgling accompany the sewage gas smell, you might have a problem with your venting or sewer line under your slab. Those need a drain specialist to diagnose and fix the problem.
When to Get Emergency Plumbing Help
Most sewer odors don’t require an emergency response, but there are some situations where you need to call for help. For example:
- If the odor suddenly becomes strong throughout the home, especially in multiple rooms, the main sewer line may be compromised.
- If drains begin backing up at the same time the smell appears, wastewater flow may be restricted and requires urgent evaluation.
- If family members experience dizziness, nausea, or headaches that improve when leaving the house, ventilation and plumbing should be assessed promptly.
If running water in every drain does not eliminate the smell, the problem is unlikely to be simple evaporation.
In slab-built Phoenix homes, sewer lines run beneath the foundation, and solving the problem may mean doing work under the slab. That’s a more serious issue, so the sooner you can get it checked out, the less extensive (and expensive) the fix will likely be.
See also: Exploring a Seamless Way to Shop for Home Essentials
Why Professional Diagnosis Matters
Identifying the source of a sewage gas smell is not always straightforward. A plumber may use sewer cameras, vent stack inspections, and pressure testing to determine where seals have failed. The fix may be simple, or it could be a clogged main sewer line requiring hydro jetting to dislodge the clog. or a broken seal or pipe that needs repair.
Sewer odors are early warning signals. Addressing them promptly keeps your indoor air clean and prevents minor issues from becoming major plumbing repairs.
For more than 35 years, George Brazil has served the Phoenix metro area, maintaining a BBB A+ rating and earning thousands of five-star reviews from homeowners. The experienced plumbers at George Brazil understand how Arizona’s heat, drought conditions, and slab construction affect plumbing systems and offer same-day service for most plumbing repairs.
Sewage gas smell? Get it fixed now. Schedule service with George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical today.
