Do you know what sewer gas smells like? It can smell like sulfur, rotten eggs, feces, or simply like something is rotting, and that’s because what you are smelling is rotting. It’s decomposing human waste and food bits that are put down your drain lines and waste stacks, and all that decomposing waste creates a multitude of gases that are often referred to as sewer gas. Let’s take a look at what makes up sewer gas and why it’s so dangerous for your health and your Chicago building.
The Gases That Make Up Sewer Gas
Sewer gas can be harmful to human health. It’s typically comprised of ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide.
- Ammonia – Ammonia is best known as a cleaning chemical. However, when the fumes build up in an area, they can be toxic. The good news is that ammonia has a strong smell that’s hard to miss. Inhaling high concentrations of ammonia can cause nose and throat irritation, and it can aggravate the eyes. When it’s present in extremely high concentrations, it can cause lung damage.
- Carbon Dioxide – This gas is not usually toxic unless it’s present in large quantities. When CO2 exists in an area in large quantities, it can displace the oxygen, leading to asphyxiation.
- Hydrogen Sulfide – The most dangerous gas in sewer gas is hydrogen sulfide. It’s extremely toxic and explosive. This gas is what gives it its rotten egg smell. About 50 percent of adults can smell hydrogen sulfide when it reaches .47 parts per billion. When it reaches 10 parts per million, it can cause eye irritation. By the time the hydrogen sulfide concentrations reach 50 parts per million, it can cause damage to the eyes.
- Methane – Methane does not have a smell by itself, and it’s colorless. When it’s used as a component of natural gas for heating homes and cooking, the gas company adds a scent so that homeowners and commercial building owners can smell any gas leaks. The methane present in sewer gas does not have a smell by itself. It’s also not technically toxic, but if it’s present in high concentrations, it can displace the oxygen, just like high levels of CO2.
- Nitrogen Oxide – Nitrogen oxide gas is created when nitrogen-containing compounds decompose or break down. It is considered a greenhouse gas, and it is extremely toxic.
- Sulfur Dioxide – Sulfur dioxide isn’t found in high quantities, like hydrogen sulfide. However, it does have the ability to irritate the airways and lungs.
Understanding the Harms of Sewer Gas
Sewer gas can harm human health. If someone in your building reports smelling sulfur or rotten eggs, the report should be investigated immediately. The rotten egg smell could be from sewer gas or a natural gas leak, and both are dangerous. Let’s explore the health hazards of exposure to sewer gas.
Sewer Gas Health Hazards
Individuals who are exposed to high levels of sewer gas may feel tired, get a headache, and/or feel dizzy. They may also complain of nausea and have trouble with their memory and concentration. The individuals may also experience eye, throat, nose, lung, and mouth irritation and experience a loss of smell. Life-threatening symptoms include seizures and comas.
What to Do if You’ve Been Exposed to Sewer Gas
If you or someone in your Chicago building has been exposed to sewer gas, they may need medical attention. If the gas was simply smelled and no symptoms are present, the area must get aired out by opening windows and doors and possibly setting up a fan to help clear the gas from the area. If anyone is experiencing nausea or dizziness, gets a headache, or experiences problems breathing, they should get medical help immediately.
How Does Sewer Gas Seep Into a Chicago Building?
It can seep into a Chicago building if there are problems with the plumbing system.
Loss of Water in the Trap
Nearly every plumbing fixture has a trap. This is a U, P, or S-shaped piece of pipe that is located just below the drain. These traps are designed to catch debris so that it doesn’t cause a clog further down the pipe. For example, if you drop your wedding ring down a sink, there’s a good chance that it’s been caught inside the trap, and retrieving it is as simple as unscrewing the trap part of the pipe from the sink and inspecting it.
The trap also traps water. This is known as the water barrier, and it helps keep sewer gas out of your Chicago building. If the trap dries out, which can happen with non-use, sewer gas can waft its way into the building. The easiest way to fix this scenario is to pour water down the drain to recreate the water barrier.
Drain Line and Vent Pipe Cracks
If one of your drain lines or vent pipes cracks, it can allow gas into your building. Vigilance is key in preventing these types of problems. Make sure your staff members, especially your maintenance staff, are well-versed in the signs of a pipe leak. Drain lines typically have water in them, and a crack in the pipe will allow wastewater to escape.
Vent pipe cracks can be harder to diagnose. This is because vent pipes only have air in them. They are used to balance the plumbing system so that it doesn’t experience clogs due to an inadequate balance of air and water. Vent stacks also vent sewer gases. When a vent pipe gets a crack in it, those sewer gases can seep into the building from the crack in the pipe.
How Sewer Gas Can Damage Your Property in Chicago
When you think of things that could damage your Chicago property, sewer gas probably doesn’t make the list. After all, it’s just a gas. The unfortunate reality is that sewer gas can damage your plumbing system and your property. Not to mention, if you leave sewer gas leaking into your building, word could spread, making it harder to attract renters or unit owners.
Hydrogen Sulfide Is Corrosive.
Hydrogen sulfide gas is corrosive. In high concentrations, it has the ability to corrode metal plumbing pipes. This can lead to leaks and water damage, as well as exposure to sewer gas.
Leaking Drain Pipes Can Cause Water Damage.
Cracks and holes in drain pipes can lead to water damage. This is because water flows down the pipe along with waste. That wastewater can drip onto other surfaces, leading to mold, mildew, and rot. If the leaking drain pipe is located in your building’s foundation slab, it can lead to degradation of the slab.
Methane Gas Can Cause Fires and Explosions.
Sewer gas contains methane gas, which is flammable. This means that high concentrations of sewer gas could explode if it is exposed to an open flame or even just a little spark.
Protecting Your Chicago Building From Sewer Gas With Help From NuFlow
If you’re worried about it harming your employees, residents, and visitors, as well as your building, there are things you can do. First, it’s important to tell your employees about the harms of sewer gas smells and what to do if they suspect they smell sewer gas.
Next, it’s important to make sure that your plumbing system is in good condition. This means that you should have your drain lines, vent stacks, and sewer line regularly inspected. Professional plumbers in Chicago have plumbing cameras that fit inside drain lines. These cameras can be used to find problems within the pipes.
Lastly, you should consider epoxy pipelining. Epoxy pipe liners can be used on all types of plumbing pipes, including drain lines, vent stacks, waste stacks, and sewer lines. The epoxy seals small cracks to prevent air and water leaks, and once it’s in place, the host pipe won’t further corrode or deteriorate. Instead, the water and/or stinky air will flow down the cured epoxy.
If you’re ready to reduce the risk of encountering harmful sewer gas with epoxy pipelining, don’t hesitate to contact us.