One of the most common issues of drain odor is due to blockages and clogs. Any type of blockages, whether they are partial or full, can prevent waste water from properly leaving your home. Over time, this stagnant water sitting in the pipes can build up bacteria and produce pungent odors throughout the night.
Leaky pipes under your shower or in the bathroom walls can also cause a sewage smell. Leaking pipes allow hydrogen sulfide to escape, causing a sewer odor. Loose-fitting piping and perforations can cause leaks, and some perforations are caused by corrosion in certain metal pipes.
Dry P-Trap
If the sewer gas smell is coming from your bathroom, it could be because of the P-trap drying out. If this is the case, the sewer gasses will be coming from the waste pipes to your living space due to the lack of a barrier. You can remedy this by running water in all bathrooms regularly.
One of the most common causes of sewage smells is a clogged drain. When your home's wastewater has nowhere to go, the odors will come back up the drain they should be going down.
If you have phantosmia, the odors can vary from smells that almost make you sick to really pleasant scents. But most people with phantosmia tend to detect bad smells. The odors have been described as “burned," "foul," "rotten," "sewage," or "chemical." You may be smelling it from one or both of your nostrils.
The vent pipe is your sewerage system's breather. When it gets clogged, the sewer gases can back up into the sinks and the toilet, resulting in your bathroom's sewage smells. You may experience a bubbling sound coming from the toilet or the drain as sewer gas forces its way into the bathroom.
The Dangers of Hydrogen Sulfide, AKA “Sewer Gas”
A naturally occurring gas, hydrogen sulfide, or “H2S,” is toxic at high concentrations. Prolonged or acute exposure to the gas can cause eye irritation, headache, nausea fatigue, and – in extreme cases – death.
In homes, hydrogen sulfide is directed out through vents. If you smell something foul, it's a sign you have a plumbing problem that needs attention. The smell is likely strongest at floor level or at the drain.
"Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramps, fever, a lot times you start to dehydrate, you feel weak. On occasion you can have bloody diarrhea," said Dr. Vazquez.
The health risks linked to sewer gas exposure include: Hydrogen sulfide poisoning: Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs, even in low concentrations. Exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide can cause eye and respiratory irritation.
This can be accomplished with a sewer gas leak detector, or sometimes referred to as simply a gas leak detector. Other methods include calling in a plumber and he will undertake a smoke test to assess where, exactly, the leak may be in the pipes and also undertake a acoustic leak test.
The first thing is to make sure the smell is sewer gas which is usually a rotten egg smell and not a natural gas smell which usually smells like a skunk.
It's rare for high concentrations of sewer gas to back up into a home. It is more common to be exposed to higher concentrations of sewer gas in an industrial workplace. Call a plumber right away to come to inspect your home if you cannot immediately locate the problem.
Cold temperatures can cause downdrafts from plumbing vent stacks. In this case, you will notice the odor varies during the day, especially if the weather is windy. If the odor tends to subside as temperatures go up, downdrafts are the most likely cause of that terrible sewer smell in your house.
There could be odor-causing bacteria feeding on debris in your pipes. This process will give off a foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like sewage or rotten eggs. Also, mold grows where it's warm and wet — and mold growth on the debris causing a drain clog can also cause a bad smell.
A weird smell in a house can come from numerous sources, including appliances, furniture, carpets, fabrics or issues like mold or mildew. Occasionally, odors may be caused by sewer gas, natural gas leaks or animals that have died between walls, in attics or under decks.
Bad odors emanating from the bathroom may not have that element of surprise, but even so, it's a good idea to run down the source. When that smell reeks of the sewer, it may not go away on its own but instead, point to a serious problem that might require professional plumbing repair.
A high concentration can displace oxygen in the air. If less oxygen is available to breathe, symptoms such as rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, clumsiness, emotional upsets and fatigue can result. As less oxygen becomes available, nausea and vomiting, collapse, convulsions, coma and death can occur.
Sewage contains harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Direct contact with sewage or surfaces contaminated by sewage can result in illnesses such as gastroenteritis. Wear protective clothing (such as rubber gloves, boots and eye protection) when cleaning.
Long story short, yes. Sewer gas can absolutely be dangerous. Breathing in sewer gases can make you sick, and it doesn't even take long-term exposure to cause health problems.
Natural gas smells like rotten eggs and sewer gas smells like sewage. The main cause of this smell is from your sewer lines backing up and sewage coming into your home. This smell could be coming up from the bottom of your toilet or it could be coming up in your shower. Then you'll notice the smell of sewer gas.