If you’ve ever asked, “Can sewer gas kill you in your sleep?” the answer is yes. Breathing sewer gas in high concentrations can be fatal, but with proper plumbing and HVAC maintenance and early leak detection, the problem can usually be found and fixed quickly.
For homeowners and small business owners in Southern Nevada, that risk is worth taking seriously because sewer gas exposure can cause headaches, nausea, vertigo, and, in severe cases, death.
The most common places for sewer gas to build up in a home or commercial property are basements, enclosed crawl spaces, and other poorly ventilated areas.
If you live in a home with a septic tank, you may also be exposed to sewer gas. Below, you’ll learn where sewer gas comes from, the symptoms of poisoning, what allows it to enter a house or building, how to detect it, how to respond in an emergency, and what steps help prevent leaks in the first place.
Quick Answer
The short answer to “Can sewer gas kill you in your sleep?” is yes, but only in high concentrations. Sewer gas contains toxic components like hydrogen sulfide and methane, which at elevated levels can be deadly, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
However, typical household exposure to sewer gas at low levels usually causes irritation and health issues rather than immediate fatality.
Is Sewer Gas Dangerous?
Sewer gas is made up of various gases produced as organic waste breaks down in the sewer system, including Methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide. In small amounts, sewer gas is not necessarily toxic, but high levels – especially of hydrogen sulfide gas, often recognized by a rotten egg smell commonly compared to rotten eggs – create serious health risks and, in confined spaces, can amount to acute poisoning.
Methane can cause asphyxiation, and it is also flammable and can displace oxygen in enclosed spaces, which is where the real danger and explosion risk increase, while gaseous hydrogen sulfide is unlikely to cause asphyxiation but is both colorless, making it hard to detect, and also potentially highly combustible.
People also rarely show signs of sewage gas poisoning hours or even days after being exposed because symptoms will not develop until hydrogen sulfide has already caused damage to the victim’s neurological system.
What are the Symptoms of Sewer Gas Poisoning?
The short-term symptoms of sewer gas poisoning can vary by concentration, and throat irritation can be an early sign of sewer gas toxicity:
Eye irritation
Coughing
Wheezing
Nausea
Vomiting
Migraine
Drowsiness
Loss of consciousness at high hydrogen sulfide levels
People with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are more vulnerable to sewer gas exposure, and severe symptoms require immediate medical attention. Prolonged exposure to sewer gas can lead to:
Cancer
Asthma
Loss of Memory
Cognitive Decline
Factors Affecting Sewer Gas Entry
The factors affecting sewer gas entry into a home can be divided into three main categories: plumbing design and condition, external factors, and ventilation systems.
Improper plumbing design or poor maintenance that is not working correctly can allow a sewer smell or sewer gas smell into a living space. Leaks or cracks, dried out plumbing traps, and a floor drain with a failed water seal are common ways gas gets indoors, and blocked drains or lines can also contribute during a sewage backup.
External factors like flooding or heavy rains can also force sewer gas into a home. Ventilation systems are necessary to stop sewage gas from building up within a house. Gas can build up and present a health risk if the ventilation system is not functioning properly, and people may smell sewer gas at first but stop smelling it over time even while gas remains present.
Diagnosing Sewer Gas Leaks
To aid in detecting any sewer gas leaks, you can use a sewer gas detector to find the source of any potential leaks. carbon monoxide alarms do not detect sewer gas, so they should not be relied on for this problem. If you cannot find the source of the gas, it is advised to call a professional to help with the detection of any potential leak.
If you choose to self-check, then listen for hissing or gurgling noises coming from pipes or drains, and feel around for warm or cool spots around pipes or drains. If traps filled with water have dried out because a drain has gone unused, running water can restore the seal. It’s crucial to call an expert right away and to leave your home if you think there might be sewer gas present. If you smell sewer gas and cannot identify the source, the best course is to leave the area and call a professional plumber to diagnose sewer gas problems.
Preventing Sewer Gas in Your Home
Pipe, drain, and vent cracks are all potential entry points for sewer gas inside your home. Sewer gas poisoning is more likely in homes with older plumbing systems.
You can use caulk or weatherstripping to seal these openings. To prevent sewer gas intrusion, it is essential to:
Have your plumbing system regularly maintained by a professional plumber so inspections help confirm it is working correctly and prevent sewer gas problems from returning.
Properly install plumbing traps and vents.
Check unused drains so traps do not dry out, stay filled, and continue blocking gas.
Seal all entry points for gas, such as cracks in pipes and drains.
Install a sewer gas detector in your home.
Make sure that your home has a working sewer gas detector.
Can Sewer Gas Kill you in Your Sleep?
To avoid sleeping in sewer gas contamination, make sure your home is well-ventilated. Open windows and doors, and run fans to circulate the air. Sleeping individuals are particularly vulnerable because they may stop noticing the rotten egg smell during sleep or after prolonged exposure due to olfactory fatigue, which can increase the danger of ongoing exposure and, in severe cases, lead to serious harm or even death.
Do not sleep in a room with a gas leak. You can also install a sewer gas detector in your bedroom to alert you to the presence of gas. To prevent sleeping near a sewage leak, you can;
Check for gas leaks regularly.
Have your septic tank pumped regularly.
Inspect your sewer lines for cracks or leaks.
Keep your drains clean and free of clogs.
Do not light a match or turn on any electrical appliances if you smell gas, because in enclosed rooms sewer gas explode risks can rise if flammable gas accumulates.
Evacuate the premises immediately and call a plumber.
Emergency Response and Treatment
If you suspect that you or anyone else is suffering from sewer gas exposer, it is crucial to act immediately, leave the potentially contaminated area, get fresh air as soon as possible, and seek medical care, with immediate medical attention for severe symptoms.
If you have mild symptoms, do not wait to see if the symptoms develop further; try to obtain oxygen treatment if you can, as improved breathing and a lower risk of complications are the outcomes of oxygen therapy, while suspected high-level exposure requires urgent medical attention, not watchful waiting.
As there is no cure for sewer gas poisoning, getting assistance services as fast as possible will result in a greater chance of reduced long-term side effects. Fluids, medicines, and complication monitoring are all a part of this.
However, therapy can lessen symptoms and limit additional harm. Even if you are symptom-free after a significant exposure to sewer gas, it is crucial to seek medical care.
Safety Measures for Homes and Businesses
To prevent sewer gas issues in your home, you should follow these tips.
Install a sewer gas detector in your basement, crawl space, and other enclosed living space areas where sewer gas can gather. It is meant to notify you concerning the presence of gas so that you can take the necessary precautions.
Inspect your plumbing system regularly for leaks and clogs. Keep your sump pump in good working order and vent your septic tank properly.
To prevent sewer gas issues in your business place, remember to have your plumbing system regularly inspected by a professional to help ensure it is working correctly.
Install sewer gas detectors in all areas where employees and customers may be exposed to sewer gas.
Wear safety gear, such as a respirator, if you work where sewer gas exposure is possible. Train employees on how to identify and respond to sewer gas leaks.
Put an End to Sewer Gas Exposure
Health problems from sewer gas can be lethal. Sewer gas exposure can be dangerous. Therefore, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks and take precautions.
If you suspect a sewer gas leak, contact the experts at Hawthorne Plumbing, Heating & Cooling immediately. Our emergency plumbing services can fix the problem before you or your family become ill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a sewer gas leak in your home is not necessarily toxic in tiny amounts, but larger or prolonged exposure can make you sick and cause eye irritation, coughing, wheezing, throat irritation, nausea, vomiting, migraines, drowsiness, and even loss of consciousness.
Yes, in high amounts, exposure to sewer gas can be lethal. Sewer gas’s primary fatal risk is hydrogen sulfide gas, and high levels can cause acute poisoning that leads to serious health effects or death, even death in extreme cases. In severe cases, loss of consciousness can occur before death.
Mild sewer gas exposure may not cause any immediate health problems, but it can still have long-term effects. The neurological system, lungs, and kidneys can suffer harm by exposure to low concentrations of methane gas. Additionally, it might make cancer more likely.
Yes, Sewer gas exposure is more common during hot, humid weather, as the gas can evaporate more easily in these conditions.
