What type of gas is in a septic tank?

What type of gas is in a septic tank?

Septic tank gases contain methane, hydrogen sulphide (H2S), carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, nitrogen dioxide and traces of carbon monoxide.

What is sewer gas called?

Hydrogen sulfide gas
Hydrogen sulfide gas is also known as “sewer gas” because it is often produced by the breakdown of waste material. At low levels, hydrogen sulfide gas has a strong odor similar to rotten eggs.

What does septic tank gas smell like?

Septic odors smell like sulfur (think rotten eggs). Sniff around, especially outside, to see if any rotten egg smell might be coming from your tank. If you know where your septic drain field is, check really well around there.

What is sewer gas composed of?

It is formed during the decay of household and industrial waste. Highly toxic components of sewer gas include hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Sewer gas also contains methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrous oxides.

Can breathing sewer gas be harmful?

Hydrogen sulfide is the primary gas in sewer gas. According to research , hydrogen sulfide has shown to be toxic to the oxygen systems of the body. In high amounts it can cause adverse symptoms, organ damage, or even death.

Does sewer gas rise or sink?

Many of the components of sewer gas are heavier than air and tend to settle/accumulate in basements or the lower level of structures. The methane component is less dense than air and tends to rise in structures.

Why does my house smell like sewer gas?

Sewer odor comes from the breakdown of human waste and includes harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Small doses of these gases won’t harm you, but chronic exposure can be toxic.

What do I do if I smell sewer gas?

If you smell unusual odors or sewage, it’s important to call a plumber straight away. If you suspect the levels of sewer gas in your home are high or have a sewer gas detector that shows signs of a problem, you and your family should leave the premises and contact the fire department.

How do you treat a smelly septic tank?

Avoid pouring fats, oils, coffee grounds, cleaning products, paints, or other chemicals down your sink or tub drains. These can disrupt sewage breakdown inside the tank and cause a foul odor. Adding a cup of baking soda to a sink drain or toilet once a week will help maintain the correct pH level in the septic tank.

Is septic smell harmful?

It comprises a mixture of gases, including hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and more. The hydrogen sulfide in sewer gas is what gives it its signature rotten egg smell. Sewer gas isn’t necessarily toxic at low levels. However, chronic exposure, or higher levels of exposure, can cause symptoms of sewer gas poisoning.

Where does the gas come from in a septic tank?

Sewer gases formed in the septic tank can return to a building interior by backing up from the septic tank inlet baffle and pipe to the building drain-waste-vent piping. Inside the building sewer gas (rotten egg or methane) smells may be observed:

What causes sewer gases to back up into a building?

A blockage at the septic tank can cause sewer gases to back up into the building. Blockages at the tank range from very costly (a failing drainfield) to less costly (a blocked or damaged sewer line between the septic tank and the distribution box or drainfield), to least costly and repaired by normal maintenance (pumping the septic tank).

What makes a septic tank smell like rotten eggs?

The gases that form in septic tanks are primarily two, methane, CH 4, and hydrogen sulfide H 2 S. It’s the H 2 S (a “rotten egg” smell) that people mostly notice if gases from a sewage system are not properly vented at a building. Other gases produced by the decaying organic matter in the tank are also mixed into this brew as well.

How to cure sewer gas odors from septic systems?

This sewer gas smell article describes how to get rid of or cure odors in buildings including septic or sewage or sewer gas smells or “gas odors” in buildings with a focus on homes with a private onsite septic tank but including tips for owners whose home is connected to a sewer system as well.