A sewer gas stench coming into your home or building from the air vents can be hazardous. An odor that you may describe as “rotten egg smell” is hydrogen sulfide, a gas produced when bacteria break down organic matter that is deadly to humans and animals in large amounts. Hydrogen sulfide and other noxious gasses like methane and ammonia build up in sewer systems as waste interacts with bacteria.
Homes and buildings are outfitted with water traps, including the air-conditioning unit’s p-trap, to prevent gas from flowing from the sewer system back into the building. If those water traps dry out, however, sewer gas can enter the building and cause serious problems.
A sewage smell emanating from the air vents could indicate sewer gas is being pulled in through the air-conditioning unit. In the winter, the air-conditioning system produces less condensate to keep the p-trap full, and it may become completely dry. When the air-conditioner kicks on, air is pulled into circulation from the condensate output line that drains into the sewer line. Noxious gasses are pumped through the system causing the stench.
eTrapp works to mitigate the problem of sewer gas backflow by alerting unit owners if the eTrapp is holding less than 25% condensate. The unit owner should then run their air conditioner for a few minutes in order to replenish the water supply in the eTrapp since this acts as a water barrier against sewer gas.
If you smell bad odors coming from your air vents:
- Immediately turn off the air-conditioning system
- Air out the building by opening doors and windows
- Get out of the building and into the fresh air until the gas smell is gone
High concentrations of gas can cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea which could progress to asphyxiation.
Contact the eTrapp Team to learn more about how eTrapp can stop problems before they start.