My friend posited that the amount in the sewers would be likely to be less than that in the ambient air and therefore worth attempting if desperate.
I don’t know much of anything about sewers, but you don’t really smell things around manholes, do you? (My anosmia prevents me from answering this with confidence.) If not, it would make sense to presume there’s some kind of seal on them. If that’s the case, the outlet would be the primary inlet for gas. I don’t know enough about gas attacks or drainage to say whether that’s a problem.
If I’m ever unable to breathe ambient air or escape the area, I’ll try to remember to attempt this and get back to you.
The reason every drain has a water trap is sewer gas can be deadly. It’s possibly better than guaranteed death by smoke inhalation or terrorist attack, but not by much.
Toilets don’t get their air from the sewers. There’s actually an air hole at the top of the house to let air into the pipes so that they don’t produce negative pressure.
Learned that from a plumbing guy who told me that it’s actually a noob mistake diy guys often make to forget that hole.
When I was first informed that this was possible, it was suggested as a way to get breathable air if your city suffered a gas attack or similar.
Gas attack either way.
Nice.
Wouldn’t the gas still seep into the sewers in that case?
My friend posited that the amount in the sewers would be likely to be less than that in the ambient air and therefore worth attempting if desperate.
I don’t know much of anything about sewers, but you don’t really smell things around manholes, do you? (My anosmia prevents me from answering this with confidence.) If not, it would make sense to presume there’s some kind of seal on them. If that’s the case, the outlet would be the primary inlet for gas. I don’t know enough about gas attacks or drainage to say whether that’s a problem.
If I’m ever unable to breathe ambient air or escape the area, I’ll try to remember to attempt this and get back to you.
The reason every drain has a water trap is sewer gas can be deadly. It’s possibly better than guaranteed death by smoke inhalation or terrorist attack, but not by much.
It’s not surprising that it could be deadly, but I was always told the reason was olfactory in nature.
Wait … Explain the ninja turtles!
Ninja turtles are in a storm drain. The cartoon was lying to you.
You have done a much better job of explaining than anticipated and I hereby express my gratitude.
Not all gases. And some gases can be absorbed through the skin, completely invalidating this method. Yay!
Toilets don’t get their air from the sewers. There’s actually an air hole at the top of the house to let air into the pipes so that they don’t produce negative pressure.
Learned that from a plumbing guy who told me that it’s actually a noob mistake diy guys often make to forget that hole.
Cuz the sewer pipes are known for being hermetically sealed.
I imagine just checking if your windows are closed, sealing any cracks as best you can with wet towels, and staying inside would be far more effective