I have a question that I can't seem to have answered with any certainty from my friends (well, none of them are plumbers!). I am attempting to put a new shower drain in a basement shower (old drain was removed), the P-trap is there and connected to the sewer line. I also have a opening for a toilet several feet away that is stuffed with a towel to keep gasses down. My question is, is there harm in sweating a connection just above the P-trap given all the potential methane gas that could be circulation in this room. I'd prefer not to catch myself on fire of blow a sewer cover!

My question is, is there harm in sweating a connection just above the P-trap given all the potential methane gas that could be circulation in this room. I'd prefer not to catch myself on fire of blow a sewer cover!
Tell you whot! If you fill that trap with water you'll be perfectly safe. However, I'm concerned about the rag stuffed in the toilet. The rag's dry and no doubt is allowing some sewergas to escape. Not that I believe there's enough methane to light off but I would wet the rags and jam them in tightly to make the opening airtight.
After you're through I would seal off that open toilet hole permanently.
Good luck and thank you for rating my reply, To,m