# What could be causing the rotten eggs smell in my study **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727 "2013-05-07T18:18:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/1 "2013-05-07T18:18:27Z")
My study has been smelling awful tonight. Like rotten eggs. They study has a refridgerator, a small old one. Could it be a coolent leak? Besides that it has my WiFi router, a small computer and thats it. What could it be? Coolant? Buring plastic? A dead mouse somewhere? Smell is most pronounced near the center of the room. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/2 "2013-05-07T18:31:33Z")
Where do the vent(s) for the plumbing go? If they go under or over the room at all there could be a crack in the vent pipe and it’s venting sewer gas near the room. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/3 "2013-05-07T18:49:04Z")
Do you have a natural gas line in your house? Gas companies sometimes add that rotten egg smell since we’re so sensitive to it and can detect it at very small amounts. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/4 "2013-05-07T18:56:53Z")
Yes there is but none in the room concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/5 "2013-05-07T19:51:26Z")
Is it possible the line runs in the foundation under the room? Sometimes they leak and gas can come up through small cracks in the foundation. If the smell isn’t dissipating I’d call the gas company just to check it out. Better safe than sorry ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/6 "2013-05-08T17:27:40Z")
We’ve had mice die inside our walls/ceiling before. The smell was more reminiscent of rubber (think tires). It is strong but not pungent. Fortunately the body dries out in a week or so. I wouldn’t call the natural gas smell sulphrous, but you may want to check it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/7 "2013-05-08T17:47:48Z")
😃 > [@AK84](#): > > Smell is most pronounced near the center of the room. Is that where you are sitting? Could it be flatulence? 😃 Seriously, call the gas company ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/8 "2013-05-08T20:36:14Z")
My first thought was a gas leak. You should take that possiblity seriously. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/9 "2013-05-08T20:52:48Z")
the pan under the fridge could be a swamp with swamp smells. gas utilities often will provide an odor sample in the mail to get you familiar with it. good smell to remember. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/10 "2013-05-08T22:07:10Z")
First, eliminate the chance you have a gas leak. You have a fridge, could it be… rotten eggs? Do you have a prankster in the family/house? Could be stink bomb. I can’t think of an overheating electrical component that gives off that smell. To go further on the pan idea, standing water can get a rotten eggs smell over time. Might you have standing water in the room or somewhere else in the house where the odor could make its way to your room? Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/11 "2013-05-09T00:28:42Z")
While unlikely, it’s possible you have a volcano forming under your house. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/12 "2013-05-09T01:07:14Z")
Natural gas is usually odored to smell more like rotting cabbage than rotting eggs. The OP can always turn the gas on in the kitchen and smell it for comparison. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/13 "2013-05-09T02:08:01Z")
My guess is tht it could be the fridge. Liquid accumulates in a container in the back of my fridge as well which gives foul smell if not drained in every couple of months. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/14 "2013-05-09T02:09:56Z")
Gas Leak. Call someone to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/15 "2013-05-09T19:44:13Z")
Lost Easter egg! I seem to recall that you are from Pakistan, so that is probably unlikely.😃 ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/16 "2013-05-11T02:11:48Z")
Do you own a dog? Does he fart? ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/17 "2013-05-11T10:53:27Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > gas utilities often will provide an odor sample in the mail to get you familiar with it. good smell to remember. Until the company gets rid of a load of samples, the garbage truck releases the smell, leading to every building on the route thinking they have a gas leak. [http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20130508/NEWS01/305080010/Energy-West-official-Scratch-sniff-cards-blame-gas-smell-downtown-Great-Falls?nclick\_check=1](http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20130508/NEWS01/305080010/Energy-West-official-Scratch-sniff-cards-blame-gas-smell-downtown-Great-Falls?nclick_check=1) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/18 "2013-05-11T12:06:16Z")
Clay soil in a crawlspace can stink in damp weather. Google “clay soil smell” theres a lot of articles. Could be a drainage issue with water getting under the house. Or even a water leak in a pipe under the house. Best way to find out is get in the crawlspace and see if its wet or stinking. [http://courses.soil.ncsu.edu/ssc570/student\_projects/hydric\_soils/hydricsoils.htm](http://courses.soil.ncsu.edu/ssc570/student_projects/hydric_soils/hydricsoils.htm) > [@](#): > > The indicators that are used vary based on the type of soil (Table 1). There are indicators that apply to all soil types (organic, sandy and finer soils). Some of those indicators are based on the presence of organic matter (like peat) or smelling hydrogen sulfide odor (rotten egg smell). Other indicators, like those previously mentioned and those in Table 1, are more specific to sandy soils or finer particle soils (clayey or silty soils). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/19 "2013-05-11T12:22:00Z")
What’s under that room? If it’s a crawl space there could be rotten eggs there. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727/20 "2013-05-11T13:06:14Z")
AK84 where are you? It’s been 4 days… I hope it didn’t turn out to be a gas leak and kill you or something ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-causing-the-rotten-eggs-smell-in-my-study/657727.md?page=2)