AboutDavid L. Russell, PE Expertise I`m a Chemical,Civil and Environmental Engineer and have a number of projects in all phases of the environment.
I have worked in the chemical industry and am active in professional societies, and am currently on an industrial wastes committee for the Water Environment Federation, and have taught courses in remediation in the US and abroad.
I have written one book on Remediation of petroleum Contaminated Sites, and have a second book on PRACTICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT to be published by John Wiley in September, 2006. I've also written over 30 articles on various elements of environmental problems and cleanup. Most Recently, I have addressed a NATO Scientific and Techical Conference on Ecoterrorism, and have worked with the same group on remediation of sites contaminated with Chemical Warfare Agent materials and othe materials as well. . I can answer q`s about Chemical and Environmental Engineering, land development, air pollution, water pollution, soil and water cleanup, combustion, international environmental problems, industrial processes chemical processes. Civil and Environmental and Chemical Engineering. Overall, I have over 35 years of experience in this area. Note: I do not answer homework questions
Experience I love work in the third world and developing areas
because it is challenging and one can get a sense of accomplishment.
Question Hey Russell,
Our house seems to smell like rotten eggs - worse, usually, during the winter
time. We can not find where the smell is coming from. We think it is from
one area downstairs but aren't sure about this. We do have a clean house
that gets a good cleaning at least once a week. Can you help us find out
where this smell might be coming from?
Answer The rotten egg odor is hydrogen sulfide. It can come from a variety of sources including a broken, cracked or leaking sewer pipe which allows gasses to escape into the house. That's the first place I'd look. I might start by asking the County to smoke test the line between the sewer and your house. They may have to test the entire block, or group of houses, but that helps them find leaks. If they use a colored smoke. If the smoke winds up in your basement or house, you will know you have a leak.
That's my best guess at this time without a lot more information. The reason you smell it more in winter is because you are home more in winter and the house is sealed up and not ventilated as much.
Hope that helps.
