smell

[adonh]

I have noticed a slight order in the trailer that at first I though may be coming from the either the grey or black water systems. But I have cleaned both and still have that faint order. I thgink I have read about stopped up sewre vents can sometimes cause an order. But I don't know if that is correct. Anyway maybe someone will have some input. Thanks.

Don

[Stumpjumper]

Don't want to scare you, but check thoroughly for any water leaks, around the ends on the floor, doors. Hope you are dry but sometimes an ordor is signs of mold, rot, etc. At least that's what I've found in restoring serveral campers.
Good luck, hope I'm wrong.

[eubank]

A sewer-like odor can also come from a boiling battery. (Happened to us!) Make use of your sniffer all around, including near the battery.


Lynn

[10Smiles]

I'll second the battery possibility. It took us a long time to figure out the smell was coming from a cooked battery.

[A W Warn]

We sometimes get a downdraft through the vent fan opening into the bath room, but only when the fan is off. This vent fan is very near the sewer tank vent on the roof of my trailer. If the wind is just right it will occasionally below in the sewer gas. It has happened more than once. I would get a good strong whiff and then the smell was gone. Took me a while to figure this out.

You can also get that smell if the toilet flange seal has deteriorated. I have had this problem also.

[idroba]

Along with the other possibilities suggested, I have run into situations where the smell was actually propane. In very small amounts, it sometimes, at least to me, does not smell like propane, but more like musty, or sewerage odor. If your oven control is on "off" but not all the way CCW to "pilot off" you will have a very small amount of propane bleeding into your rig, and it can take on that odor you are picking up.

Worth a look or thought anyway.

[azflycaster]

Odors from the grey tank can enter the trailer if the P-Trap to a sink or shower has gone dry.

[Aage]

Look to the "soft" parts, too: carpets, curtains, cushions, pillows. These things tend to be magnets for odour, and don't give up the smell easily, if they trap some.

[adonh]

Originally Posted by eubank

A sewer-like odor can also come from a boiling battery. (Happened to us!) Make use of your sniffer all around, including near the battery.


Lynn

That could be it, my battery is dead and won't hold a charge. I had not gotten around to replacing but I will today and see if that takes care of it.

Thanks

Don

[adonh]

That's it, bad battery. I can smell it right there at the battery box. But now I have another problem. None of my keys will unlock the battery compartment door. I have not opened this in a while but I have the same keys i have always had. How can I get this open, any suggestions.

Thanks

[Gypsy Jo]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

You can also get that smell if the toilet flange seal has deteriorated. I have had this problem also.

Is this the seal between the toilet and the toilet flange ? Or is there another
one?
Jo

[adonh]

Originally Posted by adonh

That's it, bad battery. I can smell it right there at the battery box. But now I have another problem. None of my keys will unlock the battery compartment door. I have not opened this in a while but I have the same keys i have always had. How can I get this open, any suggestions.

Thanks

I found the key and was able to open the battery compartment. It was definitely the battery that was causing the smell. Now I am off to buy a new one.

It may also be time to look into a new converter that does not burn up the battery. But that's another thread.\\

Thanks everyone

Don

[eubank]

You might want to check out why the battery was boiling, causing the smell. In our case, it was a defective charger/converter.

Lynn

[handn]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Jo

Is this the seal between the toilet and the toilet flange ? Or is there another
one?
Jo

Gasket between toilet and flange was the source of my bad odors. They do wear out over time.
Shake the toilet. If it wobbles that is a tip off.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Jo

Is this the seal between the toilet and the toilet flange ? Or is there another
one?
Jo

Yes the one between the toilet and flange, and it can be replaced easily. It took me less than 30 minutes, not including a trip to the RV supply to get the seal. (ODM is a 20 minute drive for me)
Just turn the water off and then disconnect the water line at the toilet. Remove the two nuts from the flange bolts that hold down the toilet. Then lift the toilet and carry it outside where you can see it better to check for cracks, corrosion, etc and clean it up before installing that new seal. On my Thetford the flange seal is a foam ring that looks like a dough-nut that slips on the bottom of the toilet..