SEWER SMELL
We have a 2011 Montana 3455. When running the Fantastic fan (with a rear window cracked open)we are getting a sewer smell from the bathroom. This is not all the time the fan is running. Upon furthe...
Forum Discussion
Funny you have this issue. I had/have this issue on a new 2014 Lifestyle and on my previous 2011 Cameo.
On the Cameo, the problem was solved when I did as MtPockets1 suggested by checking the tank vent cap on the roof. Carriage and Lifestyle both use only one vent on the roof as the black and gray tank pipe is "Y'ed" together so there is only one hole cut into the roof.
On the Cameo the vent pipe did not extend up through the roof fully so odors were getting into the ceiling. Once I extended the pipe and sealed the area around it the odor stopped.
I have had the Lifestyle a year. I just got home from a 3 night trip. While using the shower prior to dumping the tanks the tank smell came from under the bathroom vanity while the kitchen exhaust fan was running. The odor was being pulled either the area under the vanity itself or through a plumbing access panel in the vanity sink compartment. In addition to the p-trap and AAV under the vanity there is also one for the shower in the basement. The odor was able to travel from either of those valves but I was not able to determine which one.
Like you, I have checked for any compromises/leaks in the tanks....notta. I replaced all the standard, gravity activated AAV's with Oatey spring loaded AAV's. That seem to help but did not totally fix the issue.
Its common for manufacturers to install the holding tank vent pipes too deeply into the tanks. So as the tanks fill, the bottom of the vent pipe becomes covered with liquid. The tank then has no place in which to get air. The pressure created as more liquid is added to the tank causes the tank to burb the air someplace. It is normal the sink trap or the AAV.
So I checked the installed depth of the vent pipe for both tanks. They were not as bad as I would have expected but still about 1.5 inch deeper then needed to be. So I cut them off and reinstalled the vent pipes.
I thought I had fixed my issue as I did not smell anything on a 4 night trip back in January and the tanks got full. This week was only a 3 night trip and they did not reach the full mark but 2/3. So I'm back to square one.
Hopefully, my experience will give you some insight to help resolve your issue better then it has mine. My odor is NOT being drawn in from the roof....it comes from the basement and is obviously from the AAV's. But since I've replaced them and shortened the vent pipe so insure they are not submersed, I don't know what to do.
As others read your request for help, I would appreciate their input on my situation, too, given all that I have done. I'm certainly not hijacking your thread....I'm sure you are no the only one with this issues. Hopefully, others that have had this issue can shed some light on it for both us as well as others. Thanks! Phillip
On the Cameo, the problem was solved when I did as MtPockets1 suggested by checking the tank vent cap on the roof. Carriage and Lifestyle both use only one vent on the roof as the black and gray tank pipe is "Y'ed" together so there is only one hole cut into the roof.
On the Cameo the vent pipe did not extend up through the roof fully so odors were getting into the ceiling. Once I extended the pipe and sealed the area around it the odor stopped.
I have had the Lifestyle a year. I just got home from a 3 night trip. While using the shower prior to dumping the tanks the tank smell came from under the bathroom vanity while the kitchen exhaust fan was running. The odor was being pulled either the area under the vanity itself or through a plumbing access panel in the vanity sink compartment. In addition to the p-trap and AAV under the vanity there is also one for the shower in the basement. The odor was able to travel from either of those valves but I was not able to determine which one.
Like you, I have checked for any compromises/leaks in the tanks....notta. I replaced all the standard, gravity activated AAV's with Oatey spring loaded AAV's. That seem to help but did not totally fix the issue.
Its common for manufacturers to install the holding tank vent pipes too deeply into the tanks. So as the tanks fill, the bottom of the vent pipe becomes covered with liquid. The tank then has no place in which to get air. The pressure created as more liquid is added to the tank causes the tank to burb the air someplace. It is normal the sink trap or the AAV.
So I checked the installed depth of the vent pipe for both tanks. They were not as bad as I would have expected but still about 1.5 inch deeper then needed to be. So I cut them off and reinstalled the vent pipes.
I thought I had fixed my issue as I did not smell anything on a 4 night trip back in January and the tanks got full. This week was only a 3 night trip and they did not reach the full mark but 2/3. So I'm back to square one.
Hopefully, my experience will give you some insight to help resolve your issue better then it has mine. My odor is NOT being drawn in from the roof....it comes from the basement and is obviously from the AAV's. But since I've replaced them and shortened the vent pipe so insure they are not submersed, I don't know what to do.
As others read your request for help, I would appreciate their input on my situation, too, given all that I have done. I'm certainly not hijacking your thread....I'm sure you are no the only one with this issues. Hopefully, others that have had this issue can shed some light on it for both us as well as others. Thanks! Phillip
