Forum Discussion

Wulrich's avatar
Wulrich
Explorer
Jul 14, 2022

Gray Tank Smell (Seriously annoying)

I love our travel trailer, but we have been having some serious issues with a very potent smell.

Issue: Every time we run the kitchen faucet we get a rotten egg smell out of both of our A/C units almost instantly. We’ve had the unit for about 3 months, and this has been going on for about 2 months.

Things I’ve tried:

1) Replaced the air admittance valves underneath both sinks.
2) Got on top of the unit to ensure the vents weren’t clogged, even ran water down them.
3) Cleaned gray tank, put tons of detergent, fragrances, and cleaning solutions in the gray tank to clean it.
4) Checked the anorod on the water heater
5) Keep the gray tank closed until ready to empty
6) Called the manufacture, they sent out a tech and were unable to find the problem. Have also called multiple service techs and no one seems to have heard of the issue.

Does anyone else have any other ideas? We are seriously bummed about it, my wife and kids hate it. We love the unit except for this issue. Any help is appreciated!

I have a 2022 Forest River Travel Trailer, Heritage Glen
  • larry_cad's avatar
    larry_cad
    Explorer II
    Jul 14, 2022
    Showing my ignorance: What is an air admittance valve?

    Try some of the same product you use in the black tank such as Campa Chem, Camco TST, etc. That type of stuff works in the black tank, and it also works in the gray tank.

    It's hot in Texas, and that makes the smell increase.

    I would think keeping the gray tank closed is the wrong way to address the problem.

    I suspect the odor is coming from the vent pipe on the roof, and being drawn into the A/C. You need to clean up the gray tank odor. Leave the valve open. Add some RV deodor product. Good luck.

    BTW, Gray tank water typically can smell worse than black tank water.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Jul 14, 2022
    Generally there is a cap or housing on top of your roof that covers the vent pipe that protrudes through the roof. Maybe your cap or housing is damaged or missing.
  • Wulrich's avatar
    Wulrich
    Explorer
    Jul 14, 2022
    Larry cad - the A/C draws from the inside, not the outside. The smell seems to be persistent if I leave the gray tank open.

    Lantley- I’ve checked all the caps at the top, seem to be functioning properly.
  • Wulrich's avatar
    Wulrich
    Explorer
    Jul 14, 2022
    2112 wrote:
    It could be the water heater anode reacting to the water. This has happened to us a few times

    ***Link Removed***

    Try a zinc rod
    ***Link Removed***



    We get the smell whether we are running cold or hot water. You would think if that was an issue, you would only get that smell with hot water, correct?
  • Wulrich's avatar
    Wulrich
    Explorer
    Jul 14, 2022
    2oldman wrote:
    Is you kitchen in a slide?


    It is not in a slide, it’s in the center
  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    Jul 14, 2022
    Correct.

    Are you experiencing this at the same camp ground or area?

    Next time you are experiencing the smell, go outside, disconnect the water hose from the water source hose bib and see if you smell anything from the source.

    Sanitize your whole water system with bleach. It may be microbes in your water lines.

    I filled my fresh tank with campground water that was supplied from a West Texas water well. After a few days it smelled horrible. Both hot and cold. I had to overdose my water system with bleach to clean it out.
  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    Jul 14, 2022
    Wulrich wrote:
    2oldman wrote:
    Is you kitchen in a slide?


    It is not in a slide, it’s in the center
    I'm thinking the AC is above the sink and the AC is sucking the water smell into the ductwork

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