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 heater5) Keep the gray tank closed until ready to empty6) 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

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.

It's a one way valve to allow air into the drain pipes. You can see a picture of one at this link.https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-1-1-2-in-ABS-In-Line-Cheater-Air-Admittance-Vent-39012/100204205#overlay

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.

It could be the water heater anode reacting to the water. This has happened to us a few timesbeginrv.com/rv-smells-like-rotten-eggsTry a zinc rodRead The Reviews

Gray Tank Smell (Seriously annoying) | Good Sam Community

48 Replies

Wulrich
Explorer
Jul 14, 2022
2oldman wrote:
Is you kitchen in a slide?

It is not in a slide, it’s in the center
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
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.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2022
Is you kitchen in a slide?
2112
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2022
It could be the water heater anode reacting to the water. This has happened to us a few times

beginrv.com/rv-smells-like-rotten-eggs

Try a zinc rod
Read The Reviews
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.
LouLawrence
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2022
It's a one way valve to allow air into the drain pipes. You can see a picture of one at this link.https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-1-1-2-in-ABS-In-Line-Cheater-Air-Admittance-Vent-39012/100204205#overlay
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.

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Gray Tank Smell (Seriously annoying)

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