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purpleinnej's avatar
purpleinnej
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015

Unknown odor - what is it? where is it?

We have an odor. It's kind of faint, but obvious when first walking into the camper. After inside for a while, we "adjust" to the smell and can't really smell it as strongly, but it's there.

The problem: we can't locate the source to properly eliminate/clean it. So what are we not thinking of? Here's what it's not (we think):
1. The fridge
2. The tank(s) - both emptied and not really that full when we first noticed the smell. Also, we've had the "full gray tank" smell before and this is different.
3. "Storage" odor. We were on day 3 of a 10 day trip when it was noticed.

We've opened every storage section to try to sniff it out to no avail. It kind of reminds me of a dead animal, but I don't know where to LOOK for one? We've tried to follow the smell to locate it, but it doesn't seem stronger in any place or another, but a more general "all over" smell.
  • We found a dead mouse in the wall behind the tv in an old TT we had.
  • I had a similar problem several years ago and a friend said to pull out the furnace and check there. Sure enough, one dead decaying mouse. Assume it crawled into furnace area over the winter and died. Something to check if you already haven't.
  • Has it been sitting long enough for the P traps to dry up?
  • Dead mouse trapped somewhere?
    Seal on the toilet (the one at the floor)?
    Water leak leading to mold/mildew hidden in a wall/ceiling/floor?
  • I would get some Febreeze at the grocery store and spray any fabric in the camper. This should neutralize any offensive odor that may be in the fabric left from storage.
  • check under the sinks for the air admittance valve- they will fail and allow sewer gas back into the camper JMHO

    http://www.lowes.com/pd_24372-143-85539K_1z0zn99+4294822043__?productId=1069119&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=Air admittance