Bad smell when running heat

[dd_duncan]

Hello All,

My fiancée and I just moved into our travel trailer for full time use. It is a 2016 forest river Cherokee limited 33’. When running the heat we are experiencing an awful smell. The best way my fiancée has found to describe it is “old farts” (LOL). We’ve been running the heat for about a week and a half now and it has not gone away. It’s not a gas leak because we had one (now resolved) and it’s a different smell. Could I possibly need to clean out the ductwork or service the furnace? Any tips would be greatly appreciated as I’m new to the camper world and am not sure how everything works. Thank you in advance!

[dd_duncan]

Thanks everyone! I’m going to give it a shot this week my next off day from work. Hopefully that does the trick!

[routeforty]

Also agree on mice infestation. I had same thing on my last trailer. Ended up replacing the ductwork. Not the easiest job in the world, but doable even for novices. I bought a box of dryer vent(the silver foil flexible type). Pulled the old out and put the new in. When I took each vent run off of the furnace I could check somewhat the inside of the furnace where I found some droppings and a partial nest
which I vacuumed out and cleaned the best I could with clorox. Im sure there are some youtube videos for tutorials. The hardest part is the cramped spaces you must work in. Just remember where the old was, and put the new in the same places. You can do it!! The old that I took out went immediately into the trash. Just had a very,very faint odor in the trailer after that. Gary

[bukhrn]

Few things smell worse than dead mice in the ductwork. :E

[kellem]

Have you found mice droppings in the trailer ?

Mice infestation will leave a permanent unpleasant odor and is exasperated when they take up residency in the ductwork and furnace....I know.

[Lynnmor]

Yes, clean out the duct work. You may be able to inspect much of it with a flashlight and mirror after removing grilles. If you can replace flexible ducts it might be easier than trying to clean them. I hope you don't find a deceased rodent in or around the heating system. Video