Ikk smell after traveling

[GrandpaKip]

Upon opening the camper after traveling between campsites this winter, there was a nasty odor. It didn't smell like the black tank, so I wondered if it was the grey. There are no leaks around the drains, so I thought it might be that the traps emptied while on the road. After running some water in each drain, the smell did abate. Before doing that, I sniffed around each drain, but the smell didn't seem any stronger. It was totally gone in about fifteen minutes or so with door and vents open. Anything I might have overlooked?

[GrandpaKip]

My propane detector is right across from the stove and the furnace, but I don't know if it works. Gonna get a propane torch and see if I can make it go off.

[rockhillmanor]

CavemanCharlie wrote:
I often had a very faint smell in my camper. It wasn't there all the time and for the longest time I just couldn't seem to track it down. Seemed to be

coming from the sink

, but not quite.

I also noticed that it took a long time to get the burners on my stove to light. One day I lifted the top of the stove to clean under it and discovered the smell was because the

regulator for the stove (that is mounted under the burner cover) was bad. It was bleeding a very small amount of propane out of the seal.

I ordered and installed a new one, no more smell and now the burners light right away.

x2
Just like what happened to me.

Propane from the RV stove if next to the sink will always find the sink the lowest point. So it doesn't make it to the detector mounted low on the floor usually in the back of a coach.

I just hope people reading our stories will make note and check the stove first for propane leaks and keep that on their check first list.:C

[plauterer]

I have run into most of the problems mentioned so far but would like to add , rotten onion or potato in the back of the cupboard.

[CavemanCharlie]

I often had a very faint smell in my camper. It wasn't there all the time and for the longest time I just couldn't seem to track it down. Seemed to be coming from the sink, but not quite.

I also noticed that it took a long time to get the burners on my stove to light. One day I lifted the top of the stove to clean under it and discovered the smell was because the regulator for the stove (that is mounted under the burner cover) was bad. It was bleeding a very small amount of propane out of the seal.

I ordered and installed a new one, no more smell and now the burners light right away.

[rockhillmanor]

GrandpaKip wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
Check the knobs on your stove and make sure they are all tightly in the off position.

Thanks, but it definitely isn't propane.

I'll just add my obligatory story.
I thought a smell in my RV was the gray tank, CG manager came out and confirmed it, RV Mobile Repair was called out to change the air valve.

I have never traveled out of Wisconsin and a few of the great lakes states. I "know" what propane smells like also. It did not smell like propane.

I was traveling south for the first time and filled up with propane in Kentucky and then on to another CG.

Real long story short it WAS propane and from a bumped stove knob.

If you read the gov regs for propane it states they must add a smell but it is up to each state what smell they add.

The Kentucky propane did NOT smell ANYTHING like what I had been accustom to up North. Smelled like a stinky holding tank.

Damn near killed both me and the dogs while I sat there waiting for repair. Thank god I opened all the windows and didn't light up a cigarette.:(

Wow, did not know that not all states were the same. Nonetheless, still don't think it was propane (note I did not say definitely this time). All knobs were off, checked just before leaving. Plus, the smell went away after about fifteen minutes or so.
On a side note, your propane detector did not go off?

No it did not.

Propane detector is in rear of coach.
I had all windows up front open because I couldn't stand the smell while I sat waiting for repair.

Propane seeks a lower level. The nearest lower level from the stove top was the 'sink'.

Henceforth WHY EVERYONE was so sure it was the gray tank. Every one that came in smelled by the sink and said wow yes it's the gray tank.:S

BTW boiling coach battery will smell the same way. Convertor on cooking battery smell is there and when convertor shuts off the smell goes away. Been there and done that too!

Gosh sometimes owning an RV is just SO much fun. :R

[93Cobra2771]

One other thought - sometimes when traveling, the P traps under the sinks slosh out the water. This lets odors come right up through the sink. I've had this happen a time or two. Solved it by traveling with one of the roof vents open slightly. Works like a champ.

[Farm_Camp]

Another vote for the AAV. I've had them fail in the camper as well as in two houses. One of those was less than a year old.

[GrandpaKip]

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments (will disregard the chili night one, supposedly that odor is easy to assign). I know where the vent is in the head and will check it. I usually dump baking soda down all the drains after dewinterizing, but did not this time.
As for the mouse, we were gone about a month when we got back, our Subaru ran really rough and could barely move. On top of the engine was a nest and 2 of the spark plug wires were chewed through.

Thanks again, folks.

[GrandpaKip]

rockhillmanor wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
Check the knobs on your stove and make sure they are all tightly in the off position.

Thanks, but it definitely isn't propane.

I'll just add my obligatory story.
I thought a smell in my RV was the gray tank, CG manager came out and confirmed it, RV Mobile Repair was called out to change the air valve.

I have never traveled out of Wisconsin and a few of the great lakes states. I "know" what propane smells like also. It did not smell like propane.

I was traveling south for the first time and filled up with propane in Kentucky and then on to another CG.

Real long story short it WAS propane and from a bumped stove knob.

If you read the gov regs for propane it states they must add a smell but it is up to each state what smell they add.

The Kentucky propane did NOT smell ANYTHING like what I had been accustom to up North. Smelled like a stinky holding tank.

Damn near killed both me and the dogs while I sat there waiting for repair. Thank god I opened all the windows and didn't light up a cigarette.:(

Wow, did not know that not all states were the same. Nonetheless, still don't think it was propane (note I did not say definitely this time). All knobs were off, checked just before leaving. Plus, the smell went away after about fifteen minutes or so.
On a side note, your propane detector did not go off?

[GrandpaKip]

bguy wrote:
What road speed did you achieve? I had a similar occurrence when I towed once and neglected to close the rearmost roof vent.

We were mostly interstate, so 60-65 mph. All outside vents were closed.
Thanks.

[Valkyriebush]

seriously, the dead mouse comment is valid!

[rockhillmanor]

TucsonJim wrote:
"Damn near killed both me and the dogs while I sat there waiting for repair. Thank god I opened all the windows and didn't light up a cigarette."

Same thing happens to me on "chili night".

:B

[spike99]

If you suspect its the holding tank vent cap (plugged vent or reverse air flow when ROAD traveling) is the root cause, seriously consider the 360 Siphon product.

For more details, surf: - Click Here - and - click here -

If wondering, I installed DIY custom made product similar to the Lil' Stanker (discontinued product) at - click here - and never had internal stink problems again. And best of all afterwards, no need to buy toilet anti-smell chemicals again. Thus, my DIY custom built product paid for itself in 6 months.

In learning from above, I would install simple low cost roof top 360 Siphon product first, then (only if needed) install a new generation Lil' Stanker inline fan (re: - click here - ) next. Lil' Stanker inline fan would be great solution on no wind days.

Pushing or sucking bad smells out its roof vent works great. Wish it was minimum build on all RV trailers.

Hope this helps.

[spike99]

Deleted - double post.