sewer smell - Page 2

Mike & JoDee · 08-11-2013, 12:40 PM

We also have the occasional sewer smell in the living area and use deoderizing chems regularly. I have seen the P-trap under the sink in the bathroom but do not see a P-trap anywhere in the kitchen center island? Anyone have a confirmed sighting on the kitchen P-trap or know of an alternate design solution that was used?

lwg · 08-13-2013, 12:38 AM

FWIW, we have noticed the same bad smell coming from under the sink of our new trailer. I only drain the gray water tanks when they are full and we're currently in the Phoenix/Tucson area where it tends to be hot constantly, even at night. Would love to figure out how to solve the problem as the wife tends to complain about the smell (rightfully so).

Tobys Home · 08-13-2013, 06:13 AM

Could be that your vent under the sink is not working. We also have the heat and add tank solution to the tank (down) the drain. Plus we throw some down the bathroom sink and it seems to work. Good luck we also hate that odor.

**Dave&Ginny** · 08-13-2013, 08:49 AM

I keep my sewer line disconnected unless I'm dumping. I don't know why but this helps.

mhs4771 · 08-13-2013, 09:26 AM

I don't think they use a typical P or S trap on the sink. They use a straight pipe with a rubber flapper valve instead (there's a name for it, but CRS has set in). Any way, you may have something caught keeping the flapper from closing, or heaven forbid, those assemblers installed the devise upside down allowing/preventing the flapper from closing. I know we and others on here have had outside light lens mounted upside down, even tho there's marking on the lens that says "TOP". Some thing to check out.

lwg · 08-13-2013, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhs4771

I don't think they use a typical P or S trap on the sink. Â*They use a straight pipe with a rubber flapper valve instead (there's a name for it, but CRS has set in). Â*Any way, you may have something caught keeping the flapper from closing, or heaven forbid, those assemblers installed the devise upside down allowing/preventing the flapper from closing. Â*I know we and others on here have had outside light lens mounted upside down, even tho there's marking on the lens that says "TOP". Â*Some thing to check out.

How hard is this to check?

mhs4771 · 08-13-2013, 05:52 PM

It would depend where they positioned it. I think it's just inserted in-line with jam nuts, but I'm not positive. After supper I'll take a flash light out and check ours and see if I can see it. I know the shower in our Montana used one and it was visible behind the basement rear bulkhead. I would hope that RW wouldn't clue them in, as they do need maintenance once it a while. I wish I could remember the official name for it, but as I said, CRS is a killer.

mhs4771 · 08-13-2013, 08:13 PM

OK, here's what I found: We have no P or S trap on our Kitchen sink in our RL. I've searched and can't find the name for that straight pipe trap, but anyway, ours in mounted in-line in the down pipe located behind the spice rack drawer. Now here's where the confusion comes in, I thought they had to be mounted horizontal so water could flow through the flapper, but with no water flow the flapper would close to block fumes. So now I'm not sure. Another thing to check while looking there. If you don't have the dishwasher (we don't) make sure they put a cap on the connection where the dishwasher drain would connect.

mhs4771 · 08-13-2013, 08:39 PM

Found it, here's the link: http://www.hepvo.com/
and pics of it. Seems it operates different than I thought, so it can be mounted vertical or horizontal as it doesn't care. Just don't try and snake it or you'll destroy it.

Edited by: mhs4771

UNDRPSI · 08-13-2013, 10:07 PM

Hi Michelle,
That is not the one used under the sinks. I was told at the rally that this is the one that they actually use for the shower because of the lack of room for anything else to be used under the shower. But the one that is used under our sinks is called a dishwasher vent, just one of the words that they call it. Not sure of the tech word for it. But you can get it at Home Depot for around $3 and up. One of the folks at the rally said to make sure you get one made in the USA as they use a little heaver spring that helps to keep the vent closed. Great info at the Rally on many subjects.

Tall-Pines · 08-14-2013, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooksfive

Is anyone having sewer smell inside the RV? We have a sewer smell whenever we put water into the sink or into the dishwasher.

All of the focus on this topic has concerned the waste water, but I had a similar problem last year that was due to the fresh water side of things. The water had sat in the tank for several weeks in the summer without use. Everytime I opened the tap and ran water I could smell rotten egg type smell. I thought it was the drain initially until I leaned over and smelled the water as it was running from the tap. I then dumped some bleach into the system (or you can use the anti-freeze system to suck it into the system) and flushed out the fresh water tank ... no more smell!

Oregonbound · 05-18-2014, 07:33 PM

I too had a foul smell coming from the sink (from the plumbing under the sink) in the bathroom esp. after turning on the bathroom fan. As UNDRPSI stated in comment #7, there is a tee downstream of the P trap right under the sink. The upper branch ends in a vent cap just below the underside of the sink top. I unscrewed the vent cap (which may have been misthreaded), rinsed it with hot water and soap, blew into it to confirm that it was functioning properly (i.e. should not be able to blow air through it but able to suck air through it). I reinstalled it and turned the fan back on - NO SMELL! I'm not exactly sure what I did to fix it but still no smell after 1/2 hour of fan use. My guess is that either it was misthreaded, something was lodged in it to keep it from closing completely or the valve was simply stuck open and closed in the process of removing the vent. Hope this helps someone down the road (pun unintended)

**Dave&Ginny** · 05-18-2014, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tall-Pines

All of the focus on this topic has concerned the waste water, but I had a similar problem last year that was due to the fresh water side of things. The water had sat in the tank for several weeks in the summer without use. Everytime I opened the tap and ran water I could smell rotten egg type smell. I thought it was the drain initially until I leaned over and smelled the water as it was running from the tap. I then dumped some bleach into the system (or you can use the anti-freeze system to suck it into the system) and flushed out the fresh water tank ... no more smell!

Also don't forget to run the bleach through the fresh water lines because mold can grow in them too.

**Dave&Ginny** · 05-18-2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregonbound

I too had a foul smell coming from the sink (from the plumbing under the sink) in the bathroom esp. after turning on the bathroom fan. As UNDRPSI stated in comment #7, there is a tee downstream of the P trap right under the sink. The upper branch ends in a vent cap just below the underside of the sink top. I unscrewed the vent cap (which may have been misthreaded), rinsed it with hot water and soap, blew into it to confirm that it was functioning properly (i.e. should not be able to blow air through it but able to suck air through it). I reinstalled it and turned the fan back on - NO SMELL! I'm not exactly sure what I did to fix it but still no smell after 1/2 hour of fan use. My guess is that either it was misthreaded, something was lodged in it to keep it from closing completely or the valve was simply stuck open and closed in the process of removing the vent. Hope this helps someone down the road (pun unintended)

Several of us have had this problem.

Tobys Home · 05-18-2014, 08:08 PM

Last summer with our little heat wave we had to clorox everything from the outside supply tap on. Stopped the smell within an hour. BUT remember your first couple of ice cube cycles will be tainted with bleach. STOCK UP or just have your Jack as is…like the cowboys

.

BitBucket · 05-19-2014, 05:57 PM

We've had this Rotten Egg smell in all of our RV's over the years. The Rotten Egg smell is coming from the anode in the Hot water heater. Drain your hot water heater and replace the anode (Full-Timers) or replace the anode with a PVC plug. (We drain the hot water after each trip)

TNTBaker · 06-22-2014, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhs4771

OK, here's what I found: We have no P or S trap on our Kitchen sink in our RL. I've searched and can't find the name for that straight pipe trap, but anyway, ours in mounted in-line in the down pipe located behind the spice rack drawer. Now here's where the confusion comes in, I thought they had to be mounted horizontal so water could flow through the flapper, but with no water flow the flapper would close to block fumes. So now I'm not sure. Another thing to check while looking there. If you don't have the dishwasher (we don't) make sure they put a cap on the connection where the dishwasher drain would connect.

As discussed in this thread, we also noticed this foul smell (definitely a grey water odor) coming out of the cabinet in the kitchen island. This thread is great and I am unloading my spice rack now to try and pull it out and see what's in there. We keep the greys open, black closed. The smell is NOT coming from the sink drain, but from under the cabinet. MUST be the vent. PEEEE YUUUUUUUUUU!

TNTBaker · 06-22-2014, 07:10 PM

Ok, so here is what I found:

My question is, since I have (and installed) the same dishwasher in my home, it was important to install the drain hose with a high loop that went to the top of the cabinet. They even supplied a bracket for this, for the dishwasher to drain properly. Obviously they didn't do that here.

Also, I see the mechanical vent, but I guess I need to understand better how it works. There is (thankfully) no wetness anywhere. I cannot figure out where the SMELL is escaping from?? Any thoughts? It is definitely coming out of this cabinet, I was struck with it when I removed the shelf/drawer. It is strong.

TNTBaker · 06-22-2014, 07:52 PM

Mystery SOLVED!
I notice that the leak I saw under the sink was very slow, and THIS time I noticed a residue that looked whitish...

I remembered that I just bought and used new sink cleaner (soft scrub) which IS WHITISH!! Note the white outline formed around the little tub I keep under the sink.

THIS would explain the ODOR because dirty sink water is leaking between the sink/countertop seam.

So, not catastrophic, but I'll have to give this some thought. Shouldn't there be a strong bead of caulk between the two surfaces, not just on the outside of it under the sink? Oh well, at least I know what to fix now. It wasn't the valve after all! Sorry for the wild goose chase!

**Dave&Ginny** · 06-22-2014, 08:26 PM

I never keep my valves open. I wait until the tanks are full and then I dump them. I don't like the idea of my trailer being the vent for the septic system. If for some reason, there's a critter in the septic system I don't want an open tube into my tanks.

You may also like: