Chemical smell, eyes burn.

[jackhartjr]

Hi folks, parked the travel trailer Friday night, was in it Saturday, no smell, no burn.
Sunday, went in, front bedroom has a distinct chemical smell and our eyes burned immediately! Nothing in the rear living area.
Today it's that way throughout the unit.
We camped last week, didn't run ac at night, no smell.
It was hot this weekend, nothing on.
I did put water in all p traps in case that was it , no change.
Any ideas?

[Reverse_snowbird]

Is the bedroom near the bathroom? Could the smell be coming from there?
Doesn't smell like propane does it?

[extxn]

Were you able to determine where the 'chemical smell' was coming from? Sorry, but just read your post & question.

My 1st thought would have been something wrong causing your battery to over charge and creating the situation.

[jackhartjr]

Not propane or battery smells.
Not an electrical smell.
Bathroom next to bedroom, the smell was much worse in bedroom.

[Mr. Dan]

It’s not ammonia from the refrigerator, is it?

[myredracer]

Possibly overheated wire somewhere? Our converter failed a few years ago and overheated and there was an acrid smell of melting plastic and a stinging sensation in the eyes. The converter tripped the 120 V breaker which was the clue where the issue was.

Ammonia from the fridge would be a good suspect and it's odor is very distinctive.

Mice pee has an ammonia-like smell. Not uncommon for mice to get into underbelly spaces.

[AFDON]

Smell's like what? Could it be outgassing from the glue? Or is it more of an rotten egg smell? Bad battery can cause that. Maybe a wild critter got in the under floor area and died? Maye if you could give a better description of the smell someone could ID it. Did you or yours put a new rug down?

Please let us know whatever it turns out.

[jackhartjr]

It reminds me of famalgahide, spelling.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Hey, good shot at spelling formaldehyde. Lol It could well be that in a hot room not ventilating. That was a huge problem with FEMA trailers after Katrina back in 2005.

[Oaklevel]

Something didn't crawl in and die????

[Scrapper]

If it's ammonia leaking from the fridge most of the fumes will be coming from the vents outside the rv. Ammonia fumes will cause burning of the eyes and make it hard to take a deep relaxing breath. Ammonia vapors that are 1/4 the visible level are toxic and will burn the lungs.

When we would recycle industrial cooling and refrigeration units through the car shredder there would be times we needed to leave the building until the fumes dispersed.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

If it's ammonia leaking from the fridge most of the fumes will be coming from the vents outside the rv. Ammonia fumes will cause burning of the eyes and make it hard to take a deep relaxing breath. Ammonia vapors that are 1/4 the visible level are toxic and will burn the lungs.

When we would recycle industrial cooling and refrigeration units through the car shredder there would be times we needed to leave the building until the fumes dispersed.

I'm not questioning your source of information but I had a different experience. My brother lent me his trailer. I dragged it 75 miles and backed it into a site. I unlocked the door and went inside and, in record time for an old man, I reversed my field and bolted out because of the cloud of ammonia that had escaped on the inside. Spectators said a huge whitish cloud followed me outside. The fridge went to the junk heap and DW has required me to take a large ice chest on every trip should this happen again. She doesn't want to lose food if the fridge quits.

[jackhartjr]

Not an ammonia smell. No cloud.

When you walk in, you eyes immediately start to burn.

[Iwannacamp]

Busted can of something?

Something someone poured in one of the tanks?

Add a topper or large rug?

New unit?

Someone paint something?

???

[jackhartjr]

The only thing added is some LED lights in the front window. Wouldn't think that would be it???

[BandJCarm]

Wow. This is bad. Or could be.

Is there, like, any type of meter that might ID this? Do you have a state Dept sorta like EPA?????

[jackhartjr]

Now that I think about it, we had leaks in three windows in the bedroom, they were sealed with something, I do not know what, I'll call tomorrow and find out what with.
You would think we would have smelled it before now. Unless heat sets it off.

And thanks for everyone's time and concern!

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

I'm not questioning your source of information but I had a different experience. My brother lent me his trailer. I dragged it 75 miles and backed it into a site. I unlocked the door and went inside and, in record time for an old man, I reversed my field and bolted out because of the cloud of ammonia that had escaped on the inside. Spectators said a huge whitish cloud followed me outside. The fridge went to the junk heap and DW has required me to take a large ice chest on every trip should this happen again. She doesn't want to lose food if the fridge quits.

I kinda forgot about the fins inside the fridge can spring a leak. The main point I was trying to get across since others asked about ammonia leaking is if you have an ammonia leak it's nothing to ignore. You don't need a white cloud of vapors to make you very sick or kill. The invisible fumes can be more than enough. I know a couple of farmers that were laid up for months from ammonia leaks and a third one died. Not trying to dispute your experience as I know how dangerous it is.


Edit; with the car shredder there wasn't a white cloud but the fumes were so strong we had to leave the building for up to an hour.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

I kinda for got about the fins inside the fridge can spring a leak. The main point I was trying to get across is if you have an ammonia leak it's nothing to ignore. You don't need a white cloud of vapors to make you very sick or kill. The invisible fumes can be more than enough. I know a couple of farmers that were laid up for months from ammonia leaks and a third one died. Not trying to dispute your experience as I know how dangerous it is.

Thanks for the update. I agree. I’ve been through tear gas so I had experience in closing up and stopping breathing!

[larry2c]

If they sealed the windows with certain types of silicone it could smell sort of like vinegar. I've used a lot of silicone sealer on the stick house and it does stink but I don't think it ever made my eyes water...