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02-17-2015, 11:24 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 24
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Please help with smell
I know this topic has been asked about 1,000,000 times, but I haven't read about this particular situation, yet. Somewhere in my living/kitchen area, or beneath it, is a sour chemical smell. The closest thing I can think of, is pickle juice. There was carpet deodorizer behind the couch, when I looked but I sniffed every inch of the carpet in the slide and couldn't smell this. I'm stumped. At first listen, most are inclined to say black water, but the bathroom and bedroom smell fine. I'm hoping someone has can shed some light on where this might be coming from. I'm at my wits end. Nothing will kill this odor. Thanks for any info.
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02-18-2015, 12:00 AM
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#2
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GLCM Warrior
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northern Colorado
Posts: 277
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I don't know that I'd call the smell of a dead rodent anything near like pickle juice...but is it possible that an animal or rodent found a spot to hide in and then died?
Other than that...I'd suspect a galley gray tank smell...is it stronger under or near the plumbing for the sink?
I've taken to putting a treatment in our gray tanks, mainly because one of my DW's friends is terrible about letting scraps of fruit and vegetables go down the drain and they can stink things up pretty good!
Good luck in locating the source.
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2014 Wildcat 312QBX
2014 Ford F350 SD 4X4 CC LB 6.7L PSD
Bob & Debbie, USAF Retired
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02-18-2015, 12:17 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Posts: 158
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Someone mentioned in another thread that the batteries can off gas an acid smell. Just a thought-but easy to check!
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2014 Sunseeker
3170ds (Suzuki Samurai 1986 toad)
Gary and Dottie, fur babies Doodle(corgi) and Beau(yellow lab)
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02-18-2015, 12:52 AM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,069
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First a couple of questions, is this a new trailer, a new to you used trailer or have you owned this for awhile? If this is a new trailer, is it the formaldehyde smell they come with? If it is used, did they have pets or could they have spilled something on the carpet? Next, have you made sure there is water or antifreeze in your p traps? There is a product called zeolite that gets rid of smells, but you need to find the cause first.
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2014 Crew Cab Chevy Silverado 3500 4wd Duramax/Allison
2014 Sabre 34REQS-6
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02-18-2015, 02:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 423
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One thing that now one has mentioned is if you get RV Anti Freeze in your hot water tank and warm it up, it can cause a real bad smell that is hard to get rid of.
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02-18-2015, 08:40 PM
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#6
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Rivnut
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Monterey, TN cumberland Plateau
Posts: 170
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make sure the sink traps have water in them and you will have no odors from the tanks.
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02-19-2015, 11:32 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: oakdale, ca
Posts: 292
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You will get a sour smell from your grey tank if it is not cleaned out regularly. If you have a sink near the smell area that could be it. The tank will get a build up of oils that hold odors. Get a grey tank deodorizer it comes in a large tablet and dissolves in your sink right into the tank. It will break down any oils in your tank and give it a lemon smell. Do this about every 3rd trip at least.
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02-21-2015, 10:51 AM
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#8
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Boss Ox & Drovergirl
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: N.E. Ohio Snow Belt
Posts: 1,340
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Last year we had an un-findable smell and it turned out our black tank had shifted and fllen off the "minimal" cradle that held it in place. consequently the discharge pipe had slipped out of the tank and the odor was from the tank. You couldn't really see anything because of the underbelly panels blocked the view of the tanks.
Good luck
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Mark, Vicki, & Scout THE dog
2015 Hemisphere 282RK
2016 GMC 3500HD Duramax dually
1992 Goldwing Aspencade
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02-21-2015, 08:24 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 24
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Thanks everyone for the replies. I got sidetracked with a lot this week, but I think I found the source. It is the grey tank smell, but not from the sinks. Apparently the smell is coming from below. The guy that was helping me, said there wasn't anything wet, underneath, but that he couldn't see the tank, itself. He said maybe a coupler is loose or something. Anyway, the smell was coming through a hole in the floor that wasn't sealed. I filled that hole with spray foam and can't smell the smell coming up, anymore. However, the smell is still in the living area. Should I close the valve to the grey tank and poor the solution in? I'm staying at a campground longterm, so I just left the grey tank valve, open.
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02-21-2015, 08:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 941
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You have a leak somewhere. Spraying foam in some hole will make it come up in another spot. I'd be concerned of a buildup of flammable gas of some sort. Don't ignore it.
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02-21-2015, 08:54 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 24
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Yeah, that makes sense. I will try to get under there tomorrow, and figure it out. At least that cold air isn't getting in, anymore. I'm just glad to know what it is.
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02-23-2015, 09:49 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 774
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My 2 cents - when you are camped don't leave the valves open on the grey or black tanks. It allows the smell (gas) from the campground sewer to enter your system.
I usually have to dump the grey tank twice before I have to dump the black. I try to have a near full grey so that when i dump the black it washes the lines out.
We've had some bad smells by leaving those valves open on a campground system.
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02-23-2015, 02:33 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeRP
My 2 cents - when you are camped don't leave the valves open on the grey or black tanks. It allows the smell (gas) from the campground sewer to enter your system.
I usually have to dump the grey tank twice before I have to dump the black. I try to have a near full grey so that when i dump the black it washes the lines out.
We've had some bad smells by leaving those valves open on a campground system.
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I leave the black water valve closed but until Friday night, I had always left the grey open. Well, you are correct. No more pickle juice smell. I am still going to get the guy to fix it, permanently, but I will keep the grey valve closed, from now, on. Thanks for everyone's input. All the info helped and kept me from putting the trailer on the auction block. Lol
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02-23-2015, 02:39 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MSRockyblue
I leave the black water valve closed but until Friday night, I had always left the grey open. Well, you are correct. No more pickle juice smell. I am still going to get the guy to fix it, permanently, but I will keep the grey valve closed, from now, on. Thanks for everyone's input. All the info helped and kept me from putting the trailer on the auction block. Lol
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Like I stated in your Other (Pickle Post) glad your out of the Pickle! Youroo!!
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02-23-2015, 02:44 PM
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#15
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Boss Ox & Drovergirl
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: N.E. Ohio Snow Belt
Posts: 1,340
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Quote:
Originally Posted by youroo
Like I stated in your Other (Pickle Post) glad your out of the Pickle! Youroo!!
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OHCH!!!! that's gerkin!
__________________
Mark, Vicki, & Scout THE dog
2015 Hemisphere 282RK
2016 GMC 3500HD Duramax dually
1992 Goldwing Aspencade
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02-23-2015, 03:27 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 774
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Sounds like you figured it out before my post! Congratulations! Take some pics of the repair if you can. I'd like to see if I have a similar problem.
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02-23-2015, 03:28 PM
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#17
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefty59
I don't know that I'd call the smell of a dead rodent anything near like pickle juice...but is it possible that an animal or rodent found a spot to hide in and then died?
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I am inclined to maybe go with what Lefty says. We had similar smell a couple of years ago, and eventually found a dead mouse under the dinette seat. That puppy was juicy.
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Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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02-23-2015, 03:34 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,658
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Some folks on here might argue that the p traps are designed to keep sewer smells from entering the coach if you left the grey valve open. I tried that a couple days and got complaints from the BOSS about a sewer smell. I closed the grey valve and in a couple hours, no more complaints. In your S/B house, the p traps will work to keep the odors away. But in my TT(for me) it didn't work.
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2012 Flagstaff V Lite 30 WRLTS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Mag Hemi 3.72 Rearaxle
Nights camped 2015 = 23
Nights camped 2016 = 25
Nights camped 2017 = 13
Nights camped 2018 = 3
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02-23-2015, 07:39 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 941
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Try putting a little bleach in the water the next time you do dishes. Works like a charm!
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02-23-2015, 07:53 PM
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#20
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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As has been stated, if you leave any dump valves open, you are venting the entire campground thru your camper sewer system and the P traps are not designed for the added flow of a campground.
Your camper sewer system is a closed system other than the individual built in vents.
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