Mystery odor in 2007 Outback bathroom

[CSmith81]

We have had a dead fish odor in the bathroom only of our 2007 Keystone Outback 28RSDS for about 3 weeks now. Tanks have both been flushed and cleaned multiple times and we still had the smell in the bathroom. We came back from being gone for Thanksgiving for a week and the odor has now permeated the rest of the trailer. My husband turned off the AC while we were gone and cracked the vent in the bathroom, so we’re not sure if the smell has spread or if it just “escaped” the bathroom while we were gone. We opened up all the vents and left for several hours and it was still pretty bad when we came back.

Any ideas what this could be or where we should start? I think it might be electrical in the wall of the bathroom but it doesn’t get stronger when lights or water heater are on and doesn’t dissipate when power is cut. It doesn’t smell fishy coming from any of the sinks, the shower, or the toilet when flushed. It was less strong when it got really cold here but it was 79 today and it’s super stinky!

[tuffr2]

Humm, the simple thing to try with a 20% chance of working would be to put the yellow/orange tablets in the bathroom sink to deodorize the trap. Also do the kitchen sink. I am not sure what they are called but they are called 'sink deodorizer' or something like that.

It is something to try and might fix your odor problem.

[Old-Biscuit]

Under the bathroom sink inside the cabinet most likely is an Air Admittance Valve on the sink drain line after the 'P' trap (AAV)


It OPENS when dumping grey tank so that prevent negative pressure in sink drain line which would suck the water out of the 'P' trap


They are cheap...and fail ---stay open
Grey water can be nastier smelling then black

Can purchase replacement at hardware stores......same cheap one or better ones
Just hand tight...no wrenches required









To test if that is where smell is coming from just tape an air tight bag over the AAV and see if smell goes away
If it does.....replace the AAV


If still got the smell----check the battery.

If overcharged or bad cell----they stink also

[txcpl]

Old Biscuit has given you some good advice. If his advice doesn't help identify the problem, please let us know.

[tuffr2]

Once you solve the issue could you post back and let everyone know what it was? Thanks.

[CSmith81]

Definitely not the drain vents.

[keymastr]

Anyone used rat poison around the trailer lately? I guess the dead fish description could be from a mouse that died in the wall. You confused me with the "electrical" comment though.

[CSmith81]

I read somewhere that a burning wire cover can have a fishy odor, so I was suspicious of that. But turning off the breaker to the bathroom and water heater doesn’t change the smell.

[Persistent]

Originally Posted by keymastr

Anyone used rat poison around the trailer lately? I guess the dead fish description could be from a mouse that died in the wall. You confused me with the "electrical" comment though.

I agree. Dead fish odor can be a dead fish, but more likely is a dead animal.
My Kodiak Cub has many large closed spaces in the cabin. The spaces make great winter homes for small animals. I would start near where you first smelled it. Mice are about the size of a golf ball. The can often squeeze through a hole as small as a pencil. They can be hard to see in dark places. Unscrew, carefully pry panels off or get someone with finishing skills to do it for you.

[Old-Biscuit]

After 3 weeks a 'dead animal' smell should have gone away not get stronger and permeate the rest of trailer



Have you checked the battery?

[steve52]

A bad toilet seal can allow the stinky water to get behind it and produce nasty smells in the living space.

[Old-Biscuit]

Have you located/fixed the source of the stink?