oooooh that smell...

[SCVJeff]

The last two trips (coming home only) we have smelled Sulfur coming from the sink(s) in the kitchen and bath. I have see a few threads on this in the past, but the question to the floor is what would have all-of-a-sudden caused the water to be either forced from the P-Traps, or enough negative pressure in the coach to bubble the grey tank past the P-Trap ?? The vents are the finned suck-out (I thought) do-dads on both tanks and have been there for several years..


The only thing I noticed different yesterday is that the roof vent was open, can’t say about the time before. It also seems to happen after getting off the highway and onto the city streets heading to the house.


Anyone had this problem in the past??

[Arch Hoagland]

Open roof vents while moving will cause bad smells to be drawn into the coach.

At least that's been my experience.

You may want to also check all your batteries as they will put out a sulfur smell when they go bad.

I have also run into campsites where their water produced a sulfur smell, but that's rare.

[Aguyfromcalg]

It may be possible that your drain pipes lost water in the p traps. That will allow the smells to get into your motor home. Just have some one pour water down the drains to stop the smells.

[SCVJeff]

All P Traps were filled before we left for the 60 mile trip home, and again when it started. It's absolutely com ng from the drain, not the roof. Ask my nose. ...

This one is confusing...

[SUMDALUS]

SCVJeff,

What you are probably smelling is hydrogen gas coming through the water system from the water heater and not the drain.

A rotten egg odor (hydrogen sulfide) may be produced when the electro-galvanic action inside the water heater releases hydrogen from the water. If sulfur is present in the water supply the two will combine and produce a very unpleasant smell.

Here's Atwoods cure (as printed in their water heater manuals):

FLUSHING TO REMOVE UNPLEASANT ODOR

1. Turn off main water supply. Drain the water heater tank and reinstall drain plug. Remove the pressure-temperature relief valve. Mix solution of 4 parts white vinegar to two parts water. With a funnel, carefully pour solution into tank.
2. Cycle water heater with the above solution, letting it run under normal operation 4-5 times.
3. Remove the drain plug and thoroughly drain all water from the tank. Flush the water heater to remove any sediment.

(You may flush the tank with air pressure or fresh water. pressure may be applied through either the inlet or outlet valves on the rear of the tank or through the pressuretemperature relief valve coupling located on the front of the unit. TO FLUSH TANK WITH AIR PRESSURE: Insert your air pressure through the pressure-temperature relief valve coupling. With the drain valve open, the air pressure will force the remaining water out of the unit. To flush tank with water pressure: Fresh water should be pumped into the tank with either the onboard pump or external water pressure. Continue this flushing process for approximately 5 minutes, allowing the fresh water to agitate the stagnant water on the bottom of the tank and forcing the deposits through the drain opening.)

4. Replace drain plug and pressure-temperature relief valve.
5. Refill tank with fresh water that contains no sulphur.

Hope this helps.

[SCVJeff]

Waters good, it was filled at the house 8 days prior and we don't have that problem here. I stuck my nose in the drain and can verify the source (don't try that unless you have to). I've flushed the grey tank several times now and its running clear, but still don't understand how the P-Traps are OK at rest, on the highway, but them apparently leak through once OFF the highway and at city street speeds?

[SCVJeff]

PS- wonder what Vinegar into the grey tank would do??

[Aguyfromcalg]

Ok so we have eliminated the usual suspects. Personally I can't see any problem with pouring a bit of vinegar down the drains. I'm wondering if there is any dunk build up in the drains?

[SCVJeff]

I poured 2ea. 5Gal shots down the drain last night and got a lot out the drain, so maybe that's a contributor. That, even though we are really careful about letting things get into the drains that also have screens on them..

[Aguyfromcalg]

I am stumped . I hope someone will have the answer for you

[Toms57]

If you are sure that the gray water tank is the culpret, put a gallon or two of cheap bleach in it. That should take care of the odor.

[edgray]

This is a long shot, but are you sure the grey water DRAIN valve is completely closed? In the past, whenever I left mine "cracked open" to allow it to drip-empty the tank while going down the road, we would get the smell you are dealing with. I don't use this method to empty my grey tank anymore.

[SCVJeff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray This is a long shot, but are you sure the grey water DRAIN valve is completely closed? In the past, whenever I left mine "cracked open" to allow it to drip-empty the tank while going down the road, we would get the smell you are dealing with. I don't use this method to empty my grey tank anymore.

2 gate valves feeding a Macerator that is capped.

[Aguyfromcalg]

Have you been able to locate the problem?