Refrigerator smell

[PuebloPete]

Not sure if anyone experienced this? But everytime I turn the fridge on and let it get cold, I come in later and my whole camper smells nasty. The smell literally smells like septic or something died. I turn the fridge off and air the camper out and it goes away. I turn the fridge on again and its back. ?? Any help would be appreciated, going to the broncos game this weekend with a crowd and really dont want to stink the house out! Thanks!

Dometic fridge.

[randyranger]

Not to sure why it only smells when tured on, in this case you may have an amonia leak, (worst case senario, get it checked by a tech, amonia is an oxygen displacing gas and can cause serious ingury or death), it may be a build up of moistuer between the fridge and frezer,(as there is not much ventalation in there it may cause the smell) there is a switch that turns a little heater on to clear this moisture, it may be turned off as this is a constant power drain on the house batteries (goost load) see the manual. many guys turn this off for that reason when storing the unit. another thing is to check the inside of the fridge for cracks in the walls (behide the walls is an insalation made of all sorts of unfriendly chemicals, if this is the case get a new fridge, you will never get rid of the smell.)

Does this happen when it is on propane or electric?

[wa8yxm]

There are two, perhaps 3, common smells in a Motor home.

Ammonia is a very "Sharp" odor, may bring tears to the eyes.. Indicated failed fridge and need for replacement.

Sulfur Dioxide (Essence of rotten eggs) is given off by batteries, it's also a sewer gas.

Sewer gas has several odors in it.

My guess is dead rat or bird.. Do a preventive maintence job on the Fridge (Clean the flu, INspect and clean the burner)

[ga traveler]

I would start by checking the refrigerator for leaks in the propane system. Run the frig. on elec with the propane turned off. If you don't get the smell, that tells you it is in the gas.

[PuebloPete]

Thanks for your input people. Its only on electric now and last time I did have it on propane and it stilled smelled. It literally smells like something died or sewer. Doesn't smell like amonia to me. More sulfer. But it only happens when it is on so wierd. I was thinking it was an animal that maybe heats up cause hes stuck in there somewhere when its on? If I shut the frige off, and air out the camper it goes away. So strange.

[PuebloPete]

Thanks for the idea Wa8yxm. It was my battery. It was low with H2SO4 and when I turned the fridge on I think it loaded it and it started to boil and give off the sulfer smell. Thanks guys!

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuebloPete Thanks for the idea Wa8yxm. It was my battery. It was low with H2SO4 and when I turned the fridge on I think it loaded it and it started to boil and give off the sulfer smell. Thanks guys!

Glad I could help (By the way did you click on the "THANKS" button on my post?)

Sometimes that major in Science comes in handy.
(majored in Math and Science, also took the Electronics Tech course)