Community Forums

joeplazek · 06-04-2018, 04:35 AM

I have a 1996 Monaco Signature that my parents purchased brand new in 1996. The grey water odour problem has been there since new. My parents took the coach to Oregon and back to Monaco in 1996 to have this problem repaired. They worked on a bunch of things and said everything was complete. The grey water odour never went away. My question to any Monaco member is “has anyone ever had this problem and repaired it”?

The problem is really only there when you are parked for a weekend (no real odour) and you leave and start to move (that’s when the odour is detected).

I can tell you what i have tried

TST GREY WATER DEODORIZER (no real difference)

Driving with the grey water in the tank and then draining (felt if there was any residual sludge it would be suspended and flushed out) (no real difference)

Monaco felt it was a venting problem and changed the venting. (No difference)

Traps have been checked and are there.

We have closed all the roof vents and windows before travelling thinking the air draw may be the culprit. (No real difference)

I am just about out of ideas. That’s why I have turned to the forum. Thought maybe some owner out there has had the problem and found the culprit. Right now i will try any and all ideas.

Thanks in advance,,

Joe.

WinnieView · 06-04-2018, 06:46 AM

Try closing and covering all the drains.

Carl & Shelly · 06-04-2018, 07:40 AM

do you have a washing machine in this coach? If so make sure to run it in a rinse cycle before driving, if no washing machine make sure the drain has been capped off
Hope this will help.

wantowander · 06-04-2018, 08:25 AM

We had a nasty smell and couldn't find it last summer. Tried cleaning toilet, emptying and flushing the black and grey tanks, but still had the smell. We finally poured about a cup of bleach down the shower drain, let it sit about 15 minutes then poured in some hot water to rinse. Smell was gone!

We had been using the shower at campgrounds for a few days so I guess the water in the trap either evaporated or had bacteria growing in it.

windsorbill · 06-04-2018, 08:59 AM

If you can eliminate areas such as kitchen, bathroom, bedroom areas it would help. But there has been a lot of issues with 'crud' lining the drain lines before the 'p' trap. On sink drains, I've taken the stopper out and take a bottle brush and scrub the inside of the pipe down as far as the brush will go. Re-assemble everything and rinse it. It doesn't take much soap scum, hair or shaving cream to get the smells going, especially with the hot weather coming up.

Captjake1 · 06-04-2018, 09:07 AM

Parked, using and then moving. You said that is when the smell starts.
I have found that the sloshing in the grey tank somehow creates a suction on our shower p trap and pulls the water out of the trap, leaving dry.
I have done everything possible to rectify. The only solution for us is dumpingaga cup of water in the drain, until we can dump.
It doesn't happen every time, but enough to smell aweful.

joeplazek · 06-05-2018, 05:09 AM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have found the shower drain to be draining slow. Could be scummed up.

I have read on here before about the washing machine trap needing water. Have poured a cup of water into it before every trip but have never run the rinse cycle. Just thought natural draining would get it to the trap. Will try the cycle.

My wife did suggest we get those rubber drain covers and trying that.

We will try pouring some water in every trap before we move next time.

Will update when we find the remedy.

Thanks again,,

Joe

Captjake1 · 06-05-2018, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeplazek

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have found the shower drain to be draining slow. Could be scummed up.

I have read on here before about the washing machine trap needing water. Have poured a cup of water into it before every trip but have never run the rinse cycle. Just thought natural draining would get it to the trap. Will try the cycle.

My wife did suggest we get those rubber drain covers and trying that.

We will try pouring some water in every trap before we move next time.

Will update when we find the remedy.

Thanks again,,

Joe

We often get the smel 'while' traveling and have to add while moving. Usually only happens if we have a significant unlevel situation while moving. Steep driveway, etc. Sent my wife back several times to sniff it out until she found it.

Rfriebert · 06-06-2018, 09:04 AM

Took me a while to find mine. Our rig was prepped for a washer/dryer, but we don't have one. We use is as a storage location (a premium for full timers). Anyway, there is a stand pipe that I found behind the wall that would be used for drainage. Took the panel off and there it was. No cap on it. Thought that was interesting. Took a quart of water and poured it down that pipe and wallah, it was gone.

Remember, I literally had to take the panel off that covered the washer connection area to find this pipe.

Hope this helps,

ray

joeplazek · 06-19-2018, 04:58 AM

I did climb up on top and check the vents. The grey water vent has a funky cap on it that only leaves a small opening under it. I removed it as i thought this cap could be creating pressure down the vent instead of suction as the wind moves over it.

I will update if this helps.

Joe

RamiDav · 06-19-2018, 06:42 AM

Our coaches do not have vents for the sinks , instead they use air
admittance valves .
These valves are mounted under the vanity etc usually up rather high .
The valves let air in so the water can drain then they close to stop odors .
The little buggers go bad and cause exactly the problem you have .
Fortunately they are easy to replace and can be found at most stores .
Why not take one off to match the size and then replace them .
Mine just screws on .

Ray

JohnBoyToo · 06-25-2018, 10:11 AM

They are cheap too:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...dmitance+valve

One thing about troubleshooting though - if you try too many things at once, you won't know what fixed it

So if you correct it, back out one thing at a time until it comes back so you can fix the issue !

joeplazek · 06-29-2018, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo

They are cheap too:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...dmitance+valve

One thing about troubleshooting though - if you try too many things at once, you won't know what fixed it

So if you correct it, back out one thing at a time until it comes back so you can fix the issue !

I did see this set up in mine. Never looked at the end of them. It must be the culprit. Will update when I conquer it.

Joe

RustyTools · 06-29-2018, 02:53 PM

A few years ago, someone gave me a "Lil Stanker" as a Christmas present (were they telling me something??). It's a small 12vdc fan and housing that replaces the outside black-water tank stack vent cap. It's stated purpose is to continually create a small negative pressure inside the tank to draw odors out the top instead of releasing them inside.

Fortunately, I didn't have an odor problem at the time, but installed it anyways. Sniffing downwind, I could tell that it was definitely drawing out tank-odors.

I haven't been able to find it for sale on-line recently, but a small computer fan, a 4-gang outlet box, and some PVC adapters should be a similar solution.

Just an idea.