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phinneyj · 01-08-2013, 07:00 PM

My MH has developed a strong rotten egg smell. It sets off my LP detector.

Gas is shut off. I am assuming it is one of my waste tanks. I added disinfectant to black and oder neutralizer to the gray. Opened roof vents and fans. Anyone have thoughts on it. Pardon my writing, I have one hand to work with for a couple weeks

Thanks

GregOk80 · 01-08-2013, 07:09 PM

Could it be a battery over charge that could be making the rotten egg smell? And if it this the black holding tank I dump 3 or 4 bags of ice down the toilet and drive around as this will loosing anything in the tank.

KIX · 01-08-2013, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phinneyj

My MH has developed a strong rotten egg smell. It sets off my LP detector.

Gas is shut off. I am assuming it is one of my waste tanks. I added disinfectant to black and oder neutralizer to the gray. Opened roof vents and fans. Anyone have thoughts on it. Pardon my writing, I have one hand to work with for a couple weeks

Thanks

The odorant added to propane is ethyl mercaptan which smells like rotten eggs. I understand that your tank has been turned off. Propane is heavier than air and depending on where a leak may be it can settle into cabinets, etc. If it were me I would do a leak test on the system and check the tank and tank fittings for leaks also.

lyledavid · 01-08-2013, 07:12 PM

Sounds like the batteries are off gassing from possible overcharge, or low water Look into the battery compartment. At least that is where I would start.
lyledavid

Sorry Greg I didn't read all of the replies LDl

KIX · 01-08-2013, 07:14 PM

Lyledavid has a good suggestion too. A whole lot easier to check than the propane system too.

JudyH · 01-08-2013, 07:37 PM

If it is setting off LP detector, I'd be very careful, and suspect it is a propane leak somewhere, are you sure the tanks are closed? If so, maybe the tank is leaking at release valve, possibly warmer than when filled? Or bad valve on tank, cross-threaded connection? Good luck.

KIX · 01-08-2013, 07:44 PM

The off gas of batteries is hydrogen.....a propane detector will not discriminate between hydrocarbons

Gary RVRoamer · 01-08-2013, 08:26 PM

After the propane, a bad battery (outgassing) is the most likely. However could be a tank vent too - sometimes the waste water will have that smell (especially gray). You may have an air admittance valve (in the vertical pipe under each sink) that is not closing properly and letting tank gases bleed back inside the coach. They are easily and inexpensively replaced.

OddOne · 01-09-2013, 12:13 AM

If its a gas engine. If the catalytic converters when they go bad put off a bad rotten egg smell. Just a thought. That is if it's running when you smell it.

Lincolnboy2 · 01-09-2013, 07:39 AM

When I winterized, I forgot to put the antifreeze stuff in the shower drain p trap.

I don't know, a week or two later, I went out to check on something and inside it smelled of rotten eggs / rotten something. Dropped some of the antifreeze in the p trap and that solved the smell issue. But my LP monitor never went off.

Back in 2011, my LP detector was going off intermittently, it was 5 years old. These detectors get weak and give false signals as they age and need to be replaced, which I did, and it resolved the issue. But, the old one would also go off when I was checking the house batteries, especially if I walked away for a minute or two, that old LP detector would start beeping. So the posts about batteries could sure be an issue too.

Let us know what you find it is/was. Hope something here will help you.

MSHappyCampers · 01-09-2013, 08:36 AM

It sure sounds like an LP gas leak! With the tank turned off I would set a large fan in the doorway with the air blowing outside to suck fumes out of the RV. It will help to open a window back in the rear of the RV while you are using the fan. There may still be LP gas in the pipes even though the tank valve is turned off. One way to get that out would be to see if the cooktop will light. I would only try this AFTER running the fan for an hour or so to be sure there is not enough gas in the RV to explode!

Good luck & God bless!

chief02 · 01-09-2013, 08:47 AM

Sometimes build up on the water heater electric element can cause this type of odor when in electric mode. This happened to me and some vinegar in the water heater fixed the issue.

RickO · 01-09-2013, 08:54 AM

I too would vote for starting with the batteries. It's a likely culprit and easy to check out. Either way, it's not something to ignore.

Rick

tiredvet · 01-09-2013, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief02

Sometimes build up on the water heater electric element can cause this type of odor when in electric mode. This happened to me and some vinegar in the water heater fixed the issue.

X2. Iron sulfite build up in your water heater. Run your hot water at all the faucets and smell the water. Might just need a good cleaning and disinfecting or cut back on the deviled egg sandwiches.