Community Forums

lands · 03-03-2022, 08:39 AM

we have a 2021 anthem 44r and have a strange issue. The sink in the midship bath's water smells. the other sinks as well as shower are fine just this one sink. We do have a culligan system for our casita and coach and no other sink or shower smells just the one in midship full bath. Any ideas would be appreciated. Smell goes away once the water is running for a while. Just don't know why it would be only this sink and not the others. thanks. ps we do do not use this sink as often as others

Podivin · 03-03-2022, 08:52 AM

I wonder if it's the water or the drain. If you fill a glass with water from that sink and go to another room to smell the water, does it smell? If not then it's likely the drain causing the smell.
We have one sink we don't use much in our RV, after a while it starts to smell, running water into it corrects the problem. I KNOW it's not the water because this is one side of the kitchen sink and it's almost always covered with a cutting board. So the water here is used regularly, but not that side of the sink.

Gary.Jones · 03-03-2022, 08:57 AM

I had a smell problem a year or 18 months ago and published a thread on an effective Sanitizing process (Thetford). But the smelly water was in all sinks/showers. But one thing I noticed was that the smell was greatest if the water had not been actively used (stood in line for longer periods of time).

I'm pretty sure that I picked up an algae or microbe at some RV park we had patronized and that was the cause. I thought that the water we took on MUST have had Sulphur in it, but did a lot of reading and learned that the Sulphur smell is produced by an microbe that adheres to and grows in you water lines and your tank, and then transfers its smell to the water as the water stands in the line. The longer it stands in the line, the stronger the smell. Just my experience....

We were traveling in the northeast and patronized several small parks off the beaten path and I believe that was the source (bad well water). I now never re-fill the fresh tank from well-water camps. We will use the fresh from the tank rather than use the well water. If we run out of good water in the tank, then we don't re-fill the tank and use the well water for showering and washing but never add it to the tank until we get to city water again. Then we flush all lines.

I found the Thetford water sanitization process worked very well. I now am reluctant to take on any water into the tank unless I am certain it is from a city water supply that is chlorinated and NEVER from a well or private water supply.

Gary

brobox · 03-03-2022, 09:01 AM

I had the same thing on my 19 and 21. Sanitizing the tank letting bleach water sit in the pipes overnight, then normal use it went away.

jeff.herren · 03-03-2022, 09:01 AM

Air admittance valve

replace OEM with the link below.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Studor-Mini...m0-_-10078-_-0

Kid Gloves · 03-03-2022, 09:03 AM

From your description it sounds as though the P-trap does not have a sufficient amount of water to block the odors. It doesn’t sound like an AAV issue. When does this occur? After driving? Every morning? It’s possible that water is sloshing out while under way. If that’s the case, you could try closing the stopper and then add some water to the sink, once parked and then open the stopper. That sink likely drains to the black tank, so you get to experience all the pleasantries that lie within.

lands · 03-03-2022, 09:18 AM

appreciate responses. Going to look at air admittance valve first, since it generally happens when the sink has not been used for a bit. It tends to go away once water has been running for a bit so filling up the trap. Not sure why it does not smell all the time and just starts smelling when we turn on water. If this is not right will sanitize tank. thanks for the options, these forums are so very helpful for troubleshooting. Fortunately we don't use sink often and have service scheduled for april.

Mwoodofd · 03-03-2022, 05:46 PM

I had the same issue in my back bathroom sink. Like Gary posted, the Thetford process fixed my issue. I also used bleach, but it would not get rid of the odor if not run for several days. The Thetford worked on mine, and it takes some time, like all day and maybe overnight, then flush. It is a 2 step process. Bleach may do that like Chuck suggested, I just never let it sit overnight. If using bleach, I would bypass the Aqua Hot.

Poppedclams · 03-04-2022, 02:01 AM

If other stuff does not solve it. It was mentioned the AAV valve it worth a try.

Gary.Jones · 03-04-2022, 09:46 AM

This the Thetford kit that resolved my smell problem and killed the mucrobes in the water lines.

I read the instructions CAREFULLY and did exactly what it said except that I filled and emptied the tank and lines an extra time beyond what they specify. It is damn time consuming ( ~ a full day) in that I have 100 gallon fresh tank and it drains damn slowly when you are draining it, but the Thetford process works and is bulletproof. Its only about $13 on Amazon or even at Camping World. I can attest, the Thetford system does work completely.

Fresh Water Tank Sanitizer Detergent and Sanitizer Treatment, 2 x 24 oz bottles - Thetford 36662

Find on Amazon

Gary

buddy110 · 03-04-2022, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff.herren

Air admittance valve

replace OEM with the link below.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Studor-Mini...m0-_-10078-_-0

Assuming he has them. My coach for instance has neither studor valves nor P traps.

OP, I had the issue only from my bath sinks. I did a thorough cleaning of the gray tank and it cleared up the smell. The gray tank collects all kinds of food and debris from the kitchen sink. If the food get's trapped in a corner of the tank and like me you leave your gray tank open, that food will rot unless the water flow rinses it out

buddy110 · 03-04-2022, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lands

appreciate responses. Going to look at air admittance valve first, since it generally happens when the sink has not been used for a bit. It tends to go away once water has been running for a bit so filling up the trap. Not sure why it does not smell all the time and just starts smelling when we turn on water. If this is not right will sanitize tank. thanks for the options, these forums are so very helpful for troubleshooting. Fortunately we don't use sink often and have service scheduled for april.

Are you sure your coach has P traps in the bathroom?

buddy110 · 03-04-2022, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

I had a smell problem a year or 18 months ago and published a thread on an effective Sanitizing process (Thetford). But the smelly water was in all sinks/showers. But one thing I noticed was that the smell was greatest if the water had not been actively used (stood in line for longer periods of time).

I'm pretty sure that I picked up an algae or microbe at some RV park we had patronized and that was the cause. I thought that the water we took on MUST have had Sulphur in it, but did a lot of reading and learned that the Sulphur smell is produced by an microbe that adheres to and grows in you water lines and your tank, and then transfers its smell to the water as the water stands in the line. The longer it stands in the line, the stronger the smell. Just my experience....

We were traveling in the northeast and patronized several small parks off the beaten path and I believe that was the source (bad well water). I now never re-fill the fresh tank from well-water camps. We will use the fresh from the tank rather than use the well water. If we run out of good water in the tank, then we don't re-fill the tank and use the well water for showering and washing but never add it to the tank until we get to city water again. Then we flush all lines.

I found the Thetford water sanitization process worked very well. I now am reluctant to take on any water into the tank unless I am certain it is from a city water supply that is chlorinated and NEVER from a well or private water supply.

Gary

This is why I use a three stage filtration system for everyday water use, and a 6 stage RO for drinking water. Not much will get through them

Kid Gloves · 03-04-2022, 12:16 PM

The OP’s coach has been stationary and presumably connected to a city water supply. That condition would seem to eliminate the fresh water tank as a source of the odor, would it not?

If the source of the odor is microbes, as Nathan Arizona mentioned in the movie Raising Arizona, those microbes would be located only in the line between the city water source and the offending sink. However, do we know that the water is the source of the odor?