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Old 07-08-2023, 04:51 PM   #1
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RVision chemical smell coming from?

Help!!
There is a VERY STRONG chemical odor throughout our 2008 R-Vision Trail-Lite. It hits you as soon as you open the door to enter. I can't identify what it is!

A little background: on our first night camping, the slide leaked in a rainstorm. We removed the vinyl floor and carpet to find previous water damage/mold spots on the plywood floor. We have dug out the rotten wood and are thinking of treating the floor with mold killer, and then painting with Mold/Mildew Kilz. We left the carpet in the cab area, so could it be carpet? The walls and ceiling are like a cream-colored vinyl that looks original. Could it be the vinyl? Any other ideas?

Side note -- One might ask why we didn't smell this when we purchased it? The seller ran an ozone machine for hours before we looked at it, to eliminate this NASTY chemical smell. We didn't smell it until we brought it home and let it sit for 24 hours.
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Old 07-08-2023, 05:22 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Jane T View Post
Help!!
There is a VERY STRONG chemical odor throughout our 2008 R-Vision Trail-Lite. It hits you as soon as you open the door to enter. I can't identify what it is!

A little background: on our first night camping, the slide leaked in a rainstorm. We removed the vinyl floor and carpet to find previous water damage/mold spots on the plywood floor. We have dug out the rotten wood and are thinking of treating the floor with mold killer, and then painting with Mold/Mildew Kilz. We left the carpet in the cab area, so could it be carpet? The walls and ceiling are like a cream-colored vinyl that looks original. Could it be the vinyl? Any other ideas?

Side note -- One might ask why we didn't smell this when we purchased it? The seller ran an ozone machine for hours before we looked at it, to eliminate this NASTY chemical smell. We didn't smell it until we brought it home and let it sit for 24 hours.


Not a rotten egg smell is it?
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Old 07-09-2023, 12:05 AM   #3
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RVision chemical smell coming from?

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Not a rotten egg smell is it?
no, not rotten eggs. I don't think it is a gas leak.
I don't think it is black tank or grey tank either. It is chemically, that is the best I can do to describe it. Sorry, I wish I could give more hints.... My husband treated with particle board floor with a mold killer today, and that smell overwhelmed the chemical smell, at least today....
I think I can identify mold and mildew pretty well, but this chemical smell is everywhere and overwhelming.
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Old 07-09-2023, 01:31 AM   #4
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It could be a myriad of things that you could be smelling.

It's not my purpose to creep you out but did anything die inside the coach? I'm not necessarily implying a human but any mammal as "rotting" or decomposing animals can give off a variety of smells (we've all heard of the "smell of death" when bodies are discovered) and both putrescine and cadaverine are organic chemicals that occur with decomposition among others. Chemicals used in the bio-remediation process to clean areas where death of animals has occurred also can obviously give off chemical smells of their own. Nothing was divulged to you by the previous owner as to an animal dying or found dead in the coach? If they were running an ozone generator, however, they were more than likely attempting to cover up or get rid of cigarette smoke, pet odors, mildew and wetness odors, etc. and not the "smell of death" lol.
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Old 07-09-2023, 12:37 PM   #5
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Please check your fridge, if you have one, our first MH had a "smell." that the RV place said it was a chemical that they used to clean the carpets. Smell didn't go away. Turned out that it was the fridge. Had to buy a brand new one.
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Old 07-09-2023, 04:12 PM   #6
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^ yeah, that's actually a lot better suggestion as to the chemical smell than I gave above, LOL.

So I think it's safe to assume that you have an older/traditional 2-way absorption refrigerator? How is it functioning? If the cooling unit is leaking (a common occurrence with older absorption fridges), you might smell a strong smell of ammonia depending on how bad the leak might be.

Open up the compartment behind the refrigerator located on the exterior (see below) and see if you see remnants of yellow stains or SMELL intensely the odor you are describing, then you may have found the culprit.

How to know if your RV fridge is leaking ammonia - RVtravel

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Old 07-09-2023, 04:15 PM   #7
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Batteries that are very hot and low on water can give off a very strong smell. Physically feel the batteries to see if they are warm or hot to the touch. If they are, turn off the charger immediately, and let them cool before attempting to check water levels.
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Old 07-09-2023, 07:29 PM   #8
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Well, she seems to be ruling out the "rotten egg" smell and hot batteries have more of that sulfer-rotten-egg smell than not and I'm also thinking that she'd definitely be able to ascertain the ammonia smell which is quite distinct of a leaking refrigerator cooling unit.

So we may be back to square one as far as diagnosing their problem smell.
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Old 07-09-2023, 09:27 PM   #9
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Ammonia smell from fridge leak doesn't stick around for days

The water leak, damaged subfloor etc........MOLD

And it is hidden....will have to tear out anything/everything around/near where water leak occurred
Masks, gloves & Eye protection...paper suits

Do NOT want to be breathing/being exposed to MOLD

And wet carpet in cab.......needs to be pulled out/laid out/dried out/cleaned -----
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Old 07-10-2023, 12:15 AM   #10
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I'm not sure if mold will necessarily give off a strong chemical smell, though. But sure, it is an organic compound that will produce gasses that give it a pungent earthy smell. Is that what you're smelling? ...an earthy, musty smell?

But I know better than to dispute what Mr. Biscuit says ...through the years, he's one on the forum who consistently gives sound answers. So I'm thinking it is going to turn out to be exactly that --mold.
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Old 07-10-2023, 01:32 PM   #11
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I'm not sure if mold will necessarily give off a strong chemical smell, though. But sure, it is an organic compound that will produce gasses that give it a pungent earthy smell. Is that what you're smelling? ...an earthy, musty smell?

But I know better than to dispute what Mr. Biscuit says ...through the years, he's one on the forum who consistently gives sound answers. So I'm thinking it is going to turn out to be exactly that --mold.
If not MOLD.....then off gassing of Formaldehyde
*FEMA trailers had that issue
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Old 07-11-2023, 08:31 AM   #12
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Another member had leaking formaldehyde based RV holding tank chemicals leaking under their sink, cabinet or wherever. It was mentioned to look but I think they forgot they had it. Finally discovered a container. Maybe it or something leaked into the carpet.
It takes a fresh nose to sniff out the source .
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Old 07-11-2023, 11:22 PM   #13
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Wow!

Y’all have given us so many things to try!! The mold smell is still there, for sure, so we are working on that. I will have my husband check the refrigerator. He has been hesitant to pull out the carpet in the cab because he doesn’t want to have to remove the seats in the cab, but I think maybe we need to do that. He’s going to go on the roof tomorrow and try to clean out the air conditioner vents(?)
I have a degree in chemistry, and a very sensitive nose, so I’m a little irritated with myself for no being able to track this down. But, I will note that my husband was out working in the RV today and when he came in for lunch, he reeked of mold/mildew, so that smell is definitely present.
Has anyone had luck with mold bombs? The ceiling and some walls are covered in vinyl(?) so I’m guessing that has absorbed the nasty smell too.
Thanks again for all your help!! We have been so discouraged, and it’s so nice to have people who are willing to help! 🥰🥰🥰
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Old 07-12-2023, 08:56 AM   #14
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You can get lighted endoscope type cameras to go on phone or laptop. You can look into ducts or maybe sneak a peek under carpet.
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