sewer smell

[spindrift]

In the years I have been "camping", I have always put a cup of Pine Sol with a couple gallons of water in each grey tank before every trip. Haven't had a smelly tank yet...knock on wood.

[travelin' texans]

DW did the PineSol thing a few years ago, but I told her to stop because that pine scented s@$t about made me sick when dumping!!

[TNTBaker]

MYSTERY UNSOLVED! So back to my "under the kitchen sink odor" problem. There hasn't been any water under the sink, but the smell is very much still there. It's definitely a grey water smell. Todd checked the belly cover and there is no water leaking under there. I just can't figure it out. STRONG grey odor coming out. Can't find it. I am wondering if the dishwasher is venting somewhere or something? SO frustrating!

[TNTBaker]

So I thought I had figured out the problem of sewer odor coming from the island in the kitchen, (the sink leaking). But that's not it, the smell is still there after stopping the water leaking and cleaning thoroughly.

Back to the dishwasher. I keep thinking about it... and then I thought WAIT. The dishwasher has it's own vent when it drains... and then I looked at the setup again:

Notice that the drain hose is installed UNDER the valve that keeps odors out? MAYBE sewer odor is travelling back through the dishwasher drain hose and into the island? I think it's a strong possibility. I am trying to test it now, I will let you know what I find. FIRST I have to figure out how to test it. I need to plug the VENT for the dishwasher itself, where ever that is. I will start by closing my grey valves! That would be a start. Any suggestions?

[homeguy]

It is a good chance. With that set up, I don't see a p-trap. that would allow the smell to go back thru the hose and up thru the dishwasher unless there is some water left in the line to block the smell.

[TNTBaker]

I closed the grey tank valves, and I made a distinct loop with the dishwasher hose as well to simulate a p-trap. I ran a rinse cycle to put water in the hose... I think I can already tell that the smell has stopped. NOW I am going to hunt for a blow-up of a FP Dish drawer to find out where the vent is to make sure there IS such a thing.

[TNTBaker]

Update: Well, the odor is unquestionably COMPLETELY gone now, and all I really did was close the grey valves. SO my thought is that IF we move the odor valve BELOW the dishwasher drain hose, we will not have any odor. I will test this by clamping shut the drain hose and opening the grey valves again. Stand by for more.

[TNTBaker]

The drain hose is not conducive to clamping it shut. Darn. I disconnected it and there is NO odor coming from the hose (not surprising). I read the installation instructions for the dish washer and sure enough the drain hose is supposed to be ABOVE the p-trap or valve (also not surprising). Now what I do NOT know: How SOON can Todd disconnect the pipes and switch them around? I am pretty sure that is the problem. Does anyone else have their dishwasher drain hose located BELOW the valve or is it just us??

[0nTheRoad]

Cant you just simulate a p-trap in the dishwasher drain hose by putting a downward bend in the drain line, wouldn't that accomplish the same thing a p-trap does?

[TNTBaker]

Yes, I have done that and am waiting to see if that helps. :-) I'll let you know.

[Steve & Linda]

Just checked, similar to yours, the dishwasher ties in under the mechanical trap. Now that I checked, I can't get my spice drawer back in all the way. Always something! (I'll figure it out).

[TNTBaker]

Steve and Linda; Thanks, good to know. Do you have sewer smell under your kitchen sink??

[Jim & Mary]

I just installed the F/P dishwasher in my 36 RL and the instructions said to construct a high loop in the discharge line before exiting out the Y fitting. From the top of the loop down to the dishwasher enough water should remain in the line to act a a P trap and keep sewer gas from coming back out of dishwasher. I put my loop almost the height of the inside of the island cabinet just in behind the spice rack. I, too have had problems getting the drawers back in, you just have to hold your mouth right.

[TNTBaker]

LOL Jim and Mary! I also stood on one leg, seemed to help.
No sewer smell? I did create a loop in mine yesterday, and it's definitely much better... but I can still detect it, but probably just residual.

[Steve & Linda]

Bakers, No smells, I am happy to report. After we lugged this beast to the dumping station and let it do its deed, we could smell a bit of sewer gas driving back to the campsite and thought we had screwed something up. Fortunately it was gone by the time we parked (after almost taking out a post).

[TNTBaker]

On all RVs we have owned, it's usually stinky to:
a: drive
b: empty the black tank

This drives septic/sewer gas up and out of the vent on the roof and you can always smell it. I wouldn't worry! The other day I pulled the black tank while Todd was on the roof and he hollered, "PEEE YOUUUUUUUUUU!" ;-) I never smelled it as I went inside the coach!

[measton]

i am full time in my 2012 36fl and get a awful smell when I run water, it does not matter if its the kitchen, tolit, shower or bathroom sink. is this from the vent as well or is it the water? after I run it for a while it goes away, but the next day its right back again.

[Oregonbound]

Is it a sewer smell or a rotten eggs smell? If like rotten eggs (which I've had before) I've filled the fresh water tank, added bleach, ran the bleached water through all the lines using water pump and let it sit overnight. Smell gone. We've been in our RV 18 months and have had to do this just twice if it's any consolation.

[JohnEileen]

We had the same problem last year and added bleach to the system and let it stand overnight before flushing. It seemed to do the trick.

[Dave&Ginny]

It could be your hot water heater needs flushed. If you use something other than the white hose when filling your RV you can get those smells. It has something to do with the rubber hose interacting with the water heater.