GATJcampers
CA
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I have a problem and need some ideas. When I open any cupboard that has a water pipe in it (under kitchen or bathroom sink ) i get a bad odor that smells like sewage or stagnant water. There are no water leaks and the pipes feel solid. My trailer is a 2008 toyhauler and has been out 6 or 7 times. The smell is strong enough to linger in the trailer for a couple minutes. Does anyone have an idea what this could be. Any help would be appreciated.
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JFG
TN
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It's probably just stagnate water. The systems are vented and the smell is escaping from the vents. Fill both sinks full of hot water and some kind of soap or pinesol. open drain and it should flush anything hung in j traps down to holding tank. Pinesol or detergent will help deodorize the tank.
Fred
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SieraSam
Gold Country
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What else do you have under that sink? Could be a wet rag that is decomposing? or some vessels with spoiling liquid exposed to the atmosphare?
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99damon
Colorado
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Also, try to locate your air admittance valves, they are most likely at the top of the vertical pipe that the sink p-traps connect to, and then down to holding tanks. When sinks drain a vacuum is created that can suck the p-traps dry, allowing odor/gas to come up from the tanks. The AAV lets air in to relieve the vacuum, but if it sticks open, the gray tank odor has a straight shot to the coach.
I had gray tank odor under the sinks until I replaced the AAVs, and I promise you that gray odor can be worse than black odor. Just playing the odds, I think tank gas in plumbing cabinets is more likely than multiple fresh water plumbing leaks. Let us know...
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john b
anywhere USA!
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99damon wrote:Also, try to locate your air admittance valves, they are most likely at the top of the vertical pipe that the sink p-traps connect to, and then down to holding tanks. When sinks drain a vacuum is created that can suck the p-traps dry, allowing odor/gas to come up from the tanks. The AAV lets air in to relieve the vacuum, but if it sticks open, the gray tank odor has a straight shot to the coach.
I had gray tank odor under the sinks until I replaced the AAVs, and I promise you that gray odor can be worse than black odor. Just playing the odds, I think tank gas in plumbing cabinets is more likely than multiple fresh water plumbing leaks. Let us know...
This is most likely your problem! They are most commonly called Vacuum breakers!
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GATJcampers
CA
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I am definitely gonna check out those valves. Are they usually located inside the cabinet or under the coach? Does anyone know how you test these valves? Thanks for all the help!
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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The vacuum breakers are located on a stub of drain pipe that turns up under the sink and ends just below the bottom of it, inside of the cabinet. The device is just screwed on to the end of that drain pipe and replacements are available at either Home Depot or Lowe's. They will cost about $4 or so. When you put the new one on, coat the threads with a little Vaseline or similar product. It makes a better seal and the next time one is needed it will remove more easily.
Good travelin! ........Kirk
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GATJcampers
CA
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I checked the vacum breakers on the pipes and they seem fine to me. I had to take the trailer in for some warranty work so i went ahead and had them check out the smell problem. Unfortunately they told me it was because the grey tank had smelly water in it and i need to flush more often and use chemicals. I flush after every trip, the only reason i didnt after this last trip was to investigate that smell. This repair shop is horrible and their explination doesn't make sense. Am i correct that you shouldn't be knocked over by smelly grey tank no matter how full it is? Specially considering the tank was only i use for a week. Am I correct or is this an incorrect assumption? anyone?
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goingnorth
Petersburg, MI
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Change the vaccuum breakers to the more expensive $25 ones at lowes the cheep ones don't always work, I went through several diff. cheap ones and they would "burp" the gray tank once in a while.
My jayco toy hauler has one sinks drain that must go halfway into the gray tank cause when the gray is half full and am taking a shower it will blow out the p-trap in that sink and not fill the tub.
So I had to run a second vent to the roof, I ran 1/2 copper tubing from just bellow the vaccuum breaker through the wall and up through the fridge vent to the roof. Its enough to relieve the pressure. Much easier than dropping the tank.
Also do not plug the vaccuum breaker because when your traveling it will suck the water out of the p-trap as air passes over the roof vent. thats one of the reasons for having the VB. Then it will vent into the trailer untill you use water, I tried plugging mine and found out the stinky way.
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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GATJcampers wrote:I checked the vacum breakers on the pipes and they seem fine to me. . Am i correct that you shouldn't be knocked over by smelly grey tank no matter how full it is? Specially considering the tank was only i use for a week. Am I correct or is this an incorrect assumption? anyone?
You are absolutely correct. It's a sealed system other than the roof vent and if everything is working right there should no odor.
I don't think you can tell how the air admittance/vacuum breakers are working by looking at them. There is a internal flap that is supposed to close and seal and I don't think it's visible from the outside.
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