I know this has been addressed before, but the search didn't really help for this situation.

Symptoms

- The smell is coming from the area above where the tanks are located -- not only from the bathroom

- It seems to be the most pronounced when we open the windows, or put the fantastic fan on

- The smell is really bad in the bay.

- the smell is present not only when the tanks are near full, but also when they are near empty

- it started about the 2nd day of boondocking

What we have already done:

- added water to the p-trap behind the washing machine and plugged up the hole in the pipe

- added various deodorizing treatments to the tanks

- checked the vents on the roof - no blockage there

We are at a loss now as to what is causing this odor and how to get rid of it!  Anything else we haven't tried yet?

rv-vagabond wrote:

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look for an in line air adminttance valve which may be stuck open.

www.oatey.com/products/air-admittance-valves/wall-boxes/in-line-vent

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 X2

Also get in the habit of adding some baking soda to the drains every few days - will help with all sorts of things.

Barb

Are you able to smell odors from outside your RV around the tanks area? if so, then you may have an open vent stack line or some other line open. Look for leaks and loose plumbing fittings. I know things are pretty tight fit and well out of sight. Also, look for leaks, wet spots and puddling.

Does your sinks drains gurgle when draining? if so, then your traps are being sucked dry or at least opened enough to allow gasses to by-pass the trap. If you find that this maybe the cause then you may want to do what RV-Vagabond suggests. Oh yeah, check your traps make sure they are tight. My sink trap loosened enough to drain the trap. The funny part was there was no water on the floor anywhere. I tightened the trap and filled with water and my problem solved. I check the traps once a week and after moving to a new site.

Good Luck and lets us know how it all turned out.

Mitch replies with technical answers:

GhostRider wrote:

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Are you able to smell odors from outside your RV around the tanks area?

---> Yes.  mostly when the underbelly near the tanks is open.

if so, then you may have an open vent stack line or some other line open. Look for leaks and loose plumbing fittings.  I know things are pretty tight fit and well out of sight. Also, look for leaks, wet spots and puddling.

Does your sinks drains gurgle when draining?

--> No.  (if so, then your traps are being sucked dry or at least opened enough to allow gasses to by-pass the trap.)

If you find that this maybe the cause then you may want to do what RV-Vagabond suggests.

-->  OK, question... on the traps, it screws open and closed, but seems that there is a part that stays open.  Is that correct, or should the entire piece be sealed?

Oh yeah, check your traps make sure they are tight. My sink trap loosened enough to drain the trap. The funny part was there was no water on the floor anywhere. I tightened the trap and filled with water and my problem solved. I check the traps once a week and after moving to a new site.

Good Luck and lets us know how it all turned out.

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... Also... Mitch wonders if this leak COULD actually be a last, undiagnosed problem from our accident last month (we had a fight with a tree and a brick retaining wall!)

The area above the fresh water tank seems to have a small puddle.  (but not coming from the water pump, we replaced that during the boondocking rally...)

cheers from the last RV-Dreamers left at the boondocking rally site (we didn't know WHERE we were going, so we decided to stay another week!)

Mitch

Dip your finger in that puddle and smell it. Is that grey water? Is there a p-trap inside the trailer (sink or shower) above that puddle?

Jim