Need to identify source of odor

[david l greenberg]

On Sat, 27 Mar 1999 00:09:45 -0500 "Tom Winslow"

>We just got in from Myrtle Beach.
>
>On route home, we noticed an odor in the coach. The odor seemed to be
>coming
>from somewhere near the front driving area. The odor smells like
>sewer,

More than likely it is your holding tank fumes.

As you drive air is forced down the roof top vent and up thru the shower
drain and if your front windows are open the smell will be pulled right
past your nose.

Solution:

Change the roof vent to a venturi style or don't cracked the front
windows.

David Lee Greenberg F22009
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829

 

[bdub]

Huh!? Is there supposed to be a shower drain plug? Ours didn't have one
when we got it and I didn't realize that there wasn't a P-trap in that
drain. Will a regular flat rubber drain cover work?

Thanks

>

>
>drain and if your front windows are open the smell will be pulled right
>past your nose.
>
>Solution:
>
>Change the roof vent to a venturi style or don't cracked the front
>windows. >>
>
>Good points Dave. Another suggestion: Put your shower drain plug in tight
>and also be sure that you have water in the sink traps. The moving vehicle
>often will slosh the water from the traps and allow sewage gases to enter the
>motorhome and they need refilling once in a while unless you are using the
>sinks to wash.
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM

bdub
'76 Palm Beach
In The Heart o Texas
www.web-access.net/~bmassey/
icq # 202333

 

[bdub]

>Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 19:33:21 -0700
>X-Mailer: AirBoss Mobile Messaging Version 4.0
>From: "Heinz Wittenbecher"
>X-From: "Heinz Wittenbecher"
>Reply-To: "Heinz Wittenbecher"
>To: Billy Massey
>Subject: RE: Re: GMC: Need to identify source of odor
Forwarded from Hienz

>
>There probably is a p-trap but it dries out. Any plug/cork will do.
>
>However, as was already mentioned: even with cork in... with front windows
>open you will get to smell your GMC . Perhaps not at highway speeds but
>definately in the city.
>
>Our own first exposure was while we were sightseeing some ritzy neighborhood
>in some city. We could'nt figure out why/how they could but a sewer station
>in such a fancy area. Of course the weather was nice so both front windows
>were open as we were 'cruisin' around.
>
>When the smell didn't leave, we finally figured it out... we were the sewer
>station
>After that we only cruise with front windows shut.
>
>Heinz
>
>----Original Message-----
> >From: Billy Massey
> >To: gmcmotorhome, gmcmotorhome
> >Subject: Re: GMC: Need to identify source of odor
> >Date: Saturday, March 27, 1999 9:09 PM
> >
> >Huh!? Is there supposed to be a shower drain plug? Ours didn't have one
> >when we got it and I didn't realize that there wasn't a P-trap in that
> >drain. Will a regular flat rubber drain cover work?
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >

> >>

> >>
> >>shower
> >>drain and if your front windows are open the smell will be pulled right
> >>past your nose.
> >>
> >>Solution:
> >>
> >>Change the roof vent to a venturi style or don't cracked the front
> >>windows. >>
> >>
> >>Good points Dave. Another suggestion: Put your shower drain plug in
>tight
> >>and also be sure that you have water in the sink traps. The moving
>vehicle
> >>often will slosh the water from the traps and allow sewage gases to
>enter the
> >>motorhome and they need refilling once in a while unless you are
using the
> >>sinks to wash.
> >>
> >>Emery Stora
> >>77 Kingsley
> >>Santa Fe, NM
> >
> >
> >bdub
> >'76 Palm Beach
> >In The Heart o Texas
> >www.web-access.net/~bmassey/
> >icq # 202333
> >
> >
> >

 

[homebase1]

I have found this on occasion myself. If the holding tank is dumped
when it is full and the handle is pulled out rapidly, the vacuum
created in dumping, can somtimes suck the water out of the
shower drain trap, leaving no seal against 'the aroma' from the
holding tank.
The 'lazy man solution' is to pour a cup of water down the shower
drain.
Mikeb
NS

> On Sat, 27 Mar 1999 00:09:45 -0500 "Tom Winslow"

> >We just got in from Myrtle Beach.
> >
> >On route home, we noticed an odor in the coach. The odor seemed to be
> >coming
> >from somewhere near the front driving area. The odor smells like
> >sewer,
>
> More than likely it is your holding tank fumes.
>
> As you drive air is forced down the roof top vent and up thru the shower
> drain and if your front windows are open the smell will be pulled right
> past your nose.
>
> Solution:
>
> Change the roof vent to a venturi style or don't cracked the front
> windows.
>
> David Lee Greenberg F22009
> GMC Motorhome Registry
> 200 MacFarlane Drive PH4
> Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
>

 

[robert shimanek]

>

>
>drain and if your front windows are open the smell will be pulled right
>past your nose.
>
Here is annother solution that happened to me:

I removed the roof vent fan in the front and installed a Fantastic Model.

We noticed the foul sewer odor after that and contributed to a down draft
from outside subsequently entering the MH. Also checked underneath for
possible leaks coming the holding tank. None noted

The odor was noticed more coming from the back. Checked the vent
connection piping near the air compressor and back of the shower unit.
None noted.

Finally turned on the roof vent fan and proceded to trace the odor
coming from hot water compartment. Sure enough I removed the sliding door
assembly by the hot water heater and looked up. I could see light coming
from around the sewer vent roof cutout..

Here was the source of odor. The small vent fan installed as OEM didnot
remove the air as the Fantastic model. After installing the new fan this
caused a vacuum in MH and being there was no seal around the vent pipe the
fan was drawing the odor into the MH from roof vent pipe.

I sealed around the pipe and odor has stopped.

All I can say is remove the cap on the roof vents and check if it is sealed
around the pipe. By the way I used a good quality duct tape
My $.02

Bob 77PB