Troubleshooting Sewer Smell in RVQuestion presented on the Yahoo discussion group ALLABOUTRVINGQuestion: We're getting a terrible sewer odor
coming from the shower drain, bathroom sink drain and inside the washer.
Any ideas what could be causing that? Is there any way for contents
of the black tank to get into the grey tank? It started when we left
for the campground Friday afternoon. When I got there I got out the
toilet wand (not sure of the name of it) and ran the hose down into
the toilet thinking that was the problem. As soon as we started driving
home this afternoon the smell started again and I had emptied both
the black and grey tanks before we left. Doesn't the shower and sink
have traps? How would the odor get past them? 1. Remember that the SMELL is caused by bacteria. Yea, them little boogers stink. You can add some bleach ........ make that a lot of bleach to your gray tank and kill the little boogers. OK, that is one thing you can do and it will work but if you have an actual plumbing problem the smell will come back. 2. Plumbing in an RV can be very different from the plumbing you
are familiar with in your house. For instance your house will most
likely have In some RV's (possibly most RV's) manufacturers use a device called
Plumbing Vent Valves or AAV's
Air Admittance Valves. They probably
Air Admittance Valve commonly found in RV's
This is what one brand of Air Admittance Valve looks like. Search for it in the drain line under your bathroom and kitchen sinks. It is easy to unscrew with your hands. You can try to clean it out or just replace it.
Next you are probably going to ask "what the Hell is this thing and why is it there"? In order for drain water to flow in drain pipes there has to be a way to replace the flowing water with air. In a stick and brick house that problem is solved by running a pipe up to the roof. That pipe that extends above your roof allows air to flow down to your drain pipe as water flows out to the sewer system. In your house you will typically have those air pipes extending up and through your ceiling and roof at every kitchen sink and restroom sink plus ever toilet and shower. There may only be one air vent pipe entending through the roof for each bath room but that one pipe will provide ventilation to each drain in the restroom. In RV's with thin walls it is cheaper to just install these cheap "Air Admittance Valves" at each drain. They are spring operated. When water starts to flow it creates a slight vacuum and pulls air into the pipe via that valve. When water stops flowing the small spring closes the valve creating an air tight seal. Grit and dirt in that seal can allow sewer gas past it if there is a vacuum inside the motorhome as will be present when the motorhome is moving down the highway. Thus sucking in the foul smelling sewer gas that causes the smell. Air Admittance Valve commonly found in RV's
This is another brand of Air Admittance Valve. Google plumbing vent valve if you want to see what other brands of Air Admittance Valves look like. You probably have one of these located in the drain line under your bathroom sink, your kitchen sink and possibly around your washer dryer. (I am not certain about the washer dryer area)..... but I do see them in the kitchen and bathroom.
:
This is an Air Admittance Valve like you may find in your washer dryer area
Once you locate this valve in the drain line you can unscrew it with your hand......you can clean the rubber or replace the valve. I have done both, ie., the clean and the replace. Why does the stink get out of those valves you might ask. Well, here is my explanation, for what it is worth, when you are
traveling down the highway in your RV there is a slight vacuum created
in HTH (Hope This Helps) We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us
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