Rotten Urine Smell

[yodasmith00]

The most horrible smell comes up from the vents. Not all the time; sometimes just a little and other times horrible. When the Fantastic fan is on it's at it's worse. I've changed the toilet seal hoping that would be it--but no. I checked all the vents and they're ok. Ran a hose down the pipe from up top. The grey's are always open.
Our 04 3295 is on blocks. This has been since the 15 of April when the park opened. If it was dead mice or whatever the smell would be gone by now. I'm at a loss.

[awaywego]

Try putting something like a block of wood or rock under the sewer hose so it holds water in the hose. My 3280 did this when I ran the Fantastic Fan and would pull the fumes from the sewer through the traps. When I kept water in the hose it would not do it. Just a suggestion. Hope it helps.

[yodasmith00]

My black is always closed and the plumbing is hard plumbed (ABS). A service repair person was here this morning and he was stumped. Something dead in the heat ducks would have been long gone. This is very frustrating---and smelly. It seems the smell burns our eyes. Thanks for the tip anyway.

[awaywego]

Try closing both grey valves and see if that helps

[Ozz]

Could be a bad (stuck) vent on the sink, that would smell bad, but not a urine smell, if that is the case, maybe a smell is being sucked in from the bathroom crank-up opening. Close that and see if it stops the smell.
Trying to touch all bases here...
I know you said it comes from the underbelly, so if it is you may have a cracked tank.
Close the drain valves if they are not closed and fill all three tanks. See if the smell stops, or has no effect, and check for any water under the trailer.
Could the 'on blocks' have caused a problem?

[HOOK]

I think you mentioned that the gray valves were always open; that being the case you could be drawing oder from sink vent or shower vent. I also recommend to close valves to see. Also you said you were on blocks. You might try Rid X in your black tank as you might be getting
Buildup .

[yodasmith00]

I will try these different things. Very frustering.

[bw2]

You might drop the belly cover and make sure there is no crack in the black tank. The smell could be from "water" laying on the top of the cover

[Exnavydiver]

I think Ozz may have a point. I had that same problem when running both of the Fantastic fans and having the vent open over the toilet. It would suck the stack odor from black tank right through the vent over the toilet. The Fantastic fans produce a huge amount of air flow and completely overpower the "hockey puck" fan used over the toilet thus pulling a large amount of air from outside back through the bathroom vent along with any odor from the black tank..

[Ozz]

Yea, what he said...
I am contemplating piping my vent over and back from the location where it is. I tried one of those winged rotating-with-the-wind covers, that seemed to help, but if the wind is blowing the wrong way...no joy.
Do the fill thing, and good idea on dropping the black cover, I would check both. The blocking up the trailer has potential for a tank issue ..possibly also. You have to look at all factors that are abnormal.

[bw2]

A new thought, while wintering in Florida, one of our RV park friends had his black tank leak around either the drain pipe or the vent pipe for the black tank, on the top. The "water" was leaking and laying on the top of the tank, and it did smell. Just another thought. I REALLY hope it is one of the other issues that have been suggested and not the tank. ( Mine cracked over the winter and I just had it replaced.)

[Ozz]

If you pull the bottom cover off and find the tank is leaking, here is how to fix it:

Get the tank fix it kit on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Plasti-Mend-Plastic-Repair-Holding-Tank/dp/B003JC3UB2
You will need to cut the drain line and install 2 rubber 'Band-clamp' fittings to relieve the stress on the drain lines. (Rubber coupling with two radiator-hose clamps.)

Click on link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Jimsue13/20120113HoldingTankRepairs?authuser=0&feat=directl ink

[yodasmith00]

Found it---sort of. Underneath there is liquid dripping all along a seam and it stinks. Obviously it's from the black tank or a fitting. Time for a repairman. Anyway, thanks for all the tips.

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by yodasmith00

Found it---sort of. Underneath there is liquid dripping all along a seam and it stinks. Obviously it's from the black tank or a fitting. Time for a repairman. Anyway, thanks for all the tips.

I understand if you don't want to do the nasty job, but if I may suggest, take it in stages. Hire the guy to expose the bottom, (take the plastic off and tell you what is wrong) Don't say 'Just fix it" as the repair may not be as daunting of a task as it seems now.
Reassess in stages...
As you can see from my fix, it was easy, if I would have hired it out, they would have changed the tank and I would have the same problem in 6 months.

[Jetson]

Replace the Air Admittance Valves under your sinks. When they get old they let sewer gases get pulled out of your sewer lines, like when you have a hot day or a vent fan on.

[yodasmith00]

A crack was found near the bottom of the tank near a fitting. Epoxy was applied and after it cures in 24 hours we should be good to go. I certainly hope this is the end of it. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions.

[Ozz]

Yoda, many of us have had the cracked tank by the fitting. Unless you install the flex couplings, it will happen again. The rubber couplings take the stress out of the drain line. When the tank is full, the drain line is like a lever and will crack the tank in the same place.
Ozz

[catskiner]

If you leave the grey valves open you can vent the whole campgroud sewer system thru your sinks and shower drains if the p-traps dry out.

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by catskiner

If you leave the grey valves open you can vent the whole campgroud sewer system thru your sinks and shower drains if the p-traps dry out.

True Dat!