|
02-27-2018, 04:27 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Rindge, NH
Posts: 29
|
Bad odor in air conditioner
I have a 2016 Cugar Xlite and sometimes when I start the air conditioner i get a bad order. It smells like sewer. I believe it comes from the black Tank Vent pipe. Does anyone else have this problem
|
|
|
02-27-2018, 05:40 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,218
|
AC doesn’t draw in outside air, cools interior air. It may just need a good cleaning.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
|
|
|
02-27-2018, 06:05 AM
|
#3
|
Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
|
Above post is correct. Check for mold or dead critter in ductwork and make sure the drain for the condensate coil is open and not holding water.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
|
|
|
02-27-2018, 06:09 AM
|
#4
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Rindge, NH
Posts: 29
|
Thanks I'll check it out today
|
|
|
02-27-2018, 06:10 AM
|
#5
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
|
You may have mold or "goop" in the evaporator coils, in the air box or in the ducting that runs in your ceiling. The A/C does not draw in outside air like your vents draw, so it's not likely that you would have black tank vent odors drafting into the air chamber of your A/C. As stated above, a good inspection and a good cleaning with Clorox and Dawn inside the air box and be sure to check the ducting for mold as well.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
02-27-2018, 10:57 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texarkana, TX
Posts: 1,052
|
Agree with this. There is a spray you can get (it's slightly acidic) to clean the coils. Remove cover, do inside and outside, flush with water...
|
|
|
02-27-2018, 08:15 PM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
|
I used this foam evaporator coil cleaner from Amazon on mine and it works well for me.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
|
|
|
03-01-2018, 10:58 AM
|
#8
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Rindge, NH
Posts: 29
|
Thanks for the replies. Here's what we did.
Cleaned all vents and air conditioner and cleaned coils.
Check on roof to make sure there was nothing there.
My DW noticed that the only time it happens is when she washes the dishes.
So I guess the fumes from the sink would go into the air conditioner and when it would start up it would smell like it came from the air condtioner.
I changed the filter and flushed out both hot and cold lines,
Today she turned on the hot water in the kitchen sink and it's back. Bad order.
We don't smell it with the cold water.
Any thoughts?
|
|
|
03-01-2018, 12:26 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 306
|
Is your water heater running on propane or Electric? Is it possible that you are getting waterheater exhaust coming into trailer (only if its propane run).
__________________
2020 GMC 3500 Denali Dually Duramax 6.6
2013 Fuzion 342 ToyHauler (Ours)
2011 Harley Davidson Streetglide custom (Mine)
2012 Harley Davidson TriGlide (Trike) (Hers)
|
|
|
03-01-2018, 12:47 PM
|
#10
|
Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MG72B
Thanks for the replies. Here's what we did.
Cleaned all vents and air conditioner and cleaned coils.
Check on roof to make sure there was nothing there.
My DW noticed that the only time it happens is when she washes the dishes.
So I guess the fumes from the sink would go into the air conditioner and when it would start up it would smell like it came from the air condtioner.
I changed the filter and flushed out both hot and cold lines,
Today she turned on the hot water in the kitchen sink and it's back. Bad order.
We don't smell it with the cold water.
Any thoughts?
|
It's very common to get a sulfur smell (rotten eggs odor) from the hot water line. This is typically caused when the water heater has water standing in it over an extended period of time. Hot weather can accelerate the process. You need to drain the water heater heater and flush it out well. Search the forum for water heater drain and you will find many posts on where to locate and how to drain and flush it.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
|
|
|
03-01-2018, 02:28 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Poconos of PA
Posts: 288
|
I put in a new water heater in my home a few years ago. And sure enough, I got the rotten egg smell in my domestic hot water in the house in days. It was the anode rod. I had to swap out the anode for another anode of another material. Problem solved. I want to say I had an aluminum anode, and I replace with a magnesium anode. Not sure if RV water heaters also have anode rods of differing materials. Local water chemistry will cause problems with the aluminum rods.
Hope this helps,
Mike
__________________
2018 Laredo 288RL Travel Trailer
2017 Silverado 2500 Crew Cab LTZ, Z-71, 6.6L Diesel
2017 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (traded)
2011 Silverado Crew Cab, 4wd Z-71, 5.3L (traded)
K9 Handler of my SAR partner and best friend Jeter!
|
|
|
03-01-2018, 02:34 PM
|
#12
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
|
If the hot water has a bad odor, as stated above, it's probably the water heater. I'm not sure if you have an Atwood or a Suburban water heater, but both have the potential for sulfur smells to occur.
This is from the Atwood owner's manual:
FLUSHING TO REMOVE UNPLEASANT ODOR
A rotten egg odor (hydrogen sulfide) may be produced when the
electro galvanic action of the cladding material releases hydrogen from
the water. If sulfur is present in the water supply the two will combine
and produce an unpleasant smell.
1. Turn off main water supply. Drain the water heater tank and
reinstall drain plug. Remove the pressure-temperature relief valve.
Mix solution of 4 parts white vinegar to two parts water. (For a 10
gallon tank, use 6 gallons vinegar to 3 gallons water). With a
funnel, carefully pour solution into tank.
2. Cycle water heater with the above solution, letting it run under
normal operation 4-5 times.
3. Remove the drain plug and thoroughly drain all water from the
tank. Flush the water heater to remove any sediment. you may
flush the tank with air pressure or fresh water. Pressure may be
applied through either the inlet or outlet valve on the rear of the
tank or through the pressure-temperature relief valve coupling
located on the front of the unit.
TO FLUSH TANK WITH AIR PRESSURE:
Insert your air pressure through the pressure-temperature relief valve
coupling. With the drain valve open, the air pressure will force the
remaining water out of the unit.
TO FLUSH TANK WITH WATER PRESSURE:
Fresh water should be pumped into the tank with either the onboard
pump or external water pressure. Continue this flushing process for
approximately five minutes, allowing the fresh water to agitate the
stagnant water on the bottom of the tank and forcing the deposits
through the drain opening.
4. Replace drain plug and pressure-temperature relief valve.
5. Refill tank with fresh water that contains no sulphur.
The Atwood water heater is designed for use in a recreation vehicle. If
you use your vehicle frequently or for long periods of time, flushing the
water heater several times a year will prolong the life of the storage
tank.
This is from the Suburban Owner's Manual:
ODOR FROM HOT WATER SYSTEM
Odor from the hot water system is not a service problem and many water
supplies contain sufficient amounts of sulphur to produce an odor. The odor is
similar to rotten eggs and is often referred to as "sulphur water". It is not
harmful - only unpleasant to smell. Sulphur water can be caused by a chemical
action or by bacteria. The solution to eliminate is chlorination of the water
system. Add about six (6) ounces of chlorinated common household liquid
bleach to each 10 gallons in the water tank. Then run the chlorinated water
throughout the system, opening each faucet one at a time until you smell the chlorine. Let the RV sit for a few days and the chlorine should take care of the problem. Then you will need to take care of the chlorine. Remove the chlorine by flushing the system with fresh water. This may take several attempts. You may consider adding a filtering system that removes chlorine and prevents sulphur water. If the sulphur or rotten egg smell continues, flush the system once again as described above and replace anode rod as necessary.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
03-15-2018, 10:51 AM
|
#13
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Rindge, NH
Posts: 29
|
Ok it has been a couple of weeks since I first post my question. I removed the drain plug in the h/w heater. I left the plug out and ran fresh water through the tank for about 5 minutes. Took a water hose with a high pressure nossel and sprayed in in the drain for about 1 minute
I replace the anode rod with a new one and so far knock on wood, no smell for about week. If it comes back again I will try the bleach method.
Thank you everyone for your help/comments.
RJ
|
|
|
03-17-2018, 12:09 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Romeo
Posts: 142
|
many auto part sores sell AC cleanign spray
spray on
drink beer
run unit to rinse
__________________
2018 Cougar 359MBI
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|