Stinky smell when I fire up furnace????

[labs4life]

Ok, when I start my furnace I get a sewer type smell. It only lasts for a bit but is pretty strong. It does not continue as long as the furnace is cycling. If I turn it off for a few days and then restart, the smell is back.

At a loss here, any suggestions????

There is absolutely no sewer smell when I run the a/c.

[Ken / Claudia]

I had odors at first, I vacumed out vents. Thought maybe paint or glue? causeing it. I did not notice any smell for several trips than on last trip, we both did when first turned on as you said. I looked into the outside vents with flash light and removed inside cover under refer. Nothing was found, smell quit as the heat went on/off afew times. We use the trailer afew days amonth spring/summer. I thought the smell was something dead in the vent last time. I once had a bee hive in the last RV heating vents, no smell but fun to see them shooting out burned up. I never had that problem with any other RV So, I do not know what causes it either.

[labs4life]

The trailer is less than a year old. It has done since new, just didn't camp that much thru the winter. I will get it looked at if no one else has a possibility.

[outwest]

The very first few times you use your furnace you should smell a metal coating burning off of the furnace (not to mention any dust, dirt or debris that got in there during the trailer build). It can sometimes even set off the smoke detector the first time or two it's used. Dunno if that's what you're smelling or if it's something else.

[Ken / Claudia]

Outwest you might be right in my case. I had sawed up bricks and cemment boards about 3 feet from the outside vents of the furnace. They where real dusty, I wore a face mask, goggles, I had to wash the dust off the home and trailer after cutting.

[coop]

I wonder how close the black water vent is to the fresh air intake for your furnace is, if there close this could explain it.

[JRTJH]

I wonder how close the black water vent is to the fresh air intake for your furnace is, if there close this could explain it.

Every RV I've seen has a roof vent for the black tank and a side vent for the furnace. I don't think there's any that have a roof vent for the furnace.... Have you seen any? If so, which ones?

[labs4life]

As JRTH said, side intake for furnace and top vent for black tank. Doesn't matter now, it is 78 degrees and sunny at Fort Wilderness.

[hankpage]

As JRTH said, side intake for furnace and top vent for black tank. Doesn't matter now, it is 78 degrees and sunny at Fort Wilderness.

Oh!!!! Now I really feel sorry for you. :D I hope you find the cause of the smell once you return to the cold. For now, enjoy, and sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.
http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=251&pictureid=1157

[jje1960]

Wondering if a dead mouse carcass is in there.....

[JRTJH]

It takes two screws to remove the hot air plenum. then you'd know for sure. I'd think a mouse carcass would have cooked and stopped smelling in a couple hours. Maybe the cat that chased the mouse that cooked in the plenum???? :cool:

[labs4life]

I think it is just dust. I keep it covered but outside at my shop. It gets the dust from trucks running past it coming in and out of the yard. The fresh air intake faces the dusty side.
Once we return, I will check it out and report back. Thanks for the help!!