{"id":9109,"date":"2021-12-23T23:31:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T23:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/?p=9109"},"modified":"2024-03-14T21:11:26","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T21:11:26","slug":"does-your-rv-have-a-sewer-smell-outside-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/does-your-rv-have-a-sewer-smell-outside-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Your RV Has A Sewer Smell? Here’s Why and How to Fix it!!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
NOTE*** The content on this page may contain affiliate links, we may make a commission. And, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.<\/em> More information: disclosure page<\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unnervingly, your RV has a sewer smell outside! Yuck! Camping is just not the same if your RV has a sewer smell that won’t stop! You might be annoying your neighbors as well if they are close enough. (Note this post does not cover sewer smells inside the RV<\/em>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does my RV smell like sewer outside?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The sewer smell outside of your RV could be the blackwater tank, the greywater tank, the vent stacks, the connections at the hookup, a leaking propane tank, or an overcharged battery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n In this article, we will dive into what causes an RV sewer smells and provide you with DIY solutions to rid you of that foul odor. The DIY fixes for the sewer smell are at the end of the post – so scroll down once you figure out where the smell is coming from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of stinky questions, here are some related articles that may be helpful for you:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common causes for a sewer smell outside your RV are typically due to a problem with either the blackwater tank or the greywater tank. The smell may also be caused by propane or an overcharged battery (which can be dangerous). <\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep things simple, we have chosen the most plausible reasons as to why you are experiencing that smell, and they include… (drumroll, please)<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does my RV smell like sewer? <\/p>\n\n\n\n **IMPORTANT NOTE: first figure out where the smell is from. THEN keep reading below for the fix for each problem. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, it’s important to understand that when we use the toilet in our RV – no matter which “number” we do – all that waste goes to the blackwater tank. It holds all the waste that comes from the toilet until you can adequately empty it at a sewer dumping station. Your RV blackwater tank will always smell slightly like a septic tank if you’re close enough, but it shouldn’t be that <\/em>noticeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that the waste coming from the bathroom should be biodegradable, whether solid or liquid. Always ensure that the toilet paper used is septic or RV-safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of the waste holding tanks in your RV has a valve that you use to empty the tank’s contents, depending on which tank it is. Your RV comes with a built-in blackwater tank flush system. This system includes an inlet valve that allows you to pump fresh water into the tank to flush it. At the outlet there is a valve that you open to drain the contents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To see if your blackwater tank is the culprit, check for the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, we’ll discuss similarities between your blackwater and greywater tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Equally important as the blackwater tank, the greywater tank is another holding tank in your RV. This one contains everything from the bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, and water from the tub or shower. Food particles coming from your kitchen sink are biodegradable and can emit very foul odors when degrading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The greywater tank also has a valve for emptying its contents at the dumping station. As with the blackwater tank, you’ll want to check the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your RV has vent stacks in the bathroom, at the kitchen sink and any other place water is flushed into the tanks. The vents are there to allow the waste to flow down to the tanks and the air that is displaced to flow outside. Many people complain that the roof vents can give off the sewer smell, especially in warm air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on where the vents are the smell may be stronger. For example, in some RV models the sewer vent is right by the front door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping the tanks clean and dumped is essential to reducing the smell. Make sure to flush the toilet properly. Some people have found that flushing the toilet with 5 gallon pail of water reduces the smell. Ensuring the toilets and sinks are properly flushed and keeping enough water in the black tank will help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you are unable to dump frequently, there are plastic air admittance caps that you can add for plumbing systems with no vent stack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaking propane will give off a rotten egg smell, whether inside or outside your RV. Proceed with caution if you think the propane is leaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A leak at the tank:<\/strong> Any place that has propane could cause this problem. The tank valve or regulator itself could be leakiing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Leak in the Propane line:<\/strong> A leak in the lines between the tank and the appliances. Your RV may have a gas stove, furnace, water heater, and outside grill, that all run on propane. Any of the lines could have slight damage causing a hole or loosened connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An appliance is on:<\/strong> Appliances such as the stove or outside grill have nobs that are easily bumped and turned on without flame. You will smell the propane spilling out into the air if the burner is not lit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A propane leak is dangerous due to the risk of carbon monoxide and explosion. If the leak is inside the camper, I hope that your carbon monoxide detector is working. Right now, be proactive and check your carbon monoxide detector and replace the batteries if necessary. Otherwise by a new dependable carbon monoxide detector. This combo one is a propane gas and carbon monoxide detector<\/a> (amazon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, we will detail how to troubleshoot an overcharged RV battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many RVs use lead-acid batteries, which store electricity. For this reason, they contain lead and a liquid electrolyte composed of water and sulfuric acid (a form of hydrogen sulfide). <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result, accidentally overcharging a lead-acid battery can cause this electrolyte to give off hydrogen and oxygen gases. These gases produce a pungent odor very similar to that of a sewer or rotten eggs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To check for an overcharged battery, do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n An overcharged battery not only smells bad but is also very hazardous to both human health and the environment. It can lead to an excessive release of hydrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen sulfide gases into the surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This might get a few unpleasant reactions from the neighbors at your campsite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is vital to know if your battery is emitting hydrogen sulfide. Before reaching toxic levels, hydrogen sulfide may smell like sewage or rotten eggs. However, once it reaches acutely toxic levels, the gas can impede a person’s ability to smell its distinctive odor and may rapidly lead to unconsciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When mixed in the air at the right levels, hydrogen sulfide can explode on contact with fire – a notorious campsite guest. Thus, the indicative “rotten egg” smell is more friend than foe here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know the three main causes of stinky RVs, you want to know how to fix them, right? This fix applies to both your black and grey water tanks alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Loose dump valve:<\/strong> For a loose valve, simply tighten it and ensure that the valve is not faulty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faulty dump valve: <\/strong>After figuring out which tank valve is defective, you can use the following procedure for those that want to “DIY” it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But first, you will need these essential tools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Why is There a Sewer Smell Outside my RV?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Sewer Smell from Problems with the Blackwater Tank<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Sewer Smell from Problems with the Greywater Tank<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sewer Smell From the Vents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Leaking Propane Stinks like Rotten eggs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Overcharged Battery could smell like sewage outside your RV<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What Happens if my RV Battery Gets Overcharged?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Fix A Sewer Smell In An RV?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest assured, we have provided viable solutions for each of the issues above.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Fix RV Holding Tanks With Septic Smell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Steps to Fix a Faulty RV Dump Valve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n