Bakers' Blessings: ~~~ Odor, with a capital O ~~~

Rather than re-write the adventure, I got lazy and just will just copy and paste the whole thing from FaceBook.

LaVon DeRusha Baker

We have a phantom odor in the Q! It's not the black tank. It's not the grey tank. Do any RV'ers have any suggestions? It comes and goes, for about 4 days now, and tonight it is worse than it's ever been. · · August 25 at 9:34pm

- DeAnn Hoover: Bruce is thinking hard. You don't have a slow water leak someplace do you?
  
  August 25 at 9:37pm ·
- Danielle Irene: mom said check the drain pipe in the kitchen,the seal around the toilet,or something in the crawl space. August 25 at 9:39pm ·
- Danielle Irene: or the vent pipe on the roof. August 25 at 9:39pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: No. It's a gas-y, chemical type odor. August 25 at 9:44pm ·
- DeAnn Hoover: not propane is it? We had a little leak around the regulator and it smelled off and on. August 25 at 9:44pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: We put a Cyclone on the toilet vent. Replaced the vent under the bathroom sink. Flushed out the black tank thoroughly. August 25 at 9:45pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: It's has be fine for about 2 days and now tonight, it's back!! Grrr. August 25 at 9:45pm ·
- Danielle Irene: i hated weird smells in are camper. August 25 at 9:46pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: the odor is in the living area... no odor in the bath/bedroom area. August 25 at 9:47pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: no odor from the kitchen drain. August 25 at 9:47pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: we've checked the refrigerator, too. if it was constant, but it's not. August 25 at 9:49pm
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: DeAnn, did you smell the propane inside your rig? Don has checked both tanks and can't smell anything out there. It's not the same smell as when we turn on the burner, but it gets really strong and burns our eyes until we open the Q door and windows. August 25 at 10:00pm ·
- Rita Bigley Knight-Shaw: Is your tank low? propane has an "odor" added to it to let you know if your tank is low or leaking....August 25 at 10:04pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: Rita, Don thought about that, but it's been low before and even ran out and we've never had this odor before. He's going out now to turn the tanks off for the night and see if that helps. August 25 at 10:08pm ·
- Rita Bigley Knight-Shaw: Any possibility of "critters" in the walls,ceilings, etc.? August 25 at 10:26pm via ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: Shouldn't be. Underneath is completely closed. If it was something dead, the smell would be worse when it's in the heat of the day and it didn't start until about 8:30 tonight. August 25 at 10:34pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: It's seems to be better sense he closed the propane tank we were using and opened the other one. (we have dual tanks). We'll how the night goes. August 25 at 10:35pm ·
- John E. Elzner: not familiar with this, but could it be from the pipe from which you dump your lines as in, the parks system have challenges with the heat and all, could it be seeping from cracks or broken seals in their lines and permeating to the surface? don't know if you have soil that cracks where y’all are but that could be something to look into. anyone else having that problem? August 25 at 10:38pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: ‎*since* he closed the propane tank. I should go to bed. Maybe the odor is getting to me. :-) August 25 at 10:40pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: We'll double check that tomorrow, John. But it's not bad outside, just inside. Such a mystery! August 25 at 10:41pm ·
- John E. Elzner: if you have underpinning that could contribute. Lake, Google detectors for explosive gases, only thing propane won't get picked up as it pools in low places. It's heavier than air, but if by chance there's some methane leaking, it'll pick that up and go off. I don't know if they even make one for propane, August 25 at 10:49pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: No underpinning. August 25 at 10:51pm ·
- Robin Umatum: Need more info. Is it a sewer smell? Could be your tank vent line is plugged up. Is it an animal smell. Check for expired critters in all the wrong places. Could have been electrocuted. It has happened you know. Give more info as to where the smell is coming from or near. Neil Umatum -Friday at 12:06am ·
- Robin Umatum: Are you experiencing high winds in the area?? Friday at 12:07am ·
- David Sutton: Do you think it could be LP gas order? Check the batteries in your Carbon Monoxide detector to be safe. Friday at 5:58am ·
- Jon De Rusha: Whatever you do, don't strike a match! Friday at 6:09am · (my brother was so helpful. )
- Rita Bigley Knight-Shaw: Good, was really hoping that could not be the case.... Friday at 9:07am via ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: Well, it wasn't the propane tanks or propane. Don closed the grey tanks this morning and that did it, so we will have the vents checked next week. The Q has 3 4 sewer vents on top and one must be plugged with something. We've exhausted everything else. We slept with the windows open and fans going last night. Thank the Lord for the rain shower we got yesterday afternoon to cool things off a bit. Was 68 here this morning. Damp, though. Friday at 9:20am ·
- Rita Bigley Knight-Shaw: ‎68 and even wet sounds wonderful.......maybe there is hope yet that temps will cool down before Christmas this year.....glad you slept 'vented" last night....may be a bird nest in the top vent.... Friday at 9:26am ·
- Snookie Quinn: LaVon, do you leave the gray tank open? Saturday at 9:12am ·
- Snookie Quinn: Do you have an island sink or is it up against the wall? I know you have the island but I can't remember if your sink is in it or not. I'm overdue for a visit I think! Saturday at 9:20am ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: ‎@Snookie... you ARE overdue for a visit. Saturday at 12:45pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: The Phantom Odor Mystery Saga continues! With the gray tanks closed, all was well and good until 11:30 PM last night. I flushed the toilet, as usual. Within seconds, I begin to smell Odor again. (Yes, now Odor is capitalized) NOOOOOOOO! Where is it coming from??? Saturday at 12:47pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: Well, I walked up the 3 steps to the bedroom/bath area and got a stronger whiff while on the steps. Putting my nose to the wall where the sliding door is, BAM!!! There it was, enough to burn my eyes. This wall is directly behind the toilet room and above the black tank. The vent to the roof is also in this wall. Saturday at 12:49pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker": So, we are presently focusing our attack in the area of the black tank and pipes. Prayers would be appreciated. Saturday at 12:50pm ·
- Rita Bigley Knight-Shaw: Prayers for sure ....hopefully the problem is resolved and SOON!!!! Saturday at 1:26pm ·
- Peggy Bullock: I hope you get this solved. Have you talked to the mfg. or anything? Scares me when you said it burns your eyes! Good luck & prayers being sent! Saturday at 5:56pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: Thanks Peggy and Rita. If we haven't resolved the problem by Monday, we will call the mfg. then. When the odor starts, we open up the Q. Saturday at 6:11pm · [Peggy liked this comment]
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: Like clock work... at 10:30, the Phantom returned!! Stronger than ever. Not the black tank. The only thing left is the 12-volt battery…. a dry cell or two or three. Will check it in the morning. For now, opening up the Q again and turning on the super vent. Positive side: electricity bill will be less. :-) Saturday at 10:53pm ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: Thanks to Bob Quinn.... mystery is solved!!! It's the battery!!! Bone dry. The battery compartment is directly under the toilet area and the wall where the odor was coming from. Sunday at 8:10am ·
- Rita Bigley Knight-Shaw: Glad you found the source.....battery acid stinks to high heaven itself.... Sunday at 8:17am ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: New battery installed. Odor conquered!! Praise the Lord!Sunday at 3:16pm ·
- Rita Bigley Knight-Shaw: Amen!Yesterday at 3:37pm via ·
- Peggy Bullock: Glad it's solved! That darn Bob Quinn!!! He is just so smart!!! Snookie is lucky to have him! about a minute ago ·
- LaVon DeRusha Baker: I know, Peggy! We should have called him first thing!a few seconds ago ·