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chemical smell inside coach

Yahoo Message Number: 5489
We have had a "chemical smell" in our 2002 Intrigue - 36' Evening Star (double slide) since delivery. We notice it only when we drive (not present while camping) and believe it is coming from beneath the shower and probably from the outside bay which encloses our Hydronic Heat.
We do not have the hydronic setup so many have had problems with. Our hydronic heat only heats our motorhome; we have a conventional water heater which is propane/electric.

Both CC and Carrier's have researched the problem and made good attempts at fixing it. Finally CC changed all the hoses from the Hydronic Heat stating they had found that to be a problem in other coaches (although we never saw any visible leaks) but that hasn't really solved the problem.

I don't appreciate the smell as much as my wife who get its mostly while sitting in her passenger chair while I drive, and we've wondered if it's coming from the AC vent and not from the hydronic assembly at all.

Has anyone else experienced this? It is a "sweet, chemical smell" - not dissimilar to coolant smell.

This problem is significant. We would really appreciate input from the group.

Thanks.

Tom Sims

Intrigue #11419

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Re: chemical smell inside coach

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5491
Tom, we have or had the same smell. It was real heavy when we first started using the heat. Don't have to use much heat is CA so the smell had lingered a bit. When we arrived in South Dakota in May and began using the heat more, the smell diminished quite a bit and we would get a whiff every once in awhile. I am waiting till the weather cools off in Sept to run the heat and see what it smell like.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

Quote from: Thomas Sims
We have had a "chemical smell" in our 2002 Intrigue - 36' Evening
Star (double slide) since delivery. We notice it only when we drive (not present while camping) and believe it is coming from beneath the shower and probably from the outside bay which encloses our Hydronic Heat. We do not have the hydronic setup so many have had problems with. Our hydronic heat only heats our motorhome; we have a conventional water heater which is propane/electric.

Quote
>

Both CC and Carrier's have researched the problem and made good
attempts at fixing it. Finally CC changed all the hoses from the Hydronic Heat stating they had found that to be a problem in other coaches (although we never saw any visible leaks) but that hasn't really solved the problem.

Quote
>

I don't appreciate the smell as much as my wife who get its mostly
while sitting in her passenger chair while I drive, and we've wondered if it's coming from the AC vent and not from the hydronic assembly at all.

Quote
>

Has anyone else experienced this? It is a "sweet, chemical smell" -
not dissimilar to coolant smell.

Quote
>

This problem is significant. We would really appreciate input from

the group.

Quote
Thanks.

Tom Sims

Intrigue #11419

">Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: chemical smell inside coach

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5492
Tom & Don,

I have had a similar problem with my 2000 Allure. While snooping around in the plumbing bay I recognized the same odor there, only much stronger. I am speaking of the plumbing bay access panel above the short storage bay next to the water heater, which is on the passenger side of the coach.
Looking in there with a flashlight I noticed the furnace vents which keep the bays heated. Here's the theory part. I am guessing that pressure builds up in the bays while traveling and forces the smelly air from the plumbing bay back up through the ductwork and into the furnace, then throughout the coach. I have not been able to locate any "backdraft" valves in the ductwork to prevent this.
Searching the internet I found a company that sells such valves online for $15 or so each. I removed the furnace intake grill (a wooden louver located just below the stovetop) and determined which duct fed the bays with heat.
Fortunately it was the most easily accessed one. I then cut the duct hose and installed the backdraft valve using the clamps supplied from the valve supplier. The clamps must be ordered separately from the valves as they are not included.

I have not had the coach out since doing this, so I don't know if it cured the problem, but it would just seem to be good design practice anyway as there is bound to be some air leakage into the bays.
I don't have the name and URL of the backdraft valve supplier handy, but I will look it up later and forward it to the list. BTW the valves are directional, so if you do this be sure the valve air flow is into the bays.

Dave

2000 Allure 36' #30444