baranski37
Weekender RV’er
Princeton, TX
Posts: 52
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Post by baranski37 on Oct 2, 2018 14:42:16 GMT -5
Greetings you guys have been a lot of help for this newbie. I found evidence of a rat at our last rv park. It had climbed up the water hose then chewed foam separating water control panel and front basement. I did set 5 traps in basement area with peanut butter and dog food the original attractant. The traps didn’t work, but I also put poison out because I was very concerned he would chew on wiring and there is all kind of wiring up front. FYI 2019 380FLF.
So now at new park a few weeks later had serious odor problems and DW kept thinking black tank.
Due to intensity of smell after opening the port on bottom of shower pan it smells like he is in there somewhere. We have reached as far back as we can and can’t feel him. We also took coat hanger and tried to use it to reach into areas in back we couldn’t reach. I’m mechanically inclined, but do to side effects from cancer treatments (replaced right shoulder, replaced left hip, inability to stoop, etc.) I can’t do a lot other than guide my wife. It appears that only access would be to pull hot water heater out as then there would wide open access to the area in question. Can anyone tell me how hard it is to pull hot water tank and then reinstall?
Thanks Ron
Ps: does anyone know of cheap camera that would reach 3-4’?
In case like me you don’t close plastic around hose where it enter water panel this convinced me to close and push tight against hose as that is how he got in. Maybe that will be helpful to someone out there.
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baranski37
Weekender RV’er
Princeton, TX
Posts: 52
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Post by baranski37 on Oct 2, 2018 17:11:08 GMT -5
DW and I used flashlight and iPhone video and got video around water heater and much of area under shower. The smell is strongest from under shower but may have went between floor and subfloor along side drain lines. Very frustrating.
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Post by Edd505 on Oct 2, 2018 21:33:17 GMT -5
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Post by johnr on Oct 3, 2018 6:49:36 GMT -5
X2 on this. I have one and it has come in handy multiple times! |
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Post by laknox on Oct 3, 2018 10:28:06 GMT -5
X2 on this. I have one and it has come in handy multiple times! X3! Son-in-law has had one for about 5 years, and it's come in real handy on more than one occasion! I can only believe that they've improved since he got his, too. Lyle |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 3, 2018 14:03:27 GMT -5
we have had mice eat the plastic around the water drain under our sink, got in thought the jack stands that had nothing around them an then climbed tubing ugh 1!! The DW had left granola bars on the shelf under the sink, they got into them an dragged them in behind the dishwasher, replaced the bars with poison, last i checked the poison was there but no granola bars found  I put steel wool around everything including jack stands now Safe Travels Chuck |
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baranski37
Weekender RV’er
Princeton, TX
Posts: 52
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Post by baranski37 on Oct 3, 2018 17:27:47 GMT -5
Thanks for info. When I get back to Dallas next month I have an old neighbor that suggested we go underneath and use steel wool or mesh around any possible entry. As for current situation we plan to deal with odor a few weeks. Ordered some small bags of bamboo charcoal that is supposed to help soak up odor along with putting open containers of coffee in a few spots.
Regards Ron
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Post by Chuck on Oct 5, 2018 11:11:23 GMT -5
baranski37 Believe me coffee will soak up smell, when I was hauling swing meat out of Texas to different meat markets after unloading we would always spread a large can of coffee on the floor thought out trailer, took the smell out within a few hours sometime less ... If you can stand it Onions will also take smell out of things, as well baking powder, my mother would always have a box of baking powder in the frig ... Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by Edd505 on Oct 5, 2018 22:00:18 GMT -5
baranski37 Believe me coffee will soak up smell, when I was hauling swing meat out of Texas to different meat markets after unloading we would always spread a large can of coffee on the floor thought out trailer, took the smell out within a few hours sometime less ... If you can stand it Onions will also take smell out of things, as well baking powder, my mother would always have a box of baking powder in the frig ...
Safe Travels Chuck Still do baking soda. You might try Febreze odor eliminator www.febreze.com/en-us it might help. |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 6, 2018 10:59:57 GMT -5
baranski37 Believe me coffee will soak up smell, when I was hauling swing meat out of Texas to different meat markets after unloading we would always spread a large can of coffee on the floor thought out trailer, took the smell out within a few hours sometime less ... If you can stand it Onions will also take smell out of things, as well baking powder, my mother would always have a box of baking Soda in the frig ...
Safe Travels Chuck Still do baking soda. You might try Febreze odor eliminator www.febreze.com/en-us it might help. Yep so do we both in house an camper
Chuck
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baranski37
Weekender RV’er
Princeton, TX
Posts: 52
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Post by baranski37 on Oct 7, 2018 16:22:28 GMT -5
I can say putting three containers of ground coffee has worked amazingly. After the first day we don’t smell coffee and haven’t smelled the dead rat. I did get some small canvas bags of charcoal that are also supposed to soak up odors. I think with this we can make it until steel subsides. The end of this month once back near Dallas I will spend some time adding hardware mesh and/or steel wool to all openings.
Thanks for all input
Ron
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