amona smell

[edvanland]

Had the center air conditioner on the bus running today so I could come in and cool down, 105 degrees, I was working on the bus in the garage so I was not in the sun. Any way as I was sitting there with a cold one I noticed the smell of ammonia, this is a old air conditioner so I am wondering if that smell is telling me that it is time for a new air?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I also changed the oil and filters on the diesel generator because we are getting ready to leave for Lake Powell on Labor day and discovered the exhaust pipe was broken. I had not notice it before because I have the exhaust wrapped in two lawyers of heat tape. So took the pipe off, and of course the muffler shops said o that can not be fixed. Made a phone call to a friend who is a master mechanic and engineer and welder.  He said bring it over let me look. I will call you when I have it fixed, one hour later he calls and said come get it. I met him where he was cooling off at the bar and asked him how much?, his reply nothing. Needless to say I bought him a drink and will do so again. I hate it when a professional says that can not be fixed. Good thing I am affected with the bus nuts disease.
Ready for another road trip, last one was in July to Colorado where we put 4800 miles on the bus and 900 miles on the Honda Trike. This one will be with the bus truck and boat let the fun begin.

Thanks
ED MCI 7

[Lin]

I doubt that the AC is using ammonia.  If you have a RV frig though, it does.

[digesterman]

When you smell ammonia and you have a propane refrig it is time to go shopping for a new one

[kyle4501]

When you smell ammonia and you have a propane refrig it is time to go shopping for a new one

I'd also recommend increasing ventilation  --  you don't want the ammonia gas to get too concentrated . . . .

[luvrbus]

We filled with water in CO the ammonia smell was so bad after tracing it for 2 days I drain the fresh water tank and refilled with local water the smell went away,most public water treatment plants use ammonia in the treatment process along with the chlorine     

[TomC]

If you have a propane refrigerator, they use ammonia. You can either get a new cooling unit for your refer (which is almost as much as a new one), switch to an apartment type refer, or use a compressor type RV refer made by Norcold or Novakool. I have the 9cu/ft Novakool that uses the Danfoss 12v compressor. Very quiet and cools very quickly. Not cheap-about $1,500, but only uses about 5amps at 12v when running. Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

Units for the fridges are less than 500 bucks with shipping both ways I just ordered one for the van.  I still say it's the fresh water

[oldmansax]

most public water treatment plants use ammonia in the treatment process along with the chlorine     

I didn't know that. Learn something new everyday!

TOM

[Tony LEE]

Perhaps it was hydrogen sulphide from ground water source - or fracking gone wrong. Doubt whether they would add ammonia in a water treatment plant

Other sources of smells - hot water tank, overcharging batteries, faulty vent valve under sink

[edvanland]

Thanks to all, expressly, Cliff, I had my super sensenty  sniffer work with me, my wife, I had her smell the outside vent behind the fridge and no smell. So I got to thinking what Cliff had said happened to him in Colorado and yes we had been to Colorado Springs and then to Walsenburg so I drained the water tank then put in two gallons of vinegar and filled about 1/4 full ran it throughout the bus, took the filter out and then drained it twice and also run all the faucets and water heater for a while. Have put in a new filter and will receive my new inline filter today so I can filter the water before it goes in the tank, like I always have only this time it is a better filter. So problem solved, thanks again to all and especially Cliff. Cliff when are you going to start on the John Deer dealership in Camp Verde, AZ?
ED

[luvrbus]

Ed right now we have a for sale sign on the property we are looking to deal on the out of business car dealership for the John Deere dealership and we bought a micro brewery in Phoenix that closed we would like to move to that property if the county will approve it.

Ed they add ammonia to pro long the life of the chlorine on public water systems I wasn't going to get into a pissing contest with the others and I figured you would find the cause         

[wg4t50]

Normal, when you smell the amonia, your real close to a fire that burns up many RV units a year.  I would turn it off, both gas & electric, me, I would buy a nice residentual unit.
Dave M

[luvrbus]

Ammonia only has a fire rating of 1 risk (low) it has to be mixed with other products to become a high fire risk 

[Jim Eh.]

Did anyone have any Big Bubba's Breakfast Buritos that day?