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musty odour when heat is on.


Gerry

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When the heat is on we get a musty odour coming from the U-lounge seating/bedding upholstery on our 1999 Euro Mobil.

 

We replaced all of the seating/bedding with brand-new foam, but kept the contoured back-rest sections that are complicated to replicate, and appeared to be fairly fresh.

Unfortunately when the heating is on they still produce the musty odour.

 

Anyone got any ideas how I might solve this persistent problem.

 

Gerry.

:-S

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Hello Gerry,

 

If the musty odour is coming from the cushions and they can be removed from the vehicle, HID has suggested spraying them with either something like Febreeze or a Fresh Air Spray and letting them air outdoors for a while.

 

This worked for a friend who had the same problem with her static caravan.

 

Regards,

 

Mike.

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Gerry

Firstly, I'm assuming your heater is a Truma of some sort, with ducted warm air?  You say the musty smell is when the heating is on.  What makes you sure the problem is the seating, and not the heating?  I would expect musty seats to smell musty whenever you enter your 'van, whether or not the heating is working.  In fact, if the van has been left closed for a week or so, I'd expect the mustiness to hit you quite strongly the moment you enter i.e. before the heating is run.

I just wonder, therefore if, after 6 years, your heater ducts may be suffering mildew or similar internally.  It is also possible the intake side of the heater may have accumulated dust which is being drawn through the heater.  It would tend to smell scorched as well, but that might be attributed to the heater just warming up, rather than burning off accumulated dust.  Try loosening a few of the ducts/pipes and taking them out for examination.  You may be able to pass a long, soft, rediator brush through them to remove any accumulated dust if visible, but do look first because if the tubes have mildew, and you disturb it, it'll fly everywhere.  If the latter is the case, just replace them, they're not that costly.

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Thanks Brian,

it was the seating alright.

I removed the seating and turned up the heat and got no smell.

Then I sprayed the foam with Febreeze, and aired them on our balcony over a big windy lake -- all to no avail.

 

Yesterday I totally replaced all the seating foam with new foam.

And tonight I turned up the heat to 20degrees and there was no trace of a smell. I thought I'd never ger rid of it.

I'm just celebrating my small achievment with a drink.

 

Thanks again,

Gerry.

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Hello Mike,

 

I sprayed the seating foam with Febreeze, and then aired them on our balcony, which hangs over a big windy lake, but all to no avail.

 

Yesterday I completely replaced all the seating foam with brand-new foam.

And tonight I turned up the heat to 20degrees and there was no trace of a smell. I thought I'd never ger rid of it.

I'm just celebrating my small achievment with a drink.

 

Many thanks for you reply.

Gerry.

 

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Hello Breakleg,

 

It was the seating alright.

I removed the seating and turned up the heat and got no smell.

Then I sprayed the foam with Febreeze, and aired them on our balcony over a big windy lake -- all to no avail.

 

Yesterday I totally replaced all the seating foam with new foam.

And tonight I turned up the heat to 20degrees and there was no trace of a smell. I thought I'd never ger rid of it.

I'm just celebrating my small achievment with a drink.

Gerry,

 

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Hello Gerry,

 

Pleased you have solved the problem.

 

Just as a matter of interest did you use special "upholstery" foam for the replacement and where did you source it from? Interested because a friend has a similar problem which has been partly resolved except for one area of her caravan seating which smells as though it has been fouled by the previous owners dog.

 

Regards,

 

Mike.

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Guest peter
Judging by the amount of identical replies, you must have already hit the bottle before you started typing. :D Glad you got it sorted though.
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Hello Mike,

I don't think the foam is anything special, the same as is used in good quality seating.

 

I purchased from a factory here in Ireland that cuts to size. They supply the trade. The company is FoamFlex, Tralee. Co Kerry.

 

Gerry,

 

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