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Grey water tank deodorizer

October 23, 2012, 02:16:55 pm

In south Louisiana it gets hot and grey tanks can smell as a result.  I always put a little grey tank deodorizer in it and it works.  a friend told me he puts a little pine sol in his and it works also and is much cheaper.  Anyone know of any harm pine sol might do to the seals on the tank?

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #1 – October 23, 2012, 02:37:14 pm

I use dish detergent with anti-bacterial - along with some cheap vegitable oil -

nothing sticks in tanks, (no solids build up), lubes the valves, and keeps the smell down - cheap if you buy the really big sizes at Sams/costo

I usually try to drive a bit before I dump if possible to "mix things up"

Have a third valve installed as well - dump black, close third valve, open grey, wait a minute, open black - gets a poor mans flush going, and I love the redundancy of the third valve.

Was at a hbitat build where grey water discharge is legal, I dripped out the grey on the ground until my black was full, then opened both valves with third valve closed and mixed, got me along for two weeks, dumped on way out of town

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #2 – October 23, 2012, 04:29:25 pm

We just use plenty of Dawn and lots of water to wash the dishes (showers also use plenty of water and body wash).  When we add solution to the black tank, we also add a bit to the grey tank (about 2 oz.).  This seems to do the trick.  The tanks get flushed at least once every two weeks if not sooner.

Peter

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #3 – October 24, 2012, 11:44:01 am

Well my grey tank gets plenty of dish soap and shower soap and gets rinsed everytime we dump but without some smell good added this heat down here will make it stink.  Still wondering if anyone thinks Pine Sol would harm the seals.

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #4 – October 24, 2012, 11:48:44 am

When I purchased my coach from Carol & Jeff Savournin Carol told me to put a cup white vinegar and a cup of cheap vegetable oil in the tanks.  Have been doing that for 15 month and no smells and free working valves.

Keith

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #5 – October 24, 2012, 11:53:37 am

Gerard,
No! This formula from boating day, years ago: 1 cup Pinesol, 1 cup borax, 1 tablespoon ammonia in a gallon of water. Mix well. Add 1 cup per 20 gallons tank capacity. Works well and is a lot cheaper than commercial stuff.

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #6 – October 24, 2012, 05:03:50 pm

I use Shakespeare's deodorizer which includes "eye of newt, and toe of frog." 

Seriously, we use nothing in the grey tank and don't have a problem.  From what I have seen there is plenty of soap in there from normal use of the sinks and shower.  We did have some odor from the trap in the shower, but put a flat rubber sink stopper over the opening when not in use and that took care of it. 

Also, we are very careful about not putting any food waste (e.g., grease and oil) down the sink drain.  We wipe all our pots, pans and dishes with paper towel before washing them.  I think that helps keep the bacterial count and smell down. 

Keep in mind that your waste may well go into a septic system and a lot of toxic stuff added to the grey water might not help that process. 

Earlier this summer I serviced my dump valves and lubricated them with "90% silicone grease" which I found in the plumbing supplies at an Ace hardware.  It has the consistency of honey and a small amount applied to the rubber gaskets of each valve made them work very smoothly.  So far it has been about 3 months of "full time" use and they still work effortlessly. 

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #7 – October 24, 2012, 09:40:19 pm

Cheap white vinegar is magic.

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Reply #8 – October 25, 2012, 08:40:53 am

George, I will take the bait.  How did you lube your dump valves with that wonderful silicone honey? 

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #9 – October 25, 2012, 08:53:30 am

We have been using Pine-sol for six months without any issues. Have never added for seal lubrication before now, but that sounds like something we should do.



David

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Re: Grey water tank deodorizer

Reply #10 – October 25, 2012, 10:43:15 am

TXforetravel..... See below.  Actually I took everything apart twice because I didn't use the silicone grease in the first place.  Hopefully this will be the end of it. 

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