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Topic: Toilet smell (Read 640 times) previous topic - next topic

Toilet smell

We have been camping and  Betsey noticed a smell on the toilet when she opened the lid Black tank on dash gauge reads 1/4 , grey tank 3/4 and fresh water  1/4 I am dumping  in ghe morning before we head out and back home.What do you recommend to control odor in the future?
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Toilet smell

Reply #1 –
Couple of points:

1.  You can NOT, repeat NOT make black or gray water tanks smell "good".
2.  As long as the tanks are properly vented, you should not have smells in your coach.  Said another way, if air pressure inside the motorhome is higher than in the tank, smells will not migrate into the coach.  Tank vent plugged or vent fan on in the bathroom and you WILL get smells inside. If your black tank or gray tank drain is open and someone next to you dumps, there will be positive pressure on the drain and if you happen to open the toilet, you will get "smells".

Use your nose to identify the source of the smell. The air admittance valves under the sinks are a common source and an inexpensive replaceable item at any box store.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Toilet smell

Reply #2 –
A clamp on your nose- ^.^d ^.^d
Johnh
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Toilet smell

Reply #3 –
It's not a noxious odor  we are not connect to the sewer just noticed a slight odor when we lifted the lid . Betsey put a air freshener thing  in on the counter and that did the trick.
 
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Toilet smell

Reply #4 –
Since we started using the Geo method the amount of any smell has been minimal.  Lots of threads on this FoFum.

The Geo Method
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Toilet smell

Reply #5 –
I was getting bad smells from my toilet when I was dry camping at a music festival (no ability to empty). I did two things. I made 5gallons of nice warm soapy water and dumped it down the tank.

I also made more warm soapy water and filled the toilet all the way up to the overflow holes (I used the shower head to do this). I ran a gallon or two of warm soaping water down the overflow holes.

It worked. Horrible smell went away.
1998 U270 34'

Re: Toilet smell

Reply #6 –
If your toilet has "overflow holes," you MUST regularly put water through them to fill the traps for the overflow holes. Some folk have plugged the holes. We have left them open. I make sure to fill the bowl enough to fill the traps after each dump of the black water tank. It keeps odors at bay and provides some water to the black tank.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX
 

Re: Toilet smell

Reply #7 –
We have a roof vent with a built-in fan that creates a slight negative pressure in the black tank, so when the toilet ball valve is opened, air flows from inside the coach into the tank. Instead of visa versa. Also there are unpowered roof vents that have venturi so that wind creates a negative tank pressure.

http://www.ultra-fab.com/new_detail.cfm?mfgnum=53-945001

Lil' Stanker? In-Line Deodorizer Fans

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Cyclone Sewer Vent - Camco 40595 - Vents - Camping World