Odor Problem

Topic: Odor Problem (Read 1718 times) previous topic - next topic

Odor Problem

October 07, 2018, 01:51:02 pm

I have read some posts regarding this problem and none really applied to my problem. I have an odor problem inside the coach but only when I am parked with strong winds coming from the rear of the coach. I think this problem is an inherent fault of the particular roof vents that are on this coach. I am not sure if this stock photo is the exact vent I have but it's close enough for display purposes.
Has anyone else experienced this problem with this type of vent, and, if so, how did you solve the problem?
Any ideas/comments are welcome.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #1 – October 07, 2018, 02:07:00 pm

Is your toilet holding water? If not could be a source of the smell. Also could be an air emittance valve in the black water line or gray line. Not sure where they are on your coach. They are 1 1/4 and screwed in to a tee. They allow air to flo in to prevent a vacuum.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #2 – October 07, 2018, 02:18:58 pm

Several other styles of tank roof vents available. We have the same style as yours and occasionally get a foul oder. See other types at: rv roof tank vent | eBay

Pierce

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #3 – October 07, 2018, 02:20:25 pm

We replaced the original with this one: https://www.campingworld.com/360-siphon-rv-vent-cap-white (Good change)

For air admittance valves read this entire thread: Sewer Odor, roof sewer vent, air admitance valves inside...

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #4 – October 07, 2018, 02:59:31 pm

I replaced the original vent (like the one in the first post) with a Cyclone vent 3 years ago. It is still working great - rotates freely in even the lightest breeze. Seems to serve it's purpose - never have any funky smells inside the coach.

Amazon.com: Camco 40595 White Cyclone Sewer Plumbing Vent: Automotive

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Re: Odor Problem

Reply #5 – October 07, 2018, 06:03:12 pm

Also be mindful if your toilet has the over flow holes in the bowl. They have a P-trap. If the water evaporates. Then there is a direct line to smell hell.

I had a case of stink coach. Went to home depot and bought new air admittance valves and also installed the Camco weather vane rotating vents. I added some fine mesh to the Camco vents with clear sealant to keep bugs out. That took care of the nasal assault.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #6 – October 07, 2018, 06:14:11 pm

If you keep the P-traps full of water, replace the air admittance valves, have a effective vent pipe cap, and STILL have occasions where you are getting bad smells, then there is one final step you can take: a Super Stanker! I have no personal experience with this product, but it certainly seems like it would be effective. Of course, it would be another small drain on your batteries when dry camping, but that might be preferable to getting "gassed". Just another option to consider.

SUPER STANKER Sewer Tank/Vent Pipe Fan - Overview Page

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #7 – October 07, 2018, 06:20:28 pm

Quote from: bigdog – October 07, 2018, 06:03:12 pm

Also be mindful if your toilet has the over flow holes in the bowl. They have a P-trap. If the water evaporates. Then there is a direct line to smell hell.

I don't know much about RV toilets but I may have overflow holes and evaporated water in the p trap -- and the problem is exacerbated by wind getting in through the roof vent. My toilet is a Thetford Galaxy Starlight.
If I did have a problem with the p-trap, how would I correct it?

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #8 – October 07, 2018, 06:37:13 pm

Slim,

Check around the top of the toilet bowl, just below the rim, and see if there are any holes. If not, you probably do not have the overflow system, and in that case would not have the P-trap. Does your toilet sit directly above the black tank? That is the way ours is placed, so when we flush the contents drop straight down into the black tank. We call it the "Drop & Plop". With that kind of setup, the only seal you have to worry about is the one on the flushing valve. If it holds water in the bowl between uses, then it is good.

https://www.thetford.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/1446/Installation-Owners-Manual.pdf

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #9 – October 07, 2018, 06:55:07 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – October 07, 2018, 06:37:13 pm

Slim,

Check around the top of the toilet bowl, just below the rim, and see if there are any holes. If not, you probably do not have the overflow system, and in that case would not have the P-trap. Does your toilet sit directly above the black tank? That is the way ours is placed, so when we flush the contents drop straight down into the black tank. We call it the "Drop & Plop". With that kind of setup, the only seal you have to worry about is the one on the flushing valve. If it holds water in the bowl between uses, then it is good.

https://www.thetford.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/1446/Installation-Owners-Manual.pdf

Chuck, I see one rectangular hole below the rim, and anything flushed does NOT go straight down. On my old coach, the contents did drop straight down and I thought that the only seal I had to worry about with any toilet was the flushing valve which in my toilet's case works great.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #10 – October 07, 2018, 08:50:53 pm

Sweeten up your black tank, using plenty of this Slim;
Amazon.com: Caravan "Full-timer's RV Holding Tank Treatment - Natural,...

I have the same vent as you and the only time we experienced what you described was when we stayed at a friend's farm.
He had some pigs behind us and when the wind changed after a couple of days we were outta there.

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Re: Odor Problem

Reply #11 – October 07, 2018, 09:19:31 pm

Number one complaint when a service adviser with all coaches. Even new ones.

1st question. How clean is your black holding tank. Do you flush it out good? I mean do you flood it, and dump it several times before storing it?

Whenever I use our coach, which I have done with all my coaches, after dumping the tanks, I flood them and dump them twice.Then I dd tank cleaner on 3rd flooding. I try to use hot water. I let it sit a few days to a week, then dump it again. Easy because I sat up a dump station in my shop.

Whenever I dump at dump stations on the road, I flood the tanks with a hose down the toilet, with my wife's help.

The secret is the crap and toilet paper that sticks on the side of the tanks inside. Just dumping , then using the tank flusher's help, but don't wash it out. Once it gets wet again, even after a winter of sitting with no smell, it reactivates it, may even be worse.

This has always worked for me, no matter what vent cap I have.

Chris

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #12 – October 07, 2018, 10:06:41 pm

Quote from: gracerace – October 07, 2018, 09:19:31 pm

Number one complaint when a service adviser with all coaches. Even new ones.

1st question. How clean is your black holding tank. Do you flush it out good? I mean do you flood it, and dump it several times before storing it?

Whenever I use our coach, which I have done with all my coaches, after dumping the tanks, I flood them and dump them twice.Then I dd tank cleaner on 3rd flooding. I try to use hot water. I let it sit a few days to a week, then dump it again. Easy because I sat up a dump station in my shop.

Whenever I dump at dump stations on the road, I flood the tanks with a hose down the toilet, with my wife's help.

The secret is the crap and toilet paper that sticks on the side of the tanks inside. Just dumping , then using the tank flusher's help, but don't wash it out. Once it gets wet again, even after a winter of sitting with no smell, it reactivates it, may even be worse.

This has always worked for me, no matter what vent cap I have.

Chris

Hi Chris. I am a full timer so my coach is never stored. It had been stored when I bought it, and at that time the bowl valve leaked a bit but it came back to life and has sealed perfectly for 3 years. As I said, the only time I really have a problem is when I am parked and there is a strong tailwind. Others have said they had this problem as well. I had never heard of a P-trap before it was mentioned here, and I was surprised to see that my toilet has at least one hole that is apparently associated with it. It could be that this hole -- along with the tail wind -- is causing the problem. Obviously I would love to have a fresh smelling coach no matter which way the wind blows.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #13 – October 08, 2018, 02:40:05 pm

It is nearly always the air admittance valves causing odors inside the coach. 1st step is to replace them all and see if the odor problem is gone.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #14 – October 08, 2018, 03:13:30 pm

I am with Dan. The air admittance valves are usually the problem. It's a good idea to replace them all anyway. I would recommend that you buy Studor valves. I have had two of the big box store type fail. You probably have two or three valves.
jor

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #15 – October 09, 2018, 07:17:07 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – October 07, 2018, 06:37:13 pm

Slim,

Check around the top of the toilet bowl, just below the rim, and see if there are any holes. If not, you probably do not have the overflow system, and in that case would not have the P-trap. Does your toilet sit directly above the black tank? That is the way ours is placed, so when we flush the contents drop straight down into the black tank. We call it the "Drop & Plop". With that kind of setup, the only seal you have to worry about is the one on the flushing valve. If it holds water in the bowl between uses, then it is good.

https://www.thetford.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/1446/Installation-Owners-Manual.pdf

Quote from: jor – October 08, 2018, 03:13:30 pm

I am with Dan. The air admittance valves are usually the problem. It's a good idea to replace them all anyway. I would recommend that you buy Studor valves. I have had two of the big box store type fail. You probably have two or three valves.
jor

I thought I only had 2 valves -- under the bathroom sink -- and I replaced those. I did some further checking and just found a third valve under the kitchen sink. I replaced that and will see if it solves the problem before doing anything on the roof.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #16 – October 10, 2018, 12:33:14 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – October 07, 2018, 02:59:31 pm

I replaced the original vent (like the one in the first post) with a Cyclone vent 3 years ago. It is still working great - rotates freely in even the lightest breeze. Seems to serve it's purpose - never have any funky smells inside the coach.

Amazon.com: Camco 40595 White Cyclone Sewer Plumbing Vent: Automotive

I put these on my coach several years ago and they work, no odors inside. White when installed, but after about a year the color changed to a light tan. Still seem to be okay otherwise

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Re: Odor Problem

Reply #17 – October 10, 2018, 01:22:34 pm

If you have a washer/dryer in your coach and it hasn't been used in a while, the p-trap can dry out and allow swampy odors into the coach. How do I know?

Just run a partial load and drain to refill the p-trap. Voila.

Re: Odor Problem

Reply #18 – October 10, 2018, 01:23:26 pm

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – October 10, 2018, 12:33:14 pm

I put these on my coach several years ago and they work, no odors inside. White when installed, but after about a year the color changed to a light tan. Still seem to be okay otherwise

I have used both and prefer this as it was patented by the same person as yours and he use to sell both and showed this ones increased ability. It also is lower, and no moving parts.

Amazon.com: Siphon 389380 RV Plumbing Vent 360 Siphon - Black: Automotive

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Re: Odor Problem

Reply #19 – October 10, 2018, 03:46:20 pm

Quote from: Pyolet – October 10, 2018, 01:22:34 pm

If you have a washer/dryer in your coach and it hasn't been used in a while, the p-trap can dry out and allow swampy odors into the coach. How do I know? Just run a partial load and drain to refill the p-trap. Voila.

And there is at least one and maybe 2 air admittance valves behind the washer.

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