We're getting it when the roof air is on. What do you all add to the BW tank when it happens?
'That smell' June 10, 2019, 05:13:29 pm We're getting it when the roof air is on. What do you all add to the BW tank when it happens? Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #1 – June 10, 2019, 05:15:49 pm Dawn helps and also products with oxiclean works well also. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: 'That smell' Reply #2 – June 10, 2019, 05:31:48 pm If your coach is closed up. No windows or doors open and you have the kitchen exhaust fan on it will pull fumes up from the black water tank through the toilet. You must have an outside source of make up air when that large fan is running. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: 'That smell' Reply #3 – June 10, 2019, 05:32:25 pm We use Dawn (1/2 cup) and Calgon (1 cup) dissolved in a bucket of hot water, then poured down the drain. Works for both tanks.Make sure the toilet, and the sink and shower drain water traps, are kept full of water.Check your rooftop holding tank vent to be sure it is clear. Birds have been known to nest there.Check the air admittance valves to be sure they are functioning correctly. Usually one in the bathroom behind the toilet, one under the kitchen sink, and possibly one under the bathroom sink. Search "air admittance valve" on the Forum, or start with this thread for more info:Odor Problem Quote Selected 2 Likes
Re: 'That smell' Reply #4 – June 10, 2019, 05:40:14 pm Sewer Odor, roof sewer vent, air admitance valves inside... Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: 'That smell' Reply #5 – June 10, 2019, 05:41:43 pm Mike, As mentioned above it is likely a failing air admittance valve. Good time to replace all of them. If you do I recommend you buy Studor valves. They are pricey but will not let you down. For now you can just keep positive pressure in the coach and keep that odor where it belongs.jor Quote Selected 2 Likes
Re: 'That smell' Reply #6 – June 10, 2019, 05:51:58 pm Yup, the right answer is NOT to try to make the gray or black tank smell good, but to find the source of the odor.Locate the SOURCE. If under the sink in kitchen or bathroom, the air admittance valve(s) are the likely source. This is assuming the smell is that of the tank(s).If the smell is a "wet dog" odor when you turn on the roof A/C, that is a completely different issue. The roof A/C EVAPORATORS need to be cleaned. Done from the roof, and not that difficult on your brand of A/C. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: 'That smell' Reply #7 – June 10, 2019, 09:10:25 pm Quote from: wolfe10 – June 10, 2019, 05:51:58 pmYup, the right answer is NOT to try to make the gray or black tank smell good, but to find the source of the odor.Locate the SOURCE. If under the sink in kitchen or bathroom, the air admittance valve(s) are the likely source. This is assuming the smell is that of the tank(s).If the smell is a "wet dog" odor when you turn on the roof A/C, that is a completely different issue. The roof A/C EVAPORATORS need to be cleaned. Done from the roof, and not that difficult on your brand of A/C.It is not recommended that one use bleach to clean the mold that can grow on a too wet Evap coil. Go get a can of AC mold killer. One can also put the AC in fan only mode to dry out the EVAP before shutting it down. Putting it away wet is what causes the wet dog to come home. My Mercedes had this issue in a bad way.As for the outhouse stench. I replaced all my AAV's and I was still getting ill winds from the black tank. What helped me was learning about those two little over flow holes high up in the bowl. Those have P traps just like your sinks. I just take a small water bottle that's going in the trash and pour some water in each hole. I also ditched the over priced deodorizing RV tank stuff and got some RidX septic tank stuff. Because our black tank is a septic tank. That has really helped. And it's less costly per dose as one only needs about .5 ounces. Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #8 – June 10, 2019, 09:38:04 pm Quote from: jor – June 10, 2019, 05:41:43 pmMike, As mentioned above it is likely a failing air admittance valve. Good time to replace all of them. If you do I recommend you buy Studor valves. They are pricey but will not let you down. For now you can just keep positive pressure in the coach and keep that odor where it belongs.jorJor, the ones that sell for $5 or $6 at HD or Lowe's work just as well and are right there with the high dollar ones! Just an FYI. Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #9 – June 10, 2019, 09:49:37 pm Quotethe ones that sell for $5 or $6 at HD or Lowe's work just as well One would think so but that has not been the case for me. On two rigs I have replaced the valves with the Home Depot off the shelf ones and two (one on each coach) did not do the job. I know. Doesn't make sense to me either. I do know, however, once I installed the Sudors I never had another issue. jor Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #10 – June 10, 2019, 10:19:42 pm Qaulity products are always a bit more $ knock off don't care much, and China doesn't care in the very least, China just says try to sue me! Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #11 – June 10, 2019, 10:29:56 pm Brett's idea that the odor might be coming from the air conditioner is probably correct, There is no air intrusion from the roof, the units recirculate the inside air and don't pull outside air. If the problem is only when running the air that might be the issue. Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #12 – June 10, 2019, 11:04:06 pm Well yes and no, the roof a/c most likely has an axle shaft that penetrates the suction side of the evaporator supply fan housing thru an unsealed oversized hole downstream of the high static pressure drop filters and evap coil so any odors drifting across the roof will get sucked into and mixed with the supply air, along with some 130+ condenser coil air. Crappy design cubed. Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #13 – June 11, 2019, 10:07:52 am I had nasty smells coming from the vent holes in the toilet bowl I plugged them and life got less smelly. Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #14 – June 11, 2019, 10:20:30 am The holes in your toilet bowl are overflow holes. I got plugs (free) from the Mfr.Seems overflow isn't necessary when a user has to hold down (or up) the control to add water. Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #15 – June 11, 2019, 10:23:46 am Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – June 10, 2019, 05:32:25 pmWe use Dawn (1/2 cup) and Calgon (1 cup) dissolved in a bucket of hot water, then poured down the drain. Works for both tanks.Make sure the toilet, and the sink and shower drain water traps, are kept full of water.Check your rooftop holding tank vent to be sure it is clear. Birds have been known to nest there.Check the air admittance valves to be sure they are functioning correctly. Usually one in the bathroom behind the toilet, one under the kitchen sink, and possibly one under the bathroom sink. Search "air admittance valve" on the Forum, or start with this thread for more info:Odor ProblemWhat Calgon product are you using? Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #16 – June 11, 2019, 11:00:00 am Quote from: Old phart phred – June 10, 2019, 11:04:06 pmWell yes and no, the roof a/c most likely has an axle shaft that penetrates the suction side of the evaporator supply fan housing thru an unsealed oversized hole downstream of the high static pressure drop filters and evap coil so any odors drifting across the roof will get sucked into and mixed with the supply air, along with some 130+ condenser coil air. Crappy design cubed.I don't know the works of all the roof air units, but the ones I have worked on have a plastic cover with a gasket sealing from all outside air covering the squirrel cage for the supply and return. Quote Selected
Re: 'That smell' Reply #17 – June 11, 2019, 03:39:53 pm Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – June 11, 2019, 10:23:46 amWhat Calgon product are you using?Calgon Ocean Breeze Moisturizing Bath Beads.Calgon Ocean Breeze Moisturizing Bath Beads with Aloe & Vitamin E, 30 oz -... Quote Selected