Stinky toilet

[Javi]

Originally Posted by bobbecky

Agree, the black tank valve should only be opened to drain the tank, closed the rest of the time. As far as the gray/galley tanks, I know many people leave the valves open most of the time, and only close them a day or so prior to dumping the black tank. But this was brought to my attention some time back, if you have the drain hose hooked up, with any valve left open, your rig is now a vent for the entire RV park sewer system, and I have noticed smells while walking around parks, and it was probably coming from open valves. Your gray tank, when empty, has no trap to stop gas like a trap under a sink, so sewer gas from the park just escapes the park system through your tank's vent at the roof.

yep, I've smelled the same thing. [emoji31][emoji31][emoji31] I leave the hose hooked up but dump as needed, it only take a couple of minutes and smells much better.

[jsmith948]

As was posted earlier, do a forum search. There have been numerous threads about RV sewer systems. We use Downy fabric softener in the black tank (learned about it here on the forum) and have had good luck. Makes the sides of your tank slick for ease of dumping and the fragrance works to help with the odor.

[LM3929]

I had the same smell in our toilet and decided to change the vent cap to a cyclone type and discovered that where the rubber roof had been cut to let the stack pipe thru, the rubber was cut too wide and where the pipe came thru the roof the hole there was an elongated hole right into wall.

So when the stack was venting it came back into the bathroom thru the hole in the roof.

I sealed the hole and rubber roof and now there is no smell.

Lorne M.

[dirtymutt]

We had a rancid smell from our toilet also. It was as simple as switching back to Campa Chem and problem solved. Trailer came with a different brand chemical and it just didn't work. Start with the simple stuff and change toilet chemicals.

[davidcyndi]

1 cup of downey everytime I clean out the tank. no problems ever after I started doing this.

[DMK]

I added Xtreme vents to both my black & gray water vents on top of my RV I haven't use chemicals since the install and have been very satisfied.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/r...bing-vents.htm

[vetorio]

Dometic had some defective 300 series toilets,with a loose joint between the upper and lower sections. They replaced mine for free,they said they not repairable. this was on a new cougar xlite. Search the forum for more info. Don't call Dometic, Call their manufacturer,I THINK it was seafoam in Ohio.

[monica4patience]

We moved up to a trailer from a pop-up, so never had toilet issues. By the 3rd summer in our trailer, I finally figured out what was causing the odor to sneak out....we were holding the foot pedal down too long! Once we started doing a quick step and flush, the odor wasn't a problem. Simple solution for us!

[djkrs2]

We also have a black tank related problem but the smell seems to be coming from under the sink. There is a valve that has something to do with the built in black tank cleaning system and I believe the smell is coming from that vent. When we open the vanity under the bathroom sink the smell is much stronger than when it's closed. Has anyone had this issue and if so, what can be done about it?

[jsmith948]

If you think that the vacuum breaker for the tank flush is the culprit, you could try replacing it. I read so many posts about the things leaking and flooding the trailer that I removed ours. If you do a forum search, you will find several posts about members having changed and/or removed the breaker from their system. Now I just use an anti-siphon valve at the hose connection.

[djkrs2]

Yes, the vacuum breaker. I always forget the name. We've already replaced it once because it DID start to flood the trailer when it got stuck or frozen or somehow broken. Luckily my wife was inside so a minimum amount of water got into the coach. What is it's purpose other than to let stink in? I have an anti-siphon valve on the whole side of the Y that I install at the faucet for the black water stuff. I think I'd like to remove it.

Thanks

[curlyfungirl]

Have you hooked up a clear sewer connector to your sewer pipe? You would be shocked at what comes out of a "clean" black tank. We put on one this weekend and were totally shocked. We filled the black tank three times with fresh water before things starting coming out clear.

[tech740]

So does it have to be Downey or just fabric softener in general.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by tech740

So does it have to be Downey or just fabric softener in general.

Calgon water softener, a dish soap like Ivory or Palmolive, liquid Downey or pretty much anything that will break the surface tension of the water (soften) and allow stuff to be slick. I use plain old liquid dish soap.

[tech740]

How much dish soap do you use? Just curiouse. Are you using that and a chemical tratment?

[Javi]

Originally Posted by tech740

How much dish soap do you use? Just curiouse. Are you using that and a chemical tratment?

Just the dish soap although sometimes the DW buys the lemon scented kind. All three of my waste tanks are 30 gallons and after I dump before leaving the campground; I will pour a couple or three capfuls of the detergent de' jour add about 5 gallons of water to each tank for the ride home.

After we get home and I get the opportunity I will fill and dump all the tanks a couple of times then thoroughly flush the black tank.

I have never had a smelly tank and I never use anything but the dish soap.

[sbmarks3]

I agree with Gaff, I had the same problem with the smell. I went on the roof pulled the cap off the vent pipe to find it was totally plugged by mud dobbers (wasps). I took a stick and knocked them down into the black tank, problem solved.

[Scalemaster]

We had the same issue with our first (Jayco) trailer. After some time I removed the caps on the roof vents and found the abs pipe was cut so long it was pushed into the cap and made an airtight seal. Cut the pipe off by 1/2 inch and installed the caps, worked fine.

[mikell]

Fabric softener works great we just buy the dollar store cheap stuff that smells strong and good. Try to figure out how much water your sewer line uses between the drain valve and the tank. Get that filled with water before adding the softener .We dump and add water when we arrive at the new site so everything has a chance to slosh around and breakup before dumping

[lablum]

I do the "Geo Method" every time I empty my black tank. Google "Geo Method" and give it a try. You have to do it every time you dump though. It contains Calgon water softner (so solids and toilet paper doesn't stick to the tank, bleach (to disinfect) and laundry detergent (I buy the cheapest kind with the strongest scent). Another good idea to clean your tank and sides is when you dump and are getting ready to head home, fill the tank with some water and throw in a bunch of ice cubes for the ride home. The bouncing around will help to clean the black tank and won't damage it. We only do the Geo Method for the black tank but I'm sure you could do it for every tank. We use Calgon water softner but it is hard to find and not cheap, I don't see why you can't use fabric softner though, I would think it is the same concept..