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dianna119's avatar
dianna119
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013

STINKY SITUATION

Not sure if we are in the correct category, but the sewer smell is knocking me out. Periodically, we get this horrendous smell about 2 weeks after returning from a trip. We always empty out the tank and it seems to have pretty good flow. We empty black first then flush with grey. Went into our garage/shop and added some water and chemicals to tank, cleared up and about 4 days later its back. Our temps are in the 100's lately and I'm thinking the tank is drying up. Question, why the smell if we dumped?

Also thing that happens is when using the toilet, I notice after about a day that the paper isn't going down so I use the end of the broom to help it along. We're using the proper TP.

Could we have build-up that doesn't drain out? If so, how do we know and how to we get rid of it? Thanks ;)
Class A
  • jjj's avatar
    jjj
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2013
    I fill 4 full toilet bowls full with 2 drop in chemical packets in my black tank. Also make sure all your p-traps in sinks and shower have some water in them after driving home. They loose the water in them so they can not contain the smell to the tanks and it comes up the drain pipes. I also put chemicals in my galley holding tank to control smell in it.
  • doxiemom11's avatar
    doxiemom11
    Explorer II
    Aug 22, 2013
    After you dump, you should be putting some water back into the black tank so it and any residue in there doesn't dry to the bottom/walls of the tank. If you have never done that, you may have gunk dried and stuck in there that is not coming out when you dump. We had that on the MH we purchased used and we used calgon, a few drops of Dawn dish soap and filled about 10 gallons. Drove around, finished filling (thru the toilet) and then dumped. We have a clear elbow and could see chunky stuff coming out. When we finally got clear water coming out we figured we had it. We now have a Flush King that we periodically backflush with and we always add 3-4 gallons of water to the tank after a dump.
  • DC_MC's avatar
    DC_MC
    Explorer III
    Aug 22, 2013
    Change the vent cap on the roof to the ones that swivel in the wind. Makes all the difference in the world.
  • RayChez's avatar
    RayChez
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2013
    There shouldn't be any smell coming into the coach if the toilet is holding water in the bowl. The black tank if not rinsed with the sprayers (if equipped) after you dump should not smell. But what we do after we dump and turn the sprinkling sprayer that our coach is equipped with. We will dump that water again after the spraying, THEN we will go inside the coach fill up the toilet bowel with water and add some enzyme like Happy Camper so that when the coach is in storage the enzymes will continue to clean the inside of both tanks. You will never have bad smell in your coach again.

    But if it still smells, then you could have an obstruction on the pipe between your toilet and the tank, since you mentioned that the tissue is not washing down that four inch pipe.
  • J_Walker's avatar
    J_Walker
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2013
    You might be getting a buildup in the black tank. I began filling the black tank about 1/4 full of water after dumping. Then the next drive breaks things up. I dump the small amount in the tank either at the next campground or when I get home. It has worked for years and it is very little work. As for having to poke toilet paper down the toilet with a broom, there is no way to avoid that occasionally.
  • J-Rooster's avatar
    J-Rooster
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2013
    I can't put the website out here for you RV.Net has blocked websites again! So google RV Digest to find your nearest dealer. You then put 6-8 capfuls in your black tank fill the tank all the way up to when the toilet is open you can see the water. Then wait 24 hours and drain. This stuff has enzymes in it that eats up all the material inside your black tank! I had the same trouble did this one time and it worked!
  • chuckftboy's avatar
    chuckftboy
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2013
    You mention a garage/shop. If you store inside then the roof vent is venting to an enclosed area. Not sure about the "end of the broom" thing though.
  • dan-nickie's avatar
    dan-nickie
    Explorer
    Aug 22, 2013
    Are you adding a few gallons of water to the tank right after you flush?
    I forgot to do that for the first time last week while camping and it started to smell quickly.

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