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Thisolvol's avatar
Thisolvol
Explorer
Sep 30, 2016

Sewer stink

We were unable to dump after our last trip two weeks ago and the trailer smells TERRIBLE. If we dump tomorrow, fill with warm water, travel and dump again before setting up will the nasty sewer gas clear out ? What other causes could be the culprit?

7 Replies

  • After you dump tomorrow, add water to the tank and a couple cups full of bleach. Then drive to your next destination and dump once you get there. The bleach will do wonders!

    We use our camper at home all the time. I dump the black tank once a week (I have the ability to use my septic tank at home). If I go much longer than a week, every time we flush, and the valve opens in the toilet, that quick moment to flush makes the entire camper smell awful! The best cure is a good road trip with water and bleach in the tank, and then dump right away.

    The driving and sloshing will be the best cleaner tool you can get. Dump immediately, rinse.
  • We are supposed to use it next week. I hope we get it cleared out soon!
  • We were just away from our rv for 12 days and had some amount of waste in both waste tanks when we left. We ran water into the drains and then used the drain plugs/baskets to close each drain including the shower. Water in toilet bowl and lid closed. We did not have any odor when we got back. I would guess that one of the air admittance valves is not working property. They are cheap and easy to replace - can't be purchased at Menards, Lowe's, or usually any store that carries plumbing supplies.
  • If the bathroom sink is plumbed to the black tank make sure you have the sink trap full of water, some times when travelling they do empty, or the smell is up the vent line and comes in by the roof vent, next one the toilet to floor seal is not seated correct.

    navegator
  • IF the vapor barriers are functioning then you should have NO stink inside the RV .... except for whiff during time that toilet ball/blade is open (flushing)

    Stink inside an RV from waste tanks (black/grey) is because something is wrong not because waste is in the tanks.

    Toilet floor flange....toilet loose/gasket crushed
    Toilet bowl seal......doesn't hard water
    Sink/shower 'P' Traps....dry
    Air Admittance Valves (under sinks -- on drain line after 'P' traps)....not closing
    Waste tank vent lines.......broken/pulled from tanks
  • Possibly. Question: Are you keeping the toilet bowl full of either water or RV antifreeze between dumpings? That toilet bowl seal (when filled with water, etc) will help seal the stink between dumpings!

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