I need some advice. We purchased a new travel trailer in Dec 2016. We bought this trailer to live in as our home is being remodeled. We are using the black and grey tanks in the trailer. After about 2 months of living in the trailer, we have noticed a smell coming from the bathroom area, especially when flushing the toilet. I have been treating the tanks in the new camper just as I did in our old camper and I never noticed a smell in the old one. I have told my family that they are allowed to use the toilet in the trailer for #1 (small business) but that they needed to go in the house for #2 (big business). Anyone have any ideas what I may be doing wrong? The tanks are not full. I have dumped the black and grey tanks once, and I used the grey to flush as usual. I read about a cyclone vent that you place on top of the camper exhaust pipe, but I am wondering if it is something simple that I am overlooking. Thank you for any advice.

Get out the Popcorn. Here comes the age old fight over Chemicals Versus water........ lolOn a serious note though, If the camper you purchased has a clogged, or broken Vent pipe, it is possible that is you issue. I had that (Clogged) in an older trailer once and had a friend buy a new one that had the Vent pipe separate because it wasn't glued together at the joint. Those are just 2 things I would start with if it were me. Simple to check for. Of course it could be a whole Gambit of other things, and not even related to my suggestions. lol(and for the Record I use Chemicals AND a TON of water so I don't have an opinion on that) :)

Odors while flushing aren't unusual, after all, it is a straight shot to the black tank when the toilet is being flushed.Odors when not flushing indicate a plumbing problem. It could be the air admittance valve under the sink or a bad seal at the base of the toilet.Don't waste your money on the add on Cyclone vents and the like, they do not work because they cannot suck fumes from a closed tank, simple physics.

If you've been living in the camper for 2 months and flushed the black tank only once... well... there is your smell. Fill it with water, and flush the black tank. That's probably all it needs.Have you been leaving the black valve open all this time?

I think the idea behind the cyclones is that if there is ANY breeze outside, when you go to flush, the cyclone will cause a downward draw into the toilet, hopefully stopping any stink coming out as you flush.

Dutchman, no, we have kept the black valve and grey valves closed. We have only needed to dump it 1 times in the past 2 months and then it said it was only half full. I thought the chemicals and vent were suppose to control odors? It should just be liquid waaste with water in the tanks.

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jorge3000
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
Dutchman, no, we have kept the black valve and grey valves closed. We have only needed to dump it 1 times in the past 2 months and then it said it was only half full. I thought the chemicals and vent were suppose to control odors? It should just be liquid waaste with water in the tanks.
garyemunson
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2017
I think the idea behind the cyclones is that if there is ANY breeze outside, when you go to flush, the cyclone will cause a downward draw into the toilet, hopefully stopping any stink coming out as you flush.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
If you've been living in the camper for 2 months and flushed the black tank only once... well... there is your smell. Fill it with water, and flush the black tank. That's probably all it needs.

Have you been leaving the black valve open all this time?
beemerphile1
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
Odors while flushing aren't unusual, after all, it is a straight shot to the black tank when the toilet is being flushed.

Odors when not flushing indicate a plumbing problem. It could be the air admittance valve under the sink or a bad seal at the base of the toilet.

Don't waste your money on the add on Cyclone vents and the like, they do not work because they cannot suck fumes from a closed tank, simple physics.
firemedic08
Explorer
Apr 03, 2017
Get out the Popcorn. Here comes the age old fight over Chemicals Versus water........ lol

On a serious note though, If the camper you purchased has a clogged, or broken Vent pipe, it is possible that is you issue. I had that (Clogged) in an older trailer once and had a friend buy a new one that had the Vent pipe separate because it wasn't glued together at the joint.

Those are just 2 things I would start with if it were me. Simple to check for. Of course it could be a whole Gambit of other things, and not even related to my suggestions. lol

(and for the Record I use Chemicals AND a TON of water so I don't have an opinion on that) :)

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