Gray Water Question

dadmomh wrote:
If everything checks out ok with your vents and plumbing, you might try adding the grey tank treatment. It's a lemon-y fragrance - not overpowering - but whenever we have something like fish or something that could make a smelly trailer we use it and have had no problems. Available at Walmart usually or camping supply stores.

We've used the TST treatment and it works well, got it at Wangmart. Simple Green works good too and is cheaper if you get the big jug.

If everything checks out ok with your vents and plumbing, you might try adding the grey tank treatment. It's a lemon-y fragrance - not overpowering - but whenever we have something like fish or something that could make a smelly trailer we use it and have had no problems. Available at Walmart usually or camping supply stores.

OK - used a better flashlight this time and what do you know - there they were. Since I just emptied the tank, I filled the trap in the bathtub as Old-Biscuit suggested (the oil idea is something I never thought of either). I'll give it a few days and see what happens. Thanks for all the great info!

When I replaced mine, I went with the cheap one from Lowes, same as the Home Depot link posted. There is a better one out there with some sort of stainless steel innards as opposed to the rubber flap the cheap ones use.

2012Coleman wrote:
I looked under both sinks and do not see this valve. There is a pipe that goes up, but it is capped off.

I do always ensure there is water in the toilet, and we use the sink in the bathroom to wash hands before dinner, and the kitchen sink for dishes - so I'm sure water stays in those traps, but I have not turned on the tub faucet. that may be the culprit unless they put the admittance valves below the sinks where I can't access them. I turn the water off at night and relieve the pressure at the faucets.

As suggested.that 'cap' is the air admittance valve.

They are installed after the 'P' traps and allow air into drain line when dumping grey tank. They keep the water in 'P' trap from being sucked out by letting air in drain line downstream of the 'P' traps.

Air admittance valves are simple design. Some use a spring to hold flapper closed, some just use an elastic tab molded on flapper to hold close. When they weaken flapper doesn't fully seat and will allow odors inside rig.

Some mfg. install them on sink & shower drains, some just on sink drains. Depends on drain pipe arrangement and accessibility.

Water can evaporate in an unused 'P' traps.....so shower can also be source of odors from grey tank. Refill trap and pour a couple tablespoons of oil (mineral, olive) into trap. The oil will sit on top of water in trap and minimize any evaporation.

Great for use in toilet bowl during storage also..keeps bowl seal lubricated and doesn't evaporate.

yep that's it. here's the same one at Home Depot.

link

Bull Rider wrote:
Look closer at the "cap" and see if it isn't the air excluder. The excluder looks a lot like a "cap".

You might be right - looked for the part at Lowes and saw this Is this the correct part? Will double check this afternoon.

Look closer at the "cap" and see if it isn't the air excluder. The excluder looks a lot like a "cap".

I looked under both sinks and do not see this valve. There is a pipe that goes up, but it is capped off.

I do always ensure there is water in the toilet, and we use the sink in the bathroom to wash hands before dinner, and the kitchen sink for dishes - so I'm sure water stays in those traps, but I have not turned on the tub faucet. that may be the culprit unless they put the admittance valves below the sinks where I can't access them. I turn the water off at night and relieve the pressure at the faucets.

Lynnmor wrote:
Look for faulty air admittance valves usually under the sinks.

X2, also called a "Cheater Vent", available from Lowes and Home Depot. Simple screw on installation. About 10 bucks as I recall.