How to get did of smell in toilet and sink

If you are at a permanent site, why not put a little bleach down your kitchen sink?

For the toilet, check your seal by flushing, then only moving the lever part way to get just water (or use the water lever, depending on type of toilet) to add about 2" or so of water.

Check in about an hour to make sure the water hasn't leaked out. If water can leak out, smells can leak in ;)

We are not on a permanent site, but we try to keep about 2" of water in the toilet to make sure the smells don't get in.

Don't forget to run water in your shower from time to time, too. If it has a trap, it will dry out, allowing smells to come into camper.

Seattle Lion wrote:

louiskathy wrote:
...it's okay to pull the gray tank valve. The gray tank valve can stay open when you are parked, EXCEPT when you are draining the black tank.)

It's my understanding that the gray tank valve should also remain closed to prevent sewer gas from escaping through the grey tank and out of the roof vent. I was told that this is a source of bad campground odor. In addition, aren't there things like grease and other solids that can build up in the gray tank if it isn't allowed to fill? Another reason to let the gray tank fill is that it provides a nice way to rinse the waste line after dumping and cleaning the black tank.

See, I am learning!

Bob

He stated that he was in a permanent site. We also have our motor home parked for months at a time (we use our truck camper for trips).

I see your point about grease and scraps being a problem in the gray tank. It's a housekeeping issue. All of my dishwater is strained before it goes down the drain. I always use a dishpan so I can pour it down the black tank or toss outside, just for this reason.

I have two strainers that nest... one coarse, one very very fine. (Fine enough to catch chopped/pureed blueberry seeds that have gone through my food processor/blender.)

From time to time, I'll close the gray valve and let it fill up as I do a load or two of laundry and then drain it (always pull it before shower time the next morning).

I have never heard about leaving the gray valve closed so that venting odors don't become a problem in between dumps. That's a new one.

Wait until someone asks him what kind of TP he's been using.... things will really get moving then.(and just to add more... I don't put tp down the black tank. It goes into a bag inside an air tight container...and gets tossed outside with the garbage. :B

spike99 wrote:

krobbe wrote:
I might be wary of putting a motor or any other spark inducing device inside a pipe that vents methane gas unless it's verified for that use. A UL listing or equivalent is what I would look for when buying something like this. Safety first :)

12V computer fan creating sparks??? Never seen a computer fan spit out sparks...

For more details of 12V fan in a different store bought form, surf: - Click Here -

I can vouch 1st hand that a 12V power vent does work.

Vouch all you want. You haven't blown up yet. It must be safe.

louiskathy wrote:
...it's okay to pull the gray tank valve. The gray tank valve can stay open when you are parked, EXCEPT when you are draining the black tank.)

It's my understanding that the gray tank valve should also remain closed to prevent sewer gas from escaping through the grey tank and out of the roof vent. I was told that this is a source of bad campground odor. In addition, aren't there things like grease and other solids that can build up in the gray tank if it isn't allowed to fill? Another reason to let the gray tank fill is that it provides a nice way to rinse the waste line after dumping and cleaning the black tank.

See, I am learning!

Bob

krobbe wrote:
I might be wary of putting a motor or any other spark inducing device inside a pipe that vents methane gas unless it's verified for that use. A UL listing or equivalent is what I would look for when buying something like this. Safety first :)

12V computer fan creating sparks??? Never seen a computer fan spit out sparks...

For more details of 12V fan in a different store bought form, surf: - Click Here -

I can vouch 1st hand that a 12V power vent does work.

I might be wary of putting a motor or any other spark inducing device inside a pipe that vents methane gas unless it's verified for that use. A UL listing or equivalent is what I would look for when buying something like this.
Safety first :)

.

My Travel Trailer is at a seasonal (permanent) site as well. At our seasonal site, many folks complain of bad "stank" smell coming back up the toilet hole - when its toilet valve is open. To eliminate this bad smell problem, simply purchase / install a 12 volt fan that installs above the blank tank vent pipe. Before one does their business, simply turn the 35+CFM 12V fan ON. This creates a negative vacuum inside the blank tank. When the toilet valve is open, the air is immediately sucked down, across, up and out the top of the trailer's roof top vent pipe. After the toilet valve is closed, simply turn the 12V vent fan OFF. Or, leave it on LOW setting.

If into store bought products, simply buy/install - click here -
Note: With this product, simply install inside the wall and install its 12V OFF-LOW-HIGH 12V switch within the bathroom.

If into building your own product, simply get a 12V computer fan, install on the roof and install on a 12V OFF/ON fan. For a few pictures, surf: - click here -
Note: For best results, use computer fan that is 35+ CFM

After installing a 12V fan on my seasonal site's TT, NO MORE "stank" smell, no more chemicals and using a 12V manual switch, I can turn it off at night - when even the smallest sounds travel. One of the best DIY mods I've done to my TT.

Knowing what I know today and for my next RV, I would replace the low grade factory roof vent with - click here - If smell remained after this low cost upgrade, I would then install the 12V power vent within the bathroom wall cavity. re: - click here -

IMO, 35+ CFM 12V power vent should be mandatory on all RV toilets that don't use gooseneck piping (that traps the stank smell where it belongs.) NO chemicals costs pays for the cost of the power vent many times over…. Especially if one builds their own 12V Power vent using low cost 12V computer fan, 12V manual switch and ABS pipe fittings.

.

The Mastermind wrote:
I recently purchased a travel trailer that is situated on a permanent campsite. I'm new to this and I've noticed a very strong odor when I flush. I also am getting an odor from the sink. I've been leaving the valves to the in ground black tank open. Any ideas?

Please explain "in ground black tank". If you're just referring to a normal sewer connection then all the previous responses about using lots of water and not dumping till the tank is at least 2/3 full are spot on.

If your toilet pipe goes directly to something other than a standard RV holding tank, that information would be real handy.

JMO the answer to tank smell problems is always WATER. dry traps and tanks lead to odors. Run water down all drains to top off traps, close Black valve unless dumping, and put LOTS of water down the black to liquify the contents and repeat until visual inspection (with flashlight if possible) shows empty tank. PS never run the bathroom fan when flushing it will draw smell up into the bathroom. :)

Good luck!

The black valve should always remain shut until you are ready to dump the black tank. You have built up solids in the tank...and let all the liquid drain out.

Big mistake.

CLOSE THE VALVE. Put enough water into the tank to fill it at least 1/2 full.
You say you are at a permanent location... so you can't drive the trailer around to let it sloosh and loosen the contents of the tank, right??

That would be the easier way to get the tank clean. The harder way (your only option then??) is to just make sure the black tank is always full before you pull the black valve. (and please make sure you close the gray tank valve before you open the black tank valve so you don't mix the contents of the black tank into the gray tank... when you close the black tank valve, it's okay to pull the gray tank valve. The gray tank valve can stay open when you are parked, EXCEPT when you are draining the black tank.)

Do you have a black tank internal sprayer??