Forum Discussion

BiggD's avatar
BiggD
Explorer
Jun 20, 2016

Sewer smell outside camper when toilet is flushed

We noticed this weekend while camping when the toilet is flushed you can smell a real strong odor of sewer outside the camper. We were not hooked up to a sewer line.

The site we were on had a slight slope to pull into it and the camper was really leaning when pulling into it. Could that have loosened something under the camper to allow the fumes to exit? It has a sealed under body so I took the screws out to look up by the black tank and it was dry so I know it's not leaking.

Looking for some kind of direction to look since the dealer is 1 1/2 hours away and this is only our 3 time taking it out.

Thanks!
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2016
    Might want to consider changing your diet.....:)

    Seriously, my bet is that the odor is coming from the roof top vent pipe.
    The tank is vented up a wall and out through the roof.
  • korbe's avatar
    korbe
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2016
    downtheroad wrote:
    Might want to consider changing your diet.....:)

    Seriously, my bet is that the odor is coming from the roof top vent pipe.
    The tank is vented up a wall and out through the roof.

    And when you flush, air enters the tank from the bathroom and out the vent - just as designed.
  • BiggD's avatar
    BiggD
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2016
    I know the toilet is vented through the roof and how the system works. We never experienced this with our previous camper and only being the 3rd time out with this one I was thinking something might have came loose underneath since the camper was really contorted pulling into this site.

    I poured a bucket of water in the toilet when I got home and flushed it and a couple seconds after the toilet was flushed I could smell it outside and the wind was blowing the other way so I am pretty sure its not the roof vent.
  • Itchey_Feet's avatar
    Itchey_Feet
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2016
    Water is heavier than air, it is replacing the area in tank that was taken up by air and it has to go somewhere. JMHO
  • Houston_Remodel's avatar
    Houston_Remodel
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2016
    WHat about adding a new air vent cap, the style that helps prevent this?

    Have you checked the vent pipe for obstructions?
  • korbe's avatar
    korbe
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2016
    BiggD wrote:
    I know the toilet is vented through the roof and how the system works. We never experienced this with our previous camper and only being the 3rd time out with this one I was thinking something might have came loose underneath since the camper was really contorted pulling into this site.

    I poured a bucket of water in the toilet when I got home and flushed it and a couple seconds after the toilet was flushed I could smell it outside and the wind was blowing the other way so I am pretty sure its not the roof vent.

    I would follow my nose until it touches the source. There is a chance the vent pipe or toilet drop pipe could have disconnected from your tank.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2016
    Empty the tank and then fill the tank with fresh water all the way up to the toilet and look for leaks. I always do that with new RVs, it tests all connections.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Jun 22, 2016
    Climb up on the roof and sit by the vent. Have someone flush the toilet. You will either quickly prove or disprove the vent on the roof as the problem.

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