New trailer, have been traveling with trailer for 3 weeks, have dumped toilet about 6 times, put hose on built in sprayer to clean. Today when dumping in chemical and gallon of water, we got terrible smell from toilet , I know it is a toilet with black tank but this never happened in our old trailer. Also the gage always show 3/4 full, I know this happens but would sure like to sole the odor problem. Thanks.

blocked vent pipe ? or maybe the vent pipe was installed too deep into the black tank could be a possible cause.

Next time you're getting ready to hit the road, make sure your tanks are dumped. Then add about 4 gallons of water and a generous amount of Dawn Dish Washing liquid and hit the road. When you get to your destination, dump the 4 gallons. The odors will be gone and your sensors will probably work again. The sloshing of the soap water in the tank will clean your tank, and the soap will keep things a bit slippery. It's a simply way to keep them clean.My camper also has a black tank flusher and it really does not do "that" good of a job. The best solution I've found is the wand down the toilet into the black tank. That thing always cleans out the tank until clear water comes out. (I have a clear sewer hose section to see just how much junk is coming out). Add some Dawn and a few gallons of water, and drive around, and the tank never smells.

Note that when you open the toilet valve and the fan is on this will draw the odor in. If your dumping before the tank is full that may cause the solids to stay behind while the liquids go out. It's a good idea to get the tank full before pulling the valve. The other thing I've heard of too is if you have the Dometic 300 toilet the sewage can collect inside the bowl.

Black tanks need plenty water to function properly. New trailer, new tank, smells - sounds like lack of water. After I dump I let the toilet run a few minutes after adding the chemical packet. Also when flushing toilet I let the water run a bit. I had smells at first but they went away with added water. Also you might be dumping too often. When I full-timed I'd pull the valve about once a week.

Here is the secret,Happy Camper Tank Powder. Use it in both black and grey and never smell anything ever again. Buy it online.

Toilet Odor in New Trailer | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Wanderlost
Nomad II
May 11, 2016
We had a similar problem in our previous RV. Went for the simple fixes first. Really good flushing of both tanks. Nope. Added water to all p traps. Nope.

Added this to the sewer stack. Problem solved.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/cyclone-sewer-vent/31992
mike102
Explorer
May 11, 2016
therink wrote:
Start empty tank with about 4 gals water, cup of dawn, cup of arm and Hammer Washing Soda (I can only find this at Walmart in laundry aisle). Dont dump until almost full and forget about the gauges, they never work.

I had that smell bad putting this mix in and letting it clean on the way to our camp site about 2 hours away it didn't smell anymore after we dumped at our site, i plan on doing this at least once a year.
Themilkman
Explorer
May 11, 2016
I had the same propblem with my Dometic 300 toilet. The ball valve was not seated properly. the company replaced the toilet everything is working great now.
DE88ROX
Explorer
May 11, 2016
augustpilot wrote:
New trailer, have been traveling with trailer for 3 weeks, have dumped toilet about 6 times, put hose on built in sprayer to clean. Today when dumping in chemical and gallon of water, we got terrible smell from toilet , I know it is a toilet with black tank but this never happened in our old trailer. Also the gage always show 3/4 full, I know this happens but would sure like to sole the odor problem. Thanks.

Cant hep you on the odor issue, but check out Horst Miracle Probes.
I bought a set for both the black and grey tanks, and I love them!

Have had them now for 3 seasons and they always show empty after dumping, which leads me to believe the readings going the other way are just as accurate.
hawkeye-08
Explorer III
May 10, 2016
We use the geo method (google geo method). Works for us. When we bought our current trailer, it had a poop pyramid that took several trips with lots of water to finally dissolve. Strong odors until it was gone...
therink
Explorer
May 10, 2016
bobndot wrote:
beemerphile1 wrote:
bobndot wrote:
OP wrote:
I know it is a toilet with black tank but this never happened in our old trailer.

He never had a problem in the past. I'm assuming he already knows how to keep his tank clean because he never had this problem before.

"this has never happened in the past".

So, what could be the problem with THIS tank ?

Change of diet? :B

:B never thought of it that way . Probably vegan now and needs a good cafeteria meal to straighten that tank right out .

A case of cheap beer might help.
bobndot
Explorer III
May 10, 2016
beemerphile1 wrote:
bobndot wrote:
OP wrote:
I know it is a toilet with black tank but this never happened in our old trailer.

He never had a problem in the past. I'm assuming he already knows how to keep his tank clean because he never had this problem before.

"this has never happened in the past".

So, what could be the problem with THIS tank ?

Change of diet? :B

:B never thought of it that way . Probably vegan now and needs a good cafeteria meal to straighten that tank right out .
beemerphile1
Explorer
May 10, 2016
bobndot wrote:
OP wrote:
I know it is a toilet with black tank but this never happened in our old trailer.

He never had a problem in the past. I'm assuming he already knows how to keep his tank clean because he never had this problem before.

"this has never happened in the past".

So, what could be the problem with THIS tank ?

Change of diet? :B
SoundGuy
Explorer
May 10, 2016
augustpilot wrote:
Today when dumping in chemical and gallon of water, we got terrible smell from toilet , I know it is a toilet with black tank but this never happened in our old trailer. Also the gage always show 3/4 full, I know this happens but would sure like to sole the odor problem.

New product on the market from Walex that I'm going to try myself ... guarantees a "clean" black tank and sensors that actually work. :W

Walex Commando Black Tank Cleaner ... not a replacement for whatever you normally use in the black water tank but rather a tank maintenance chem you use just a couple times a year.

FWIW, I've been using these Walex Grey & Black Tank Treatments for a year now and have been quite happy with the results - no odours.
bobndot
Explorer III
May 10, 2016
OP wrote:
I know it is a toilet with black tank but this never happened in our old trailer.

He never had a problem in the past. I'm assuming he already knows how to keep his tank clean because he never had this problem before.

"this has never happened in the past".

So, what could be the problem with THIS tank ?