STINKY SITUATION

[dianna119]

Not sure if we are in the correct category, but the sewer smell is knocking me out. Periodically, we get this horrendous smell about 2 weeks after returning from a trip. We always empty out the tank and it seems to have pretty good flow. We empty black first then flush with grey. Went into our garage/shop and added some water and chemicals to tank, cleared up and about 4 days later its back. Our temps are in the 100's lately and I'm thinking the tank is drying up. Question, why the smell if we dumped?

Also thing that happens is when using the toilet, I notice after about a day that the paper isn't going down so I use the end of the broom to help it along. We're using the proper TP.

Could we have build-up that doesn't drain out? If so, how do we know and how to we get rid of it? Thanks 😉

[John_Wayne]

Is the shower in with the toilet? if so I'd bet the p-trap in the shower is dry and your smelling the gray tank.....like some one else said add water to all your p-traps.

[lfeather]

RayChez wrote:
Also some RVers do not realize that the grey tank can smell just as bad as the black tank and do not use any kind of chemical or enzyme to clean out that tank also. Just look at all the crud and hair that washes down the drains, which goes into the grey tank.

X2! I always rinse black and grey tank 3-5 times until I see clear water flowing through the clear plastic dump connector. Then leave about 5 gallons of water in the black tank.

Larry

[alogo4u]

If bowl is still holding water, vent cap may be blocked. HOWEVER, what you might actually be smelling is coming from the grey holding tank. Like at stick house if the P traps are dry/don't have water in them, u get an odor similar to that of the black tank. Fill P traps, vent and see if smell goes away.

[mguay]

Sounds to me like the p-traps are going dry. 2 weeks in 100deg heat will evaporate the water in them and you will get a smell from the gray tank(s).
Once a month in the heavy useage season I "clean" my tanks like others have suggested.

[J-Rooster]

DC&MC wrote:
Change the vent cap on the roof to the ones that swivel in the wind. Makes all the difference in the world.

Thanks for the info I wasn't aware of that! I'm filing this in case it happens to me.

[Mike_I]

Our Very first rv a 99 winni brave had the same problem..Turned out to be a bad studor valve in the kitchen sink drain. Easily replace and the problem disappeared.. As someone mentioned the gray tank can get just as stinky as the black tank.

[Executive45]

It sounds like your tank needs a good cleaning.

1. Pour at least five gallons of hot water down through the toilet opening.
2. Take the moho out for about a 45 minute drive preferable down a winding and somewhat bumpy road. You want that water sloshing around as much as possible.
3. Return and dump.
4. Pour in two gallons of cool water into the tank through the toilet opening.
5. Add a bag of ice cubes.
6. Drive the moho once again as you did in #2 above.
7. Return and dump.
8. Fill black tank 1/2 full of clean water.
9. Add a small box of Calgon.
10.Fill black tank almost full.
11.Repeat step #2 above.
12. Dump.
13.If you are using a slinky, get a clear end from Wally World so you can see the color of the "flow". Repeat steps 8 & 9 until you have clear water flowing.

To prevent "poo mountain", use plenty of water to flush. Chemicals should not be needed if your system is working correctly....remember the three important word in black tank maintenance.....water water water.....Dennis

[TucsonJim]

We used to have to do the broom trick too. But we figured out how to avoid it. Anytime someone uses the toilet and puts any paper into it at all, make sure they fill the bowl to nearly the top before flushing.

The build up occurs when you don't have enough water going down with the solids.

[RayChez]

Also some RVers do not realize that the grey tank can smell just as bad as the black tank and do not use any kind of chemical or enzyme to clean out that tank also. Just look at all the crud and hair that washes down the drains, which goes into the grey tank.

[charles]

Be sure you have water in the bowl also.

Nick

[jjj]

I fill 4 full toilet bowls full with 2 drop in chemical packets in my black tank. Also make sure all your p-traps in sinks and shower have some water in them after driving home. They loose the water in them so they can not contain the smell to the tanks and it comes up the drain pipes. I also put chemicals in my galley holding tank to control smell in it.

[doxiemom11]

After you dump, you should be putting some water back into the black tank so it and any residue in there doesn't dry to the bottom/walls of the tank. If you have never done that, you may have gunk dried and stuck in there that is not coming out when you dump. We had that on the MH we purchased used and we used calgon, a few drops of Dawn dish soap and filled about 10 gallons. Drove around, finished filling (thru the toilet) and then dumped. We have a clear elbow and could see chunky stuff coming out. When we finally got clear water coming out we figured we had it. We now have a Flush King that we periodically backflush with and we always add 3-4 gallons of water to the tank after a dump.

[DC_MC]

Change the vent cap on the roof to the ones that swivel in the wind. Makes all the difference in the world.

[azdryheat]

You gotta put in extra chemicals when it's hot out.