Never had this issue before, went to pick up my TT and smelled something odd inside. When I got home I opened the toilet lid and oh boy...there it was. The toilet smelled horrible, black tank was the obvious culprit.I store my travel trailer on an asphalt parking lot in direct sunlight. It has been pretty hot here lately and im wondering if I left the black tank too dry after draining/dumping it at the last campground. I usually run the toilet for a minute and add a treatment at the end of a camp trip. Is it possible that the little bit of water evaporated and left just the waste to bake in the tank? if so what are my options on controlling the smell? Ive added more water and another treatment.

Dry, wet, empty, or full you shouldn't have smelled anything. The seal in the toilet isn't working.

It sounds like you figured out what happened, the water evaporated can baked the 'stuff' onto the tank.Put some water in the tank and allow it to sit for several days. Then you can try to put a couple bags of ice in the black tank and take the TT for a ride. The ice will move around and hopefully knock everything loose so it can be drained.Have you ever tried The Geo Method for your black tank?

Any material left in the tank and baked in the sun is going to smell even though some people on these forums think that stuff doesn't smell. Add some more water and a deodorizer and make sure the seal closes good. I also add a little detergent and fabric softener to make sure it empties good the next time. Nothing to be overly concerned about.

If it dried out, any smell would be negligible.Your problem really sounds like a failed toilet seal.

One of the leading causes of odors is a dry black tank which makes remaining solids permanent. I agree that your seals MAY need replacing or your P Traps were almost CERTAINLY dry causing problems. Was there any remaining water in the toilet BOWEL? If it was dry and you had sufficient water in it when it was stored, that would be an indicator that the seal is leaking also.

black tank mistake, not adding water after draining?

waltah
Explorer
Jul 04, 2014
started the geo method. didnt have calgon powder so i got the liquid instead. just adding water yesterday took care of the smell. just want to be proactive about it. it must have been because the water was mostly evaporated.
valhalla360
Navigator
Jul 03, 2014
skipnchar wrote:
One of the leading causes of odors is a dry black tank which makes remaining solids permanent. I agree that your seals MAY need replacing or your P Traps were almost CERTAINLY dry causing problems. Was there any remaining water in the toilet BOWEL? If it was dry and you had sufficient water in it when it was stored, that would be an indicator that the seal is leaking also.

Assuming it actually dries out, decompossion largely stops and with that so does the smell.

The smells come from anerobic decomposition and without a layer of water to seal out the oxygen rich air, that can't happen. It's basically the idea behind composting toilets. By introducing lots of oxygen the anerobic bacteria die and the smells are largely eliminated.

RV waste tanks are not designed nor intended to treat sewage. They are intended to contain the waste and associated odor until it can be dumpeed(allowing for excess gas to escape thru the roof vent where hopefully you can't smell it).
Sea_Dog
Explorer
Jul 03, 2014
You will not have to change the seal.
You have a small piece of toilet paper in the groove.
Open the valve and, while the water is running,
use your toilet brush to scour out the groove.

Some folks advise putting a dab of Vaseline in the grove.
Allworth
Explorer II
Jul 03, 2014
Although it is no fun and you MUST wear gloves, you can use a Q-Tip to clean the groove that the ball valve slides in and that will (SOMETIMES) cure a leaking seal.

If you have to change seals it is not a hard job. Easier with two people to handle the bowl lift-off. Order the seal kit on E-Bay and it will be about half of what a RV parts place wants.
waltah
Explorer
Jul 03, 2014
good news/bad news

good news-after filling up with some water the smell is gone

bad news- toilet seal is bad, bowl doesnt hold water. it still smells a bit when you flush. ill check out the geo method, fill it, and go dump it today then refill with fresh water. thanks folks.
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 03, 2014
I think it's important to keep some liquid in the black tank and not let it dry out. That way the stuff wont solidify and should keep breaking down.
As for the seal, if the toilet holds water then it's good enough to me.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jul 03, 2014
fla-gypsy wrote:
Any material left in the tank and baked in the sun is going to smell even though some people on these forums think that stuff doesn't smell....

Absolutely true BUT, the stink should be confined to the tank. If you smell it in the RV something is wrong, like a bad toilet seal.
skipnchar
Explorer
Jul 03, 2014
One of the leading causes of odors is a dry black tank which makes remaining solids permanent. I agree that your seals MAY need replacing or your P Traps were almost CERTAINLY dry causing problems. Was there any remaining water in the toilet BOWEL? If it was dry and you had sufficient water in it when it was stored, that would be an indicator that the seal is leaking also.
valhalla360
Navigator
Jul 03, 2014
If it dried out, any smell would be negligible.

Your problem really sounds like a failed toilet seal.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Jul 03, 2014
Any material left in the tank and baked in the sun is going to smell even though some people on these forums think that stuff doesn't smell. Add some more water and a deodorizer and make sure the seal closes good. I also add a little detergent and fabric softener to make sure it empties good the next time. Nothing to be overly concerned about.

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black tank mistake, not adding water after draining?

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