We follow all the guidelines; dump when at least half full, dump the black water first and flush for 5 minutes, then the grey water, and then add the chemicals. Still within a short time, we have that dang odor again. Any ideas? Do those after market newer sewer vents (Cyclone Sewer Vents, etc.) really work and if so, any recommendations? Mind you, the odor isn't terrible, but something we would like to do without.

If you keep some water in the toilet bowl it should seal out any gasses. If you're still getting odor you may have a leak somewhere where the odor is leaking in. I also pour my leftover coffee into the black tank, not the grounds just the coffee. Coffee is great at absorbing odors.

Check your vent pipe..it might be plugged.

I read recently about someone that their drain pipe or vent pipe wasn't sealed where it went into the tank. Unfortunately, the way they found out was to fill the tank up and it leaked. Could you rig up an air hose down the vent perhaps and see if you get a burst of gasses in the rig? Maybe use a balloon full of air so there is a finite amount and no risk.You could also use a small tire pumped up to provide the air. Using Boyle Law, a tire at 14.7 PSI contains the original volume of air, plus one more. At 29.4 PSI the air volume is 29.4/14.7 which is two, plus the original makes three. Remember though, at 29.4 PSI you will get only two volumes out, because the original will stay in under no pressure to release.

Assuming your tank was somewhat clean when you started, you shouldn't have any odor unless something is wrong with your system. Make sure it's the black tank and not the grey...often they will emit a similar smell. Ensure all "P" traps have water in them, including the one for the W/D. Check the vent pipe from the black and the grey tank to ensure they are clear.....Dennis

Check the air admittance vent valve under the sink. It screws onto a PVC stub and has a rubber check valve in it that can get brittle with age and fail to seal properly. Replacements are only a few dollars at most home improvement/hardware stores. The black and grey tanks usually share a single vent, so the smell could be coming from either one. Yes, grey tanks can smell as bad, if not worse, than the black tank.

How to Get the Stink Out of Bathroom | Good Sam Community

Bobbo
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2015
Thanks for letting us know.

I keep an extra AAV in my tool box. They are so cheap, that if an odor occurs in the bathroom or kitchen, that is the first thing I do.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2015
Geobiker wrote:
Just wanted to check back in regarding our original post about how to get the stink out of the bathroom. Took the advice of several and had the air admittance valve replaced. PROBLEM SOLVED. Now we have a stink free bathroom. Again, thanks to all.

Had the same problem on our old trailer only it was the kitchen sink, ie, the stink was in the kitchen. Turned out replacing the air admittance valve (aka "Cheater Vent") solved the problem too.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2015
Geobiker wrote:
Just wanted to check back in regarding our original post about how to get the stink out of the bathroom. Took the advice of several and had the air admittance valve replaced. PROBLEM SOLVED. Now we have a stink free bathroom. Again, thanks to all.

Usually the simple things first..........

And for $5-$6 bucks well worth it.

Glad you got the funk out!
down_home
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2015
Mainevacationer wrote:
I agree with not using the vent fan when flushing. In addition to that, we use a clear fitting at the black tank valve and can actually see when the water runs clear. It usually takes 3 times to completely dump/refill the tank before the water finally runs clear.

Ninety percent of the time a vent fan is pulling air out of the coach somewhere. Turn it off or if reversible pull air into the coach when using the john. ::
Geobiker
Explorer
Apr 25, 2015
Just wanted to check back in regarding our original post about how to get the stink out of the bathroom. Took the advice of several and had the air admittance valve replaced. PROBLEM SOLVED. Now we have a stink free bathroom. Again, thanks to all.
TechWriter
Explorer
Apr 03, 2015
coolmom42 wrote:
TechWriter wrote:
Pineapple Kid wrote:

I spent a month trying to get rid of a nasty toilet smell . . . I attacked the problem full on . . .

first thing I did was to climb up on the roof and remove the vent roof seal plastic cap thing and when I did the 1 1/2" abs vent pipe shot up in the air about 2".
Not wanting to drop the Black tank I cut a 8" 10" hole in the paneling behind the toilet at floor level to take a look and sure enough the vent pipe was out of the tank and just sitting on the 2X2 floor joist. The vent pipe had been improperly installed at a cockeyed angle so it could not be fully insert into the collar anyway ( guess the skilled Amish at Jayco put the roof hole about 4" over to far for proper alignment ?)
I heated the pipe a bit with a heat gun and bent it enough to fit down snug into the collar
then filled the wall void around the pipe with a can of spray foam to keep it in place
then Gorilla glued the cut out wall section back in place.

Oy veh!

While it's a good thing that you ended up fixing your defective Jayco, I can't imagine putting this much effort into curing the stink.

Long before cutting an 8' x 10' hole in my RV's wall, I would have just nuked the black tank with bleach.

Which would only fix the problem until the next time someone used the toilet.

Given the price of bleach as opposed to removing large sections of RV paneling, I would choose to add bleach.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2015
TechWriter wrote:
Pineapple Kid wrote:

I spent a month trying to get rid of a nasty toilet smell . . . I attacked the problem full on . . .

first thing I did was to climb up on the roof and remove the vent roof seal plastic cap thing and when I did the 1 1/2" abs vent pipe shot up in the air about 2".
Not wanting to drop the Black tank I cut a 8" 10" hole in the paneling behind the toilet at floor level to take a look and sure enough the vent pipe was out of the tank and just sitting on the 2X2 floor joist. The vent pipe had been improperly installed at a cockeyed angle so it could not be fully insert into the collar anyway ( guess the skilled Amish at Jayco put the roof hole about 4" over to far for proper alignment ?)
I heated the pipe a bit with a heat gun and bent it enough to fit down snug into the collar
then filled the wall void around the pipe with a can of spray foam to keep it in place
then Gorilla glued the cut out wall section back in place.

Oy veh!

While it's a good thing that you ended up fixing your defective Jayco, I can't imagine putting this much effort into curing the stink.

Long before cutting an 8' x 10' hole in my RV's wall, I would have just nuked the black tank with bleach.

Which would only fix the problem until the next time someone used the toilet.
TechWriter
Explorer
Apr 03, 2015
Pineapple Kid wrote:

I spent a month trying to get rid of a nasty toilet smell . . . I attacked the problem full on . . .

first thing I did was to climb up on the roof and remove the vent roof seal plastic cap thing and when I did the 1 1/2" abs vent pipe shot up in the air about 2".
Not wanting to drop the Black tank I cut a 8" 10" hole in the paneling behind the toilet at floor level to take a look and sure enough the vent pipe was out of the tank and just sitting on the 2X2 floor joist. The vent pipe had been improperly installed at a cockeyed angle so it could not be fully insert into the collar anyway ( guess the skilled Amish at Jayco put the roof hole about 4" over to far for proper alignment ?)
I heated the pipe a bit with a heat gun and bent it enough to fit down snug into the collar
then filled the wall void around the pipe with a can of spray foam to keep it in place
then Gorilla glued the cut out wall section back in place.

Oy veh!

While it's a good thing that you ended up fixing your defective Jayco, I can't imagine putting this much effort into curing the stink.

Long before cutting an 8' x 10' hole in my RV's wall, I would have just nuked the black tank with bleach.
Jayco254
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
Good luck to you. Please let us know what comes out of this, how you find your problem and how you fix it. I read a lot about stinky tanks so it must be very common.
Geobiker
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
Thanks everyone for your input regarding our "stinky" problem. Many of the suggestions we are already doing but others not. We will look into some of the suggestions starting with the simpliest potential solution. Thanks again.

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