Sewer odors

[jpjulian]

Pardon if this has been covered before but I found nothing in the search function. When dumping and then flushing the holding tank, we are getting serious sewer odors inside our 5er. This odor is really bad during the flush. We have tight connections and no leaks anywhere. We don't usually get odors inside if I do not flush the tank. I have water in the P-trap for the W/D connection. I can't figure where the odor is coming from or how to prevent it during the flush out.

Comments, suggestions?

Joe

[noteven]

drsteve wrote:
Some units have the bathroom sink plumbed to the black tank.

gotcha. Thanks

[drsteve]

Some units have the bathroom sink plumbed to the black tank.

[jpjulian]

What he ^^^^^^ said.

Joe

[noteven]

Where is the "admittance valve" in the BLACK water system located?

[beemerphile1]

FrankShore wrote:
Your A/C or your bathroom fan - the bathroom fan should always be off when dumping anyway! Toss one of those rank deodorizer packets down there after you've dumped and filled the black tank w/ a few gallons of water. Then, wait out the smells like the 2nd poster suggested.

An RV A/C unit does not draw in outside air, it only circulates the inside air repeatedly.

[Mike_Taverniti]

I agree with the Air Admittance Valve ( Mechanical Plumbing Vent ) failure. You need to replace and always keep a few spares. About $ 6 each at Lowes.

[jpjulian]

FrankShore wrote:
Your A/C or your bathroom fan - the bathroom fan should always be off when dumping anyway! Toss one of those rank deodorizer packets down there after you've dumped and filled the black tank w/ a few gallons of water. Then, wait out the smells like the 2nd poster suggested.

\

I may have to address the a/c or fan issue when I next dump. It has been fairly warm here the last number of days and we likely had the a/c fan and the Fancy Fan running. This seems to be a recent issue opposed to a long term problem so looking at the fans as the problem may be the ticket.

Joe

[jpjulian]

doxiemom11 wrote:
You may need to replace the air admittance valves. If they are not functioning properly they will let sewer/grey odor in. They are cheap and can be purchased in the plumbing section at Lowe's, Menards, Home Depot, or hardware stores. They are usually found under the sinks and we also have one in the plumbed area for washer/dryer. Your main vent could also be plugged causing this.

The admittance valves deal with the grey tank. My issue only occurs when flushing the BLACK tank.

Joe

[jpjulian]

darsben1 wrote:
They grey tank water can smell really bad. Try this to see if the problem is grey tank odor. Before dumping close drains in all sinks and tub. Put a little water in the sinks. Dump. The dumping of the water could be siphoning water out of one of the traps.
No odor then you have the cure. ODOR then it is the black tank.

It's not the grey tank. The nasty odors only occur during flushing of the BLACK tank.

Joe

[doxiemom11]

You may need to replace the air admittance valves. If they are not functioning properly they will let sewer/grey odor in. They are cheap and can be purchased in the plumbing section at Lowe's, Menards, Home Depot, or hardware stores. They are usually found under the sinks and we also have one in the plumbed area for washer/dryer. Your main vent could also be plugged causing this.

[darsben1]

They grey tank water can smell really bad. Try this to see if the problem is grey tank odor. Before dumping close drains in all sinks and tub. Put a little water in the sinks. Dump. The dumping of the water could be siphoning water out of one of the traps.
No odor then you have the cure. ODOR then it is the black tank.

[FrankShore]

Your A/C or your bathroom fan - the bathroom fan should always be off when dumping anyway! Toss one of those rank deodorizer packets down there after you've dumped and filled the black tank w/ a few gallons of water. Then, wait out the smells like the 2nd poster suggested.

[accsys]

If you have your A/Cs on when dumping/flushing, it can pull the vent odors inside.

[2oldman]

I just put up with it. It goes away quickly.