Smelly Toilet

[Mbiallas]

Let me start by saying how much I appreciate the help I have received on this forum. You folks are awesome.

The issue I am dealing with now is a super stinky toilet. The odd thing is that if it sits for a while (half a day or so) there is no odor. But as soon as water is added to the bowl the smell is awful even before use. The water is clear when added to the bowl but it is horrendous and stinks up the whole camper for hours.

We have the camper in a remote area with no well so water is at a premium. I was considering filling a few barrels with water and flushing the system over and over in hopes it will get rid of the smell.

Again if it sits for a good while there is no smell but as soon as we pull the lever to fill the bowl it is rotten. This is prior to flushing the toilet.

Any recommendations on how I can eliminate this issue?

[Executive45]

My first suggestion was to change your diet. However, after reading the posts and your responses, more questions than answers come to mind. Removing the old toilet and sealing a full black tank for any period of time is IMO, not a very prudent decision. My take is you have a leaky toilet seal therefore no water stays in the bowl. It sounds like you rarely, if ever empty your black tank. Poop stinks, poop with no water stinks even worse. Water evaporates, the black solids do not. Your only solution sounds like lots of very hot water to dissolve what you already have in there, a through cleaning and a new seal in the existing toilet. Your idea of replacing what you have with another toilet is a bad idea. Yes, it's a messy job but it's also your poop, so as has been mentioned, Suck it up, buttercup and Git-r-dun......Dennis

[leeper]

westend wrote:
When was the last time you dumped the black tank?

Sounds like never! You wonder why it stinks when the tank has old poop and you are not using chemicals? You have alot to learn! You should google RV black tank maintenace and read it.

[westend]

When was the last time you dumped the black tank?

[Mbiallas]

So I am thinking of an off the wall solution to this problem. You see the problem is twofold. First is the odor. Second is I need a way to dispose of the waste as we don't have a septic system and I don't want to bury a drum and risk the fines.

So I am thinking about using a Thetford Curve Porta poty and placing it where the Stinky toilet is now. What would be involved in sealing the drain to the toilet in a manner that could be undone should I decide later on to switch back to a normal toilet?

This way I eliminate the smell and also have a reasonably easy way to dispose of the waste itself.

[tenbear]

I just replaced the seal on my Thetford Aqua Magic V toilet. To access the seal I removed the toilet and then I could see the seal and remove it, then install the new one. Actually I just removed the seal and cleaned it, then put it back in. I have heard of people who replaced the seal without removing the toilet???

When you disconnect the water to the toilet, some water will come out the pipe so keep a towel handy.

Is it messy? Yes! The area below the seal will be quite dirty. When you remove the toilet take it directly outside and use a hose to clean the mess out. Once it's cleaned out its not messy or difficult.

I used the old seal used to seal the toilet to the black tank pipe. It's not a standard household seal.

[Acampingwewillg]

Two things come to mind....one, that your not using enough water when flushing and two, do you have a negative pressure situation pulling the odor's out of the toilet when flushing. If your bath vent is on be sure to have a window open someplace to prevent that negative pressure. Just thinking out loud ....repairing the seal on the toilet is a fairly easy job or at least on mine it was.

[momentum_rv]

Usually you can clean and lube it with silicon lube and fix it but if it has been left dry a lot it may be history. They vary on how to replace, so RV shop or You-Tube may be a good place to start.

[Mbiallas]

If I had to guess the valve is leaking as I don't recall ever seeing water standing in the tank. The idea of working on a toilet is not particularly appealing but if I need to replace the seal howhow much of a pain and how gross of a job is it?

[momentum_rv]

OK, if the water is leaking out then you need to fix replace the seal at the ball valve so it will hold water and seal the "tank."

If the smell is coming out of the tank, then as RockDodger said, it maybe a clogged or otherwise not working vent.

It may be the leaky seal is allowing smell to accumulate under the lid, then when lifted you get hit with the smell... just a thought.

[newman_fulltime]

Sounds to me like your black tank has old poop build up needs flushed and rinsed

[Mbiallas]

Momentum I don't know why there is no water in the bowl after use. I haven't paid much attention to it. Next time I can fill it and see if the water stays in the bowl or if it slowly goes down on its own.

Sometimes when I flush it the waste and tp leave the bowl but accumulate in the cavity beneath the flapper. I grabbed a stiff stick and shoved it down there and eventually got it to flush properly but the smell now is enough to knock a buzzard off a gut wagon.

Knowing how an rv toilet works would probably help get this issue resolved but I simply don't know anything about them.

[Old-Biscuit]

Is toilet bowl HOLDING water after last use?

After last flush and bowl valve closes water should trickle into bowl....enough to cover the seal and stay in toilet.
The water is what stops black tank odors from coming up thru toilet.

Not holding water allows stick to get past bowl valve....clean seal

[momentum_rv]

I'm confused as to how the smell from the tank or anywhere else is only noticed when the tank valve is CLOSED while adding water. If that is the case the vent has nothing to do with it. Also why is there no water in the bowl after the last use?

[Mbiallas]

Thanks for the responses. The sink and shower water are fine and have zero odor. Momentum I am not sure how to answer your question. The toilet has a large handle that flushes and a small one recessed into the large one. The small one just fills the toilet with water. The strange thing is that the smell is sometimes immediate when simply filling the bowl prior to use.

Rock Dodger any idea how to determine is the vent is clogged. I'm not sure where to begin looking.

Thanks for the info and help folks. Please keep the suggestions coming.