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Sewer odor in trailer

silverkid
Explorer
Explorer
When I dump the holding tanks, there is a strong sewer odor inside the trailer. This only happens when the tanks are dumped. We can be parked boondocking for a week and there is no odor at all - even when the toilet flush valve (blade) is held open there is no odor. When I go to a dump station and open the black tank valve is when I get the odor.
This has just recently started - the trailer is 9 years old.
I'm wondering if a tank vent issue or maybe the toilet blade seal could be the cause.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

'03 Dodge 2500 4X4 Quad LB CTD H.O.

:C

'04 Cougar 278EFS

:B

See ya down the road...
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9 REPLIES 9

64thunderbolt
Explorer II
Explorer II
And I always laugh
Glen
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Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
silverkid wrote:
Tanks for the replies. I'm thinking vent problem also - that I'll check on tomorrow.
I'm not ready for a '352' solution - it can't be for real.. can it??


It is for '352'..he posts that 'solution' every time a black tank odor issue comes up.
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

silverkid
Explorer
Explorer
Tanks for the replies. I'm thinking vent problem also - that I'll check on tomorrow.
I'm not ready for a '352' solution - it can't be for real.. can it??

'03 Dodge 2500 4X4 Quad LB CTD H.O.

:C

'04 Cougar 278EFS

:B

See ya down the road...
Rig Pics

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
louiskathy wrote:
I think it's a vent issue. You're dumping and that can cause the water in the "p" traps to be drained...allowing odors into your rig. More with the black tank than the gray I would guess. I put about 3" of water in the bathroom sink in our rig before we dump. That way, when we're done dumping, I just pull the stopper and put water back into the sink's drain.

I make sure I turn off all the ceiling vents but opening a bathroom window when you are putting a hose down the toilet to hose out the tank will bring up some bad odors.

Check under the kitchen sink - some rigs have a vent pipe there.
Check the vent on the roof, make sure that's not clogged.

That's about all the suggestions I can come up with from my experience and what I've read on this forum from others.


Kathy is on the right track........

The black tank doesn't have any 'P' traps......just the vent line to roof, dump line from toilet and drain line.

You don't have odors in rig (normally) so your toilet bowl seal is good (holds water), the toilet floor gasket is good (no odors normally).
So sewer odors could be coming from vent pipe on roof and getting sucked back in thru bathroom exhaust vent, open windows in rig, fantastic vents etc.

Grey tank odors can be as stinky as black.
Under the bathroom sink and kitchen sink could be an air admittance valve. They are installed on a short stub pipe (just screw on) downstream of 'P' traps. They are there to stop the water in 'P' traps from getting sucked out when draining grey water tanks.
They are inexpensive and do fail. If they don't open properly the 'P' traps can get sucked dry allowing grey tank odors back inside.
And if they stick open they provide a direct path from tank to inside of rig.

Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

old_guy
Explorer
Explorer
I want to know, is 352 really Larry the cable guy???

louiskathy
Explorer
Explorer
I think it's a vent issue. You're dumping and that can cause the water in the "p" traps to be drained...allowing odors into your rig. More with the black tank than the gray I would guess. I put about 3" of water in the bathroom sink in our rig before we dump. That way, when we're done dumping, I just pull the stopper and put water back into the sink's drain.

I make sure I turn off all the ceiling vents but opening a bathroom window when you are putting a hose down the toilet to hose out the tank will bring up some bad odors.

Check under the kitchen sink - some rigs have a vent pipe there.
Check the vent on the roof, make sure that's not clogged.

That's about all the suggestions I can come up with from my experience and what I've read on this forum from others.
Kathy

path1
Explorer
Explorer
352 wrote:
Sometimes stuff gets stuck down there. Reach your arm down the hole as far as you can. When down to the max feel around for anything chunky. Grab it and squeeze it between your fingers until it gets smaller then dump some water in it (After you pull your arm out of coarse}. Do this once a month for regular maintenance. Wash your hands before cooking. I do have a self help video available. Hope this helps

Classic!!!
2003 Majestic 23P... Northwest travel machine
2013 Arctic Fox 25W... Wife "doll house" for longer snowbird trips
2001 "The Mighty Dodge"... tow vehicle for "doll house"

path1
Explorer
Explorer
Is it possible (atleast on mine) that when I have the bathroom vent open that I'm actually "recycling" the fumes that go up black water vent pipe and then get blown back in bathroom vent? Just a thought.
2003 Majestic 23P... Northwest travel machine
2013 Arctic Fox 25W... Wife "doll house" for longer snowbird trips
2001 "The Mighty Dodge"... tow vehicle for "doll house"

352
Explorer
Explorer
Sometimes stuff gets stuck down there. Reach your arm down the hole as far as you can. When down to the max feel around for anything chunky. Grab it and squeeze it between your fingers until it gets smaller then dump some water in it (After you pull your arm out of coarse}. Do this once a month for regular maintenance. Wash your hands before cooking. I do have a self help video available. Hope this helps
The manatees of Halls river Homosassa Springs Fl

1985 Chevy Silverado c10. 454 stroker / 495 CI = 675 HP. 650lb of torque. Turb0 400 tranny. 3000 stall converter. Aluminum heads. 3 inch exhaust flowmasters. 2 inch headers. Heat and air. Tubed.