URGENT HELP NEEDED - MAJOR SMELL FROM BATHROOM

[marcarolle]

This is our 15th night this season. First time happening:

Strong odour (you know which one) from the bathroom - for the last 2 hours.

We did nothing different today. This is our 2nd season with this TT. Prior to that, 4 seasons in an hybrid.

Wife says the bad smell comes from bad seal/gasket.

I said I would check on the forum; maybe you guys can come up with a number of reasons why it started smelling tonight. I wish I could tell you a bit more; but really, we use bathroom for #1s and #2s. If we need to use more toilet paper, we dispose of it in a garbage bag. We're camping with water/electric. No sewer. We arrived Saturday at 1 p.m. Now it's Sunday 11h45 p.m. We know it's not full.

Can you guys direct to what you think could be reasons for this strong bad smell?

Thanks

Marc

[12thgenusa]

SoundGuy wrote:
The only time the grey / black tanks should be completely empty is when you winterize, otherwise never. Once you've dumped & flushed either you want to add a minimum 10% capacity of the tank with fresh water and tank chem of your preference which you'll then start your next camping trip with.

Meh

[Bobbo]

maillemaker wrote:
What is an "AAV"?

Steve

An Air Admittance Valve is necessary under the cabinet holding a sink unless that sink's drain line is connected to the roof vent. Without some kind of air admittance vent, the suction of the water going down the drain would pull all of the water out of the sink's trap, allowing sewer odors to come up. The AAV breaks that suction. It is a one way valve, allowing air to go into the drain line, but not allowing air (odors) to come back out. If the AAV fails open, it allows air (odors) to come out. If the AAV fails closed, it sucks the water out of the sink's trap allowing air (odors) to come out. The solution for either condition is to replace the AAV. It is cheap and easy. It costs less than $10 at a big box hardware store, and just screws on.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Sometimes I need a reminder why I went the hideously expensive marine toilet route. Other than avoiding having my knees jab me in the chin this thread is an excellent reminder. May I wish you the best of luck solving your problem...

[Happytraveler]

We have been using Aqua-Kem Deodorant blue cap bottles for 20 years or more. We flush with regular toilet paper and turn on the fan as needed. If it's hot outside we don't go chintzy adding extra bottles to the tank.So far no problems.

[mtofell1]

I had something similar once and it finally went away after I filled the tank completely with water and chemicals and let it sit for a week. I figured something got stuck to the side of the tank.

[SoundGuy]

maillemaker wrote:
What is an "AAV"?

Air Admittance Valve

[Lynnmor]

maillemaker wrote:
What is an "AAV"?

Steve

This video should help you: video

[maillemaker]

What is an "AAV"?

Steve

[Bobbo]

1. bad AAV
2. toilet not holding water after flush
3. sink or shower trap empty
4. bad seal between toilet and floor
5. blocked/dropped holding tank vent

(Over the past 10 years, I have personally had all except #2, pun, pun, and #3)

Be sure to check these for the gray tank too. It smells just as bad as the black tank.

If the plumbing system is working as designed, no "deodorizers" are needed. No plumbing smells will get into the RV (except when you open the toilet's seal to flush it with the exhaust fan running). If the plumbing system is NOT working as designed, no "deodorizers" will work.

[drsteve]

Grey tank can stink just as bad as the black. If you never use your tub/shower the trap can go dry and allow fumes into the living space. Pour some water in your traps.

[maillemaker]

Your black water tank only has a few exits for gases.

First is through the toilet itself. If your toilet valve is holding water in the bowl (and there is always some residual water after you flush), then the valve is water-tight and thus gas-tight and no vapors are coming up through the toilet.

Second is through the P traps of your bathroom sink. I have heard that in some RVs some sinks dump into the black tank, even though it is technically "grey" waste water. Those P traps are designed like they are to hold water in them, which block the flow of gases through the trap. If you haven't use your sink in a while, the water in the P trap can evaporate out, leaving an open passage from your dump tank out through the sink drain hole. I have heard it said that this water in the P traps can also slosh out of the trap from driving the RV/trailer. The fix is run a little water through your sinks when you get where you are going.

Third is your vent stack. Your tanks are vented through PVC pipe going up through the roof. If the vent pipe becomes disconnected or broken inside the RV, then your tank will be venting into the RV. Likewise if you have a vent or window open near where the vent exits the roof, then it is possible to suck vent gasses back into the RV.

Steve

[naturist]

Do be aware that a major component of “that smell” is hydrogen sulfide, which is a nerve toxin and decreases your sense of smell. Thus a decrease in the smell may not correspond with any actual decrease in the presence of sewer gas.

[Lar_s]

We had a similar situation last winter. Tried everything and finally opened up the basement area and discovered a vent pipe had unglued under the bathroom. Of course, it was so far in the crazy arrangement of wires, pipes, and equipment that it took a bit of meneuvering to fix. Solved the problem.

[SoundGuy]

marcarolle wrote:
I always use Camco orange RV black tank concentrated treatment after emptying both tanks. We started our stay on empty tanks.

The only time the grey / black tanks should be completely empty is when you winterize, otherwise never. Once you've dumped & flushed either you want to add a minimum 10% capacity of the tank with fresh water and tank chem of your preference which you'll then start your next camping trip with.