Strong urine smell in bathroom

[pbitschura]

Our new to us trailer on it's first voyage has a strong urine smell beginning in the bathroom and after pumping permeates the whole trailer. It's a dometic toilet. It appears to be tight and no seal leaks, I could find. I suspect it's a venting issue. Granted, it was 90 and we stayed hydrated so there is that. But black tank level was 1/3 full. We have not used any tank chemicals other than Galgon to this point.
help please.

[pbitschura]

opnspaces wrote:
In an earlier post you were trying to conserve water by only flushing urine after a few uses. The forum suggested flushing after every use. Now that the dealer has supposedly cleared a clog are you still flushing after every use? Or are you now letting the yellow mellow in the bowl between uses?

When flushing does the fresh water appear to fully wash down the sides of the bowl?

Here's a thought to determine if the smell is leaking out of the black tank or if it is leftover in the bowl after flushing. Turn off the water supply and turn off the water pump. Hold the toilet flush open until the pressure is out of the lines. Now get a gallon of Pine Sol and carefully pour it all into the tank while somebody holds the flush valve open. Turn on the water supply and put some water in the toilet.

Run the vent fan and purge the Pine Sol smell out of the bathroom. Let it all sit in the heat and come back later and check for smell. Do you smell Pine Sol after a few hours?

Excellent suggestion. We have been flushing regularly and allowing extra water to wash down. I will be doing the pinesol test. thanks.

[opnspaces]

In an earlier post you were trying to conserve water by only flushing urine after a few uses. The forum suggested flushing after every use. Now that the dealer has supposedly cleared a clog are you still flushing after every use? Or are you now letting the yellow mellow in the bowl between uses?

When flushing does the fresh water appear to fully wash down the sides of the bowl?

Here's a thought to determine if the smell is leaking out of the black tank or if it is leftover in the bowl after flushing. Turn off the water supply and turn off the water pump. Hold the toilet flush open until the pressure is out of the lines. Now get a gallon of Pine Sol and carefully pour it all into the tank while somebody holds the flush valve open. Turn on the water supply and put some water in the toilet.

Run the vent fan and purge the Pine Sol smell out of the bathroom. Let it all sit in the heat and come back later and check for smell. Do you smell Pine Sol after a few hours?

[aftermath]

Yes, thanks for the followup. But then....you said you had the same issue on your last trip? OK, here is my two cents worth. There have been many good suggestions but you should zero in on these. 1. You can't have a blockage in your venting system. 2. You are wise to dump your tank completely and then recharge it with a chemical of your choice and 3. and I think this is your main issue, you need to use plenty of water. Read the directions on the chemical packet and they suggest you add the chemical to your tank after you have added something like a gallon of water. Water after that will be your friend. Think of using little to no water and think of how difficult it will be to actually empty the black tank.
As far as what kind of toilet you have, don't get all taken up with that. I had a Dometic something and changed to a Dometic 310 but only because the 310 was porcelain. Neither one is any better than the other when it comes to basic functionality. Water, water and water is the key.

[TXiceman]

Thank you for advising the outcome. So many never report back how an issue was resolved.

Ken

[pbitschura]

pbitschura wrote:
Our new to us trailer on it's first voyage has a strong urine smell beginning in the bathroom and after pumping permeates the whole trailer. It's a dometic toilet. It appears to be tight and no seal leaks, I could find. I suspect it's a venting issue. Granted, it was 90 and we stayed hydrated so there is that. But black tank level was 1/3 full. We have not used any tank chemicals other than Galgon to this point.
help please.

This is a follow-up. Returned the rv to the dealer where it was purchased. They informed me there was clog in the drain system. They pumped and flushed and sanitized and shocked and returned it to me. No toilet issues, all is fine. We used it this weekend for three of the hottest days in years. I have learned that when air temperatures are 90 plus urine smell fills the bathroom. When air temperature outside drops into the 70's, the smell soon clears. So we have a venting issue. First, will the dealer acknowledge it. And second, is it fixable?

[pbitschura]

klutchdust wrote:
Every time i use the toilet i spritz with a cleaner that has bleach in it. Dump the pee without using water, spritz afterwards. At home I have a dump station. i mix bleach, dawn and foam it up in a bucket with a paint mixer attachment on my drill. Pour the foamy mixture and let it sit, then dump it out. Always keep the valves closed when hooked to the sewer at a campsite, dump when your tanks are full. With a flashlight and empty tank look in toilet. See any buildup? Keep water in tank always. And the bag of ice in the black tank to break up the mound has been proven to be a myth. I also use a bleach spritz in my grey water usage.

Thank you. This is a new camper in which the toilet and tanks have never been used. We either have a venting problem or failed seals in the toilet.

[klutchdust]

Every time i use the toilet i spritz with a cleaner that has bleach in it. Dump the pee without using water, spritz afterwards. At home I have a dump station. i mix bleach, dawn and foam it up in a bucket with a paint mixer attachment on my drill. Pour the foamy mixture and let it sit, then dump it out. Always keep the valves closed when hooked to the sewer at a campsite, dump when your tanks are full. With a flashlight and empty tank look in toilet. See any buildup? Keep water in tank always. And the bag of ice in the black tank to break up the mound has been proven to be a myth. I also use a bleach spritz in my grey water usage.

[teejaywhy]

Sounds like you may have identified the problem.

As for tank treatment, we like Happy Campers.

[bob213]

Good luck. It seems that the retrofit/repair kit only works for a short while. The 310 is a direct replacement and easiest solution.

[pbitschura]

bob213 wrote:
AGAIN....What toilet do you have?
Dometic 300 smell issues

We have the 300. I have an appointment to zero in on the problem July 12. I'll follow up with results.

[mgirardo]

I can't see how black tank deodorizing chemicals would help with a urine smell. If it is indeed a Dometic 300 toilet, the chemicals won't help. Once urine enters the black tank it adds to the existing stink and urine is not as strong an odor as what else is in the tank.

If it is not a Dometic 300 toilet, get a black light and a bottle of Nature's Miracle or other Enzyme based pet stain cleaner. The black light will show you where the urine stains are and the Enzymes will eliminate the stain and odor. Rinse and repeat until the black light no longer shows urine stains.

-Michael

[pbitschura]

bob213 wrote:
AGAIN....What toilet do you have?
Dometic 300 smell issues

We have the Dometic 300. The phone calls shall commence.

[bob213]

AGAIN....What toilet do you have?
Dometic 300 smell issues

[Boon_Docker]

pbitschura wrote:

Boon Docker wrote:
"It was a hot three days with much peeing and very little flushing."

That could be the problem.

Indeed. Much less water conservation next time and we'll see.

Have the male folk pee out behind the trailer. :B

[ScottG]

I watch "The Hillbilly RV tech" on Youtube. He had a newer trailer that was missing the toilet seal (closet flange seal) and would stink up the bathroom.
Thankfully it didn't leak into the floor but given how easy it is to check, I would pull the commode to see.