We have tried to leave our grey tanks open instead of emptying them every other day, but we keep getting a foul smell.
We tried Odorlos liquid down the drains yesterday and the odor has been gone for 24 hours.
Is this a regular issue? How often should we expect to use this?
Lucky Mike said
04:28 AM Nov 4, 2013
could have been a trap was dry
adeline and ed said
05:38 PM Nov 4, 2013
Did you make a p trap in your sewer hose. if not the smellwill find a way to come into the trailer
The Bear II said
07:33 PM Nov 4, 2013
I use a deoderizer plus enzyme treatment (from Thetford) every year in the grey tanks and after I empty the black tank.
No odor problems even after the rig has been closed up for several months.
Also, I do not use a sewer hose cradle, instead I prefer to allow the hose to rest on the ground so it is below the park sewer connection and my RV connection. This forms a water trap to keep smells from coming in from the sewer hose. Never had a problem with clogs or dumping the tank with the hose on the ground.
Clay L said
07:35 PM Nov 4, 2013
I never make a P trap in my sewer line and I don't have any odor.
I leave the gray tank open until about three days before I intend to dump the black tank.
There are air admittance valves under the sinks. They keep the water from being sucked out of your traps by the vacuum formed when you dump.
If the flapper in the valve sticks open odor can get in from the sewer line. If one is faulty you can also get odor from your gray tank with the valve closed.
They are screwed on and are usually easy to unscrew and replace.
They are on a stub coming off of the line on the sewer side of the trap.
You can get replacements from your local hardware store - less than $10 as I recall.
GENECOP said
07:36 PM Nov 4, 2013
Also check your roof vent make sure it is open and clear....
DeeJee said
05:09 AM Nov 6, 2013
Thanks for all of the suggestions! John did check the roof vent, the RV store sold him a roof vent fan but when he tried to install it our vent is different than what the directions said. John is out of town for the week he left grey 2 open and 1 closed with the chemicals in it. After 2 loads of laundry I emptied the grey 1 by myself for the first time:) and will leave it open. So far so good! No smells:)
Clay L said
05:11 PM Nov 6, 2013
There are a great many of us out here that have found no chemicals are necessary - just a fair amount of water when you flush. The waste systems are sealed except for the roof vents and if you have odor you have a problem that needs to be addressed.
sdman said
04:57 PM Nov 7, 2013
X2 Clay L. We have been FT for just over 15 months now and do not use chemicals, just a lot of water. We have not had any odors so far.
Mark & Patty
el Rojo and Pam said
07:49 PM Nov 7, 2013
Clay L wrote:
There are a great many of us out here that have found no chemicals are necessary - just a fair amount of water when you flush. The waste systems are sealed except for the roof vents and if you have odor you have a problem that needs to be addressed.
Hello Fellow 5'ver's :)
We have tried to leave our grey tanks open instead of emptying them every other day, but we keep getting a foul smell.
We tried Odorlos liquid down the drains yesterday and the odor has been gone for 24 hours.
Is this a regular issue? How often should we expect to use this?
No odor problems even after the rig has been closed up for several months.
Also, I do not use a sewer hose cradle, instead I prefer to allow the hose to rest on the ground so it is below the park sewer connection and my RV connection. This forms a water trap to keep smells from coming in from the sewer hose. Never had a problem with clogs or dumping the tank with the hose on the ground.
I leave the gray tank open until about three days before I intend to dump the black tank.
There are air admittance valves under the sinks. They keep the water from being sucked out of your traps by the vacuum formed when you dump.
If the flapper in the valve sticks open odor can get in from the sewer line. If one is faulty you can also get odor from your gray tank with the valve closed.
They are screwed on and are usually easy to unscrew and replace.
They are on a stub coming off of the line on the sewer side of the trap.
You can get replacements from your local hardware store - less than $10 as I recall.
X2 Clay L. We have been FT for just over 15 months now and do not use chemicals, just a lot of water. We have not had any odors so far.
Mark & Patty
Thanks for the tip, we'll have to try it.