We are sitting a month at a time. Tank seems to start smelling bad after 5 days or so. We tried the enzyme stuff and now using rid-x.. both seem to be about the same. At about 5 days, when you flush the tolet you can start to smell the black tank.. up to that point , all is good. If we don't dump, it will get worse.. So even know we are only 1/2 full ( or less ) we dump. This last time we doubled up on the amount of water used, as I read sitting does create much oxygen in there, and that may be the problem?
Seems to me we should not have to dump so often? But maybe we do? Any ideas ?
Thanks
GENECOP said
06:22 AM Oct 15, 2014
Something with the vent, clogged, disconnected..all black tanks smell....the additives will never take the smell away even though they claim to....If the system is designed and working properly the smell will not be noticed in the RV..additionally dumping the Black tank after it is full is better for the system, a more complete forcefull draining of the tank...
bjoyce said
06:24 AM Oct 15, 2014
Check if your roof vent for the black tank is clogged. If you have a plumbing snake, you can run it down the pipe from the roof. You might need something like this for a vent cap:
This is a Cyclone Sewer Vent and you can get it from Camping World, Amazon, etc.
Lynn and Ed said
06:53 AM Oct 15, 2014
If you have an artic package (i.e., tank heaters), make sure they were not accidently turned on.
-- Edited by Lynn and Ed on Wednesday 15th of October 2014 06:54:32 AM
SnowGypsy said
07:00 AM Oct 15, 2014
Do you only get the smell when flushing or is it present in the RV when the valve is closed after the 5 day period? I know some people say they don't smell but in reality, you have a box where you are storing.........and when it sits, especially the warmer it is........... I also think the more TP you use, the worse the problem and I think even different types of TP (we never used the expensive RV type) make a difference in the smell and the ability to get the tank clean(ish). Another issue is to make sure you don't mix and match chemicals putting in stuff for the toilet and then cleaning with yet something else and sending it into the mix.
The Junkman said
07:51 AM Oct 15, 2014
Yea, Only smell it when you flush.. then it's gone. Doesn't smell till about 5 days in.
Was reading , because I am sitting still.. it's not getting agitated , and no oxygen in there. Could that be it? I just have to dump every 5 days?
That cyclone could do the trick.. Gonna add one. why not?
No artic package..( they talked me out of that one..lol )
Pretty sure I have a snake to run down the vent. But don't think thats it.. cause it would be in the camper and smell ALL the time, not just when I flush..
Will get the cyclone shipped out today... may not help much sitting still though.. Do they make a powered one..will check.
I just dropped 4 full bowls of water down there.. Smell is kinda gone by the 4th bowl.. I'm wondering if we aren't using enough water? is that possible?
The Bear II said
09:06 AM Oct 15, 2014
I would check the vent first. Or how long has it been since the gasket between the flange and the toilet was replaced. They get hard and allow smells to escape which may show up during flushing due to the change in pressure when the flap opens.
I use Thetford Deoderizer Powder with enzymes....it has a pine fresh smell
We sit for two weeks without dumping and no smell.
Try it if your vent isn't clogged.
SnowGypsy said
09:15 AM Oct 15, 2014
Yes, I believe that more water will help because you won't get the paper statute. The paper piles up and just sits there while the black water drains out around it. Not pleasant but can you shine a flashlight down the open valve on the toilet? I know some have a direct drop while others don't. We have always had a direct drop so you could see if the paper statute was there. We like Scott tissue for RV use, not the soft, creamy one but the thin, scratchy one (better than a paper statute). We had pretty good luck with that Angel Soft from Wal-Mart too. You can test how well your TP breaks down by putting a couple squares in a jar of water, let it sit a little and then shake it for a bit.
CurveCarver said
09:52 AM Oct 15, 2014
The Cyclone vent is the way to go. I have one for each vent and they work great even when sitting still. The Cyclone rotates with the breeze and draws "gases" from the vent. Another thought is the amount of water. Every 3 weeks or so when I dump the tank I add at least 2 very full toilet bowls full of water, 5 to 10 gal of water to start off with. Then use water pretty liberally when flushing. Before you install the Cyclone use a snake to be sure the vent pipe is clear. I have rarely put any chemicals in the tank and it's not a problem. Good luck.
Bruce
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
09:52 AM Oct 15, 2014
Using enough water is key to not having a tank smell. I know your rig is new, but the sensors in the tanks are notorious for getting clogged or caked and not reading correctly. The less you move the more prone they are to getting nasty as well because there is no movement of water in the tank. When we move, we use the GEO method, which is basically laundry detergent, a water softener, and maybe a little bleach. We use about 2 cups of the mix and about 5 gallons of water, added to the tank after the final dumping before moving. This seems to keep the sensors working as long as were moving.
Now when we sit for awhile, the sensors slowly quit reading accurately. I dump our black tank, 34gal, every 5-6 days when hooks ups are available.
cherylbrv said
09:57 AM Oct 15, 2014
Steve - we have the same problem with our DRV. I thought it was also just the way of the rig telling us it was time to dump (which is also about every 4-5 days). It does seem to get better after we dump.
The Junkman said
01:30 PM Oct 15, 2014
Sounds like the 5 day dump is normal..And add alot of water.. at least the campgrounds don't charge for that... yet.
I will go the cyclone route.. versus the solar one.. And will snake it, just incase .. shouldn't be anything in there though.. have never had it full, and only 2 months old.
We are using the angel soft from walmart.. passed the shake test.. and seems to dump fine.. so far.
Thanks everyone..
GENECOP said
04:41 PM Oct 15, 2014
These are sealed systems, if things are working properly the amount of content in the Black Tank should not affect the smell one way or another...The tanks should be dumped ONLY when full, and should not get more smelly as the tank fills.... their are different types of toilets that also factor in, we have, and still have both Automatic Macerator Tecma Toilets, and manual Foot pedal toilets....with the manual toilet the rubber seal (gasket) must be intact and sound, if not, the seal is compromised and odors will back up.....This is not as big as a factor with the macerator toilet..Lastly not only does the vent have be open, but it has to be plumbed correctly and hooked up...I have read more than one post that people have discovered vents missing, detached, and fallen into the black tank....we added the Cyclone as well and never have any odors....
SnowGypsy said
05:05 PM Oct 15, 2014
OK, so having a vent fan of some sort at the top of the stack sucks air outward once the flush gate opens so that the smell doesn't come up but the fresh air sucked from the "house" goes out the vent? Is that it? We never had one but I was thinking that usually a fan would need air coming in in order to do its job except in the cases where it was just circulating air in an enclosed area.
GENECOP said
05:09 PM Oct 15, 2014
SnowGypsy wrote:
OK, so having a vent fan of some sort at the top of the stack sucks air outward once the flush gate opens so that the smell doesn't come up but the fresh air sucked from the "house" goes out the vent? Is that it? We never had one but I was thinking that usually a fan would need air coming in in order to do its job except in the cases where it was just circulating air in an enclosed area.
When the valve opens to transfer the content from the bowl to the tank the air is provided....That's why some people complain of odors while flushing if they have the Fantastic fan on, same idea only pulling the odors into the RV with the fantastic fan...
SnowGypsy said
05:34 PM Oct 15, 2014
Thanks, Genecop. I learned the hard way about the Fantastic fan pulling the odors through the trailer when the flush gate was open. It is worth mentioning that if the seal isn't sealing completely and needs to be replaced then you will continuously pull the smell through the trailer if exhausting out with a vent fan somewhere in the trailer. Learned that the hard way. I actually have learned a lot the hard way and that is what makes the internet a treasure trove so that sometimes, I don't have to learn that way.
bigboomer said
06:50 PM Oct 15, 2014
We always wait until the tank burps and we know it is full. As Gene said a full tank will help clear out especially near the valve. After every dump we flush the tank. We always use lot of water. We also use Scott single ply and have never had issues. Check your valve to make sure it is not leaking liquid because even a small leak due to the valve not closing will leave solids which will build up and stink to high heaven!
The Junkman said
09:33 PM Oct 15, 2014
Ours is a electric .. with the fill and dump switch on the wall..
You only smell it when it dumps..Can't smell anything after that.. The smell just comes up, when the ball thing in there rotates..
no leaks..
Only dumped like 5 times so far..lol
I'll dump it tommarrow and flush it..
As to the flushing it.. after I hook the hose up.. do I fill the tank with the flush ...then dump?
Terry and Jo said
11:08 PM Oct 15, 2014
Steve,
A couple of things for you. I don't think the amount of time you are sitting in one campground before moving is a problem for the odors. We've been "static" full-timers for over three years now and have not experienced what you are.
As for flushing, here is my procedure. I first dump the black tank and watch the clear plastic extension on our sewer line to see that it has quit running. Then I start the flushing system and let it just flush and empty for about 5 minutes or so. Then, I close the black tank valve for 2 1/2 minutes and then open the valve for another 2 1/2 minutes. I consider the two (closed and then open) as one cycle. All of this is done while the black tank flushing system is running. As it is emptying the flush water, I again watch the clear plastic extension for debris, including bits of paper. If there is any, then I do another "cycle" of 2 1/2 minutes closed and 2 1/2 minutes open. Once I don't get any debris, I close the black tank valve while the flushing water is running and then after about 30 seconds or so, I shut off the water to the flush system. That allows there to be a bit of water in the tank to help "dissolve" any solids put into the tank before a lot of flushing is done.
Under no circumstances do you want to fill the tank with "flush system" water before dumping again. It's too "iffy" as to just when your tank is full. Also, never allow yourself to be distracted by anyone while flushing. Folks have filled their tanks and toilets before because they got distracted and forgot to turn the water off.
Terry
The Junkman said
05:48 AM Oct 16, 2014
Ok.. will give it a try today..
Thanks for the info.
bjoyce said
06:32 AM Oct 16, 2014
Also, do not leave a hose attached to the flush system, hooked to a faucet or laying visible.
You go away, the water goes out and some one runs around and turns off all faucets. When the water is back on and clear, someone runs around and turns on all faucets that have hoses attached. Or a maintenance person disconnects your hose to use it, not noting the faucet was turned off, or they see your hose laying there and connect it. When done, they hook you hose up and turn on the faucet. Either way, you come back to a flooded RV. This has happened to multiple RVers through the years.
TheHarveys said
07:10 AM Oct 16, 2014
We had the same problem with our trailer and we also installed the cyclone vent cap. It has worked well. You may find when you take off the old vent cap that the vent pipe is not lined up with the hole cut in the roof. I have heard of some folks RVs where the vent pipe was barely visible in the hole cut for it. Of course that allows the gases to vent into the roof cavity or, at the very least, prevents the gases from venting properly.
When I took our old vent cap off, I found our vent pipe was slightly off the hole (about 1/4 inch). There was enough flex in the pipe that I was able to properly attach the cyclone vent cap.
The Junkman said
05:38 PM Oct 16, 2014
Order the cap off ebay today.. should have it in a couple days..
I'm thinking i was not adding enough water. ..combined with just sitting .. in the heat..
Dumped today.. flushed a few times..Install hose back to feed the rv, as we use that water for showers, dishwasher, etc...
and went put the chemical in .. did my 2 toilet full of water.. Didn't even register on the gauge..
Some one said about 25% water to start.. so After about 5 more toliet bowls, I hit 25%..
Smell is gone.. no issues. I bet I will be full now, in the 5-6 day period.. before it begins to smell..
We are sitting a month at a time. Tank seems to start smelling bad after 5 days or so. We tried the enzyme stuff and now using rid-x.. both seem to be about the same. At about 5 days, when you flush the tolet you can start to smell the black tank.. up to that point , all is good. If we don't dump, it will get worse.. So even know we are only 1/2 full ( or less ) we dump. This last time we doubled up on the amount of water used, as I read sitting does create much oxygen in there, and that may be the problem?
Seems to me we should not have to dump so often? But maybe we do? Any ideas ?
Thanks
Check if your roof vent for the black tank is clogged. If you have a plumbing snake, you can run it down the pipe from the roof. You might need something like this for a vent cap:
This is a Cyclone Sewer Vent and you can get it from Camping World, Amazon, etc.
If you have an artic package (i.e., tank heaters), make sure they were not accidently turned on.
-- Edited by Lynn and Ed on Wednesday 15th of October 2014 06:54:32 AM
Was reading , because I am sitting still.. it's not getting agitated , and no oxygen in there. Could that be it? I just have to dump every 5 days?
That cyclone could do the trick.. Gonna add one. why not?
No artic package..( they talked me out of that one..lol )
Pretty sure I have a snake to run down the vent. But don't think thats it.. cause it would be in the camper and smell ALL the time, not just when I flush..
Will get the cyclone shipped out today... may not help much sitting still though.. Do they make a powered one..will check.
www.adventurerv.net/ultra-fab-mini-solar-plumbing-vent-p-22616.html
I use Thetford Deoderizer Powder with enzymes....it has a pine fresh smell
We sit for two weeks without dumping and no smell.
Try it if your vent isn't clogged.
Bruce
Now when we sit for awhile, the sensors slowly quit reading accurately. I dump our black tank, 34gal, every 5-6 days when hooks ups are available.
I will go the cyclone route.. versus the solar one.. And will snake it, just incase .. shouldn't be anything in there though.. have never had it full, and only 2 months old.
We are using the angel soft from walmart.. passed the shake test.. and seems to dump fine.. so far.
Thanks everyone..
When the valve opens to transfer the content from the bowl to the tank the air is provided....That's why some people complain of odors while flushing if they have the Fantastic fan on, same idea only pulling the odors into the RV with the fantastic fan...
You only smell it when it dumps..Can't smell anything after that.. The smell just comes up, when the ball thing in there rotates..
no leaks..
Only dumped like 5 times so far..lol
I'll dump it tommarrow and flush it..
As to the flushing it.. after I hook the hose up.. do I fill the tank with the flush ...then dump?
Steve,
A couple of things for you. I don't think the amount of time you are sitting in one campground before moving is a problem for the odors. We've been "static" full-timers for over three years now and have not experienced what you are.
As for flushing, here is my procedure. I first dump the black tank and watch the clear plastic extension on our sewer line to see that it has quit running. Then I start the flushing system and let it just flush and empty for about 5 minutes or so. Then, I close the black tank valve for 2 1/2 minutes and then open the valve for another 2 1/2 minutes. I consider the two (closed and then open) as one cycle. All of this is done while the black tank flushing system is running. As it is emptying the flush water, I again watch the clear plastic extension for debris, including bits of paper. If there is any, then I do another "cycle" of 2 1/2 minutes closed and 2 1/2 minutes open. Once I don't get any debris, I close the black tank valve while the flushing water is running and then after about 30 seconds or so, I shut off the water to the flush system. That allows there to be a bit of water in the tank to help "dissolve" any solids put into the tank before a lot of flushing is done.
Under no circumstances do you want to fill the tank with "flush system" water before dumping again. It's too "iffy" as to just when your tank is full. Also, never allow yourself to be distracted by anyone while flushing. Folks have filled their tanks and toilets before because they got distracted and forgot to turn the water off.
Terry
Thanks for the info.
You go away, the water goes out and some one runs around and turns off all faucets. When the water is back on and clear, someone runs around and turns on all faucets that have hoses attached. Or a maintenance person disconnects your hose to use it, not noting the faucet was turned off, or they see your hose laying there and connect it. When done, they hook you hose up and turn on the faucet. Either way, you come back to a flooded RV. This has happened to multiple RVers through the years.
When I took our old vent cap off, I found our vent pipe was slightly off the hole (about 1/4 inch). There was enough flex in the pipe that I was able to properly attach the cyclone vent cap.
I'm thinking i was not adding enough water. ..combined with just sitting .. in the heat..
Dumped today.. flushed a few times..Install hose back to feed the rv, as we use that water for showers, dishwasher, etc...
and went put the chemical in .. did my 2 toilet full of water.. Didn't even register on the gauge..
Some one said about 25% water to start.. so After about 5 more toliet bowls, I hit 25%..
Smell is gone.. no issues. I bet I will be full now, in the 5-6 day period.. before it begins to smell..
I guess we'll see.
Thanks folks.