Source Of Holding Tank Odor

[CoCoDave]

This is posted over on Yahoo Country Coach too.

Our new-to-us 2002 Affinity was beginning to stink. Mostly on the outside, very little inside.

I like the "Geo Method" (you can Google it) which has worked well in our previous two coaches for keeping the tanks "clean", odors down, and level sensors working. But we have not used the coach enough to cause multiple dump cycles. Still, it seemed like the odor was stronger than it should be. While looking for the odor source I pulled the panel on the passenger side of the holding tank space and was very happy to find that the vent pipe had broken off its tank fitting. Had it been a different fitting, access would have been far more difficult.



This was an ideal problem made for "Rescue Tape". I've seen it touted at the Big Tent in Quartzite. They made it sound gimcrackery, as in "improves gas mileage, increases power, cures acne, etc." but it actually works.



Now that the broken joint is taped up, it's a sweeter olfactory experience around the hind end of the coach.

FWIW

[mel s]

Originally Posted by CoCoDave

Our new-to-us 2002 Affinity was beginning to stink. Mostly on the outside, very little inside.
While looking for the odor source I pulled the panel on the passenger side of the holding tank space and was very happy to find that the vent pipe had broken off its tank fitting.
This was an ideal problem made for "Rescue Tape". I've seen it touted at the Big Tent in Quartzite. They made it sound gimcrackery, as in "improves gas mileage, increases power, cures acne, etc." but it actually works.

CoCoDave
Happy that the vent pipe broke?
That's a good one!

I'm glad that you found it and fixed it.

IMO, (and experience), if sewer odor is getting into a coach something is not working properly or something is broken.

BTW, I probably would have had to wrap the break with a couple of layers of Eternabond tape,
or used one of these:

(I would not have thought of the roll of Rescue Tape that I always carry in my coach).
Thanks for the post, (and the idea)

Mel
'96 Safari, 132k miles

[bdpreece]

Question is, how long will the tape last? Think I would be considering cutting off the vent a little shorter and installing a piece of hose.

[CoCoDave]

Originally Posted by mel s

CoCoDave
Happy that the vent pipe broke?
That's a good one!

IMO, (and experience), if sewer odor is getting into a coach something is not working properly or something is broken.

Yes indeed, I was happy. Happy on two fronts. First, the source of smell was located and second, it was a relatively easy fix. Looking across the top of the holding tanks it was clear that the broken fitting was the only one on the gray tank with reasonable access. Pulling the tank would be extremely difficult and expensive.

And you're right, Mel, in that odor in the coach usually means that something is broke or malfunctioning. My Windsor had a shallow P trap in the shower and it would sometimes lose enough water to let odor into the coach.

Originally Posted by bdpreece

Question is, how long will the tape last? Think I would be considering cutting off the vent a little shorter and installing a piece of hose.

When the repair fails I'll post the details here.

FWIW