Community Forums

dickschaak · 09-10-2014, 07:03 AM

I seem to have a sewer odor coming from the area of the bathroom sinks. Has anyone had this problem?

NITEHAWK · 09-10-2014, 07:06 AM

Try adding some water into the drain. It is possible the "P" trap doesn't have water in it so the smell from the holding tank is able to rise into your bathroom.

**TonyDi** · 09-10-2014, 08:32 AM

Dick This is a fairly common occurence. Just because it a grey tank doesn't mean that you can't get sewer type smells. Flush the tank with water and bleach after closing the gret tank valve. let this sit for a while. Then dump it and rinse with water. It should take care of the problem. If you are using the RV you should have water in the P traps.

Additionally I put Happy Camper in my grey tank.

https://www.5starhappycamper.com/order.html

The Driver · 09-10-2014, 08:39 AM

There's a vent under the sink that's supposed to allow air into the tank but stop it from coming out that way....but it gets old & allows some out. Unscrews by hand. Home Depot & Lowe's stock them....$5.

Luckiest Dreamer · 09-10-2014, 08:44 AM

Everybody has that problem! Ya just got to clean it occasionally. Keep the p trap filled as well, you do that by using it. Body cells, and everything else that comes off ya stinks! Make sure the vent is clear and when ya run the exhust fan the window near the vent is not open helps as well! Bleach, bleach, and maybe a bit "O" bleach will help clean things. Then FLUSH. Leave a bit of fresh water in the tank after dumping will help as well. Driving around a bit with the bleach solution in the tank also helps rinse things out before flushing.

BamaBob · 09-10-2014, 09:14 AM

A friend of mine came up with this home brew mix that works well for us:
Equal thirds of: Superclean, Pinesol & Water. A 1/2 cup of this in your grey tanks will keep them smelling just fine (this works for your black tank as well - but we use this mix in a blue streak dispenser).

Pro Tip: Every 2 dumps or so, add 1/2 cup of RVDigestIt & 1 gal of water to your empty tanks. This will establish a biologic colony in your holding tanks - these little critters love to munch up all those solids (and YES you get solids in your grey tank too!

) Helps keep the tank sensors clean too!

dickschaak · 09-10-2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NITEHAWK

Try adding some water into the drain. It is possible the "P" trap doesn't have water in it so the smell from the holding tank is able to rise into your bathroom.

Thanks, but we do use it everyday.

dickschaak · 09-10-2014, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

A friend of mine came up with this home brew mix that works well for us:
Equal thirds of: Superclean, Pinesol & Water. A 1/2 cup of this in your grey tanks will keep them smelling just fine (this works for your black tank as well - but we use this mix in a blue streak dispenser).

Pro Tip: Every 2 dumps or so, add 1/2 cup of RVDigestIt & 1 gal of water to your empty tanks. This will establish a biologic colony in your holding tanks - these little critters love to munch up all those solids (and YES you get solids in your grey tank too!

) Helps keep the tank sensors clean too!

Thanks, I will get some of that. Sounds like a great idea.

dickschaak · 09-10-2014, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyDi

Dick This is a fairly common occurence. Just because it a grey tank doesn't mean that you can't get sewer type smells. Flush the tank with water and bleach after closing the gret tank valve. let this sit for a while. Then dump it and rinse with water. It should take care of the problem. If you are using the RV you should have water in the P traps.

Additionally I put Happy Camper in my grey tank.

https://www.5starhappycamper.com/order.html

Ok, I will try that.

dickschaak · 09-10-2014, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Driver

There's a vent under the sink that's supposed to allow air into the tank but stop it from coming out that way....but it gets old & allows some out. Unscrews by hand. Home Depot & Lowe's stock them....$5.

Thanks Doug, I will change it.

dickschaak · 09-10-2014, 03:21 PM

Well, here is what I did. I put a whole box of Rid X into the grey water tank and followed it up with a small bottle of toilet chemical. I then put some bleach into all the traps and we will let that set for a while. We have a 300 mile ride tomorrow so it should get swished around plenty. Can't wait for the smell test Friday. Thanks for all your help and ideas.. I will let you know the results.

delcirose · 09-14-2014, 08:44 AM

You might also on your model have a back flow preventer that is connected to your black tank flush system. On occasion this can either develop a leak or just get old on the rubber parts and stay open and get this same sewer smell. This part is in addition to the air admittance valve for your bathroom sink.