Black tank question

[Ed-Deb]

I have had a 5th wheel for a number of years but I'm new to the motor home world.

Question: While going down the road is it normal to get occasional odors from the black tank?

If not (I wouldn't think so) then any suggestions as to the cause?

Thanks,
Ed

[Ed-Deb]

I have had a 5th wheel for a number of years but I'm new to the motor home world.

Question: While going down the road is it normal to get occasional odors from the black tank?

If not (I wouldn't think so) then any suggestions as to the cause?

Thanks,
Ed

[Kiwi]

Two reasons you get odor this time of the year. Not enough chemical and heat. Heat causes the bacteria to grow, growing bacteria give off a gas with an odor.

Keep it cool, or add more deodorant.

Walt

[Gary RVRoamer]

No, it's not normal but has been known to happen. Reasons are usually some oddball little thing rather than a generic problem.

Sometimes an open ceiling vent will suck gases back into the rig (from a near by plumbing roof vent). Sometimes a bad seal on the toilet valve (or even at the floor under the bowl) lets fumes seep back into the coach under certain conditions. If your model of toilet has an overflow drain, sometimes the water in its P-trap dries out and lets fumes seep in (some Thetford toilets have an overflow drain hole under the rim). That can be fixed by pouring some water down the drain hole to refill the trap.

Are you able to tell where the odor seems strongest?

[RV Wizard]

The sinks and shower traps can dry out or even loose the water in them from listing around curves. When we smell this the wife just gets up and runs a little water down each drain and the smell goes away. We keep all vents closed and usually run the generator and roof airs on.

[DSouthw524]

One often overlooked cause is driving down the road with the window open. This can cause a slight vacuum or lower air pressure in the coach and suck the fumes into the coach as opposed to going out the vent.

[bldrbob]

We found that the odor comes from the grey tank.The shower drain is the worst so we fill a baggie with water and cover the drain and close all the other drains.The other possible source is the vent valves which are flapper valves located on the drains.I have replaced both of mine.
BOB

[tmitchell]

It is difficult, at least for me, to tell from the odor if the smell comes from the grey or black tank. Occasionally when I dump the tanks I can smell a faint odor in the MH. As soon as I run a little water, down the sinks and shower drains, the smell goes away.