Toilet stink

[pmoroney]

We just replaced our toilet, (the flush foot handle broke) now we have a toilet stink. Yes we are cleaning it out and putting the chemicals in, but it still stinks, really when we are driving.


Any thoughts?

Patrick

[garykk]

Only thing I can think of is the flapper or ball is not seating but then the water would drain out……or the floor seal was not seated properly.
We also use Happy Camper additive in our black tank. Worked better than all the other brands we tried. Keeps odors down .

[kandcbend]

Originally Posted by pmoroney

We just replaced our toilet, (the flush foot handle broke) now we have a toilet stink. Yes we are cleaning it out and putting the chemicals in, but it still stinks, really when we are driving.


Any thoughts?

Patrick

I don't know if it is related but we had a stink when we didn't use our clothes washer for some time. We figured its drain trap might have dried out... this would of course be be the gray tank, not the black. We found a vertical vent pipe in the cabinet under the bathroom sink and poured some water in it and our stink went away. This happened twice, and both times adding water to that vertical pipe worked. It did smell like sewer. If your gray is opened to the sewer and a trap dries out the gasses will enter the motorhome. Even if it is not open to the sewer, it may still stink I assume.
EDIT: We can't remember if that vertical pipe under the sink is where the washing machine drains, or if it is a vent pipe; in either case it is there.

[DRM901]

We experienced that lovely odor as well. It probably is the gray tank. I would do the process of elimination. While driving, see if you can determine what room the smell is coming from.

First, I cleaned the gray tank. I drained the tank. Refilled it to 25-50%, dropped in 1 dishwasher pod, drove to our next site and drained the tank.

Next, I replaced the toilet seals. Bowl wasn't holding water.

Then, I looked under each sink to see if it had a P trap or an air admittance valve. If a P trap, then you probably just need to run some water in that sink.

If an air admittance valve, it may need to be cleaned or replaced. Put stoppers and a little water in the sink you think is the issue to verify.

Run the washer if you have one and haven't used it lately.

The last option is a clogged vent pipe. Just run water, via a hose, into the pipe from the roof.

[Scooter]

We have a toilet vent on the roof....that moves with the wind.... and draws odors out and away...... If you have plumbing for a washer, but it is not installed, look behind a cabinet for black PVC pipe with a vent cap on top. Gray water odors leaking up and out of the cap.

[DRM901]

If you have the 2 sink bathroom that is on the rear slide, you probably have 2 air admittance valves. They are cheap parts and standard stuff any plumbing supply place would stock.

Middle pic shows where the pipe where the valve screws into. (My 2 valves are different so at least 1 has been replaced.)

[DRM901]

Kandcbend, there should not be an open vent pipe under your sink. Someone didn't install an air admittance valve.

OP, the final source is the kitchen sink. We have a hepvo waterless trap 1 1/2". It has a blatter inside that if dirty will stay open a little. Clean will and it should work again.

[kandcbend]

Originally Posted by DRM901

Kandcbend, there should not be an open vent pipe under your sink. Someone didn't install an air admittance valve.

OP, the final source is the kitchen sink. We have a hepvo waterless trap 1 1/2". It has a blatter inside that if dirty will stay open a little. Clean will and it should work again.

Is the air admittance valve one way (a check valve)? All I know is we poured water into something under that sink and the stink went away. I'll have to look under there again to refresh my memory... RV is in storage now a few miles from here, so I'll look next time we visit it.

[rarebear.nm]

If you replaced the toilet and then the stink began, I'd bet that the floor seal was not set right. Don't need to ask how I know this one. When problems start always look at last thing changed.

[DRM901]

Kandcbend, yes. It allows air in but keeps the stink out. Look at the pics I posted. Feel inside & outside of the vent pipe you have. If it has threads, then you just need to purchase & install an air admittance valve. These valves are used in houses as well when they can't or don't want to install a vent pipe out to the roof (e.g., a kitchen island sink).

[TampaDave]

Originally Posted by Scooter

We have a toilet vent on the roof....that moves with the wind.... and draws odors out and away...... If you have plumbing for a washer, but it is not installed, look behind a cabinet for black PVC pipe with a vent cap on top. Gray water odors leaking up and out of the cap.

If it gets stuck facing the wrong way it can force air into the system, and stank into the rig

[pmoroney]

Thanks everyone we have not had any smell, but we have also been parked for a few days. We will be back on the road soon and will let you all know if we still have issues.

We do not have a duel sink in the bath nor do we have a washer, I checked for the valves that might be open but could not find any either.

Patrick

[Michel Paul]

Under the bathroom sink, you probably have a check / breather valve connected to your black tank flush.
They don't last, cheap plastic. When driving, the pressure difference in the black tank, caused by elevation and often by the roof vent while driving, causes gasses to escape through that breather valve when the rubber flap is dried up.
I changed it twice, got fed-up, and made one with plumbing parts from Home Depot. Never had anymore issues.
I doubt it is your floor seal as you would see some water.

[martindaily]

To much of a good thing can be bad to . Try 3 cups of pine sol , to 1 gallon of water while driving . Use real pine sol not the fake stuff ..might have to do it a couple of times . Do not add any other cleaners or solutions .