Community Forums

Capatania · 07-06-2022, 09:45 AM

I have owned various RV’s in the last 25 years. We purchased a new heartland torque toy hauler about October of 2021. Did not get to use it till spring of 2022. We purchased a camping lot and our camp stays there full time and we go camping about every other weekend. I leave the talks closed and then empty them before we go home. I put some water back in tank with some black tank deodorizer when finished. When we come the next weekend it smells every time we flush the entire weekend. I’ve tried flushing it out with more water and I’ve tried putting more water back in and still smells when flushed. You can smell it inside and outside. Like I said it’s brand new so not sure if maybe something is hooked up wrong or I’m not doing something right. Any suggestions?

Warhorse6 · 07-06-2022, 09:58 AM

Try changing your air admittance valve under the bathroom sink. You may have two. Often times it’s the grey water tank that’s giving off the odor. The valves are usually round and black or white in color and mount on top off a vertical pvc pipe under the sink. Both lowes and Home Depot sell them for under $10. Hope this helps.

MSHappyCampers · 07-06-2022, 10:26 AM

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us!

Congrats on the new rig! We have been using Happy Camper tank treatment for a long time. No odors or clogs! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

powerboatr · 07-06-2022, 10:29 AM

and if it sits the P traps do dry out enough to let gasses pass,

and yup its very very often the grey tank thats venting the smell

we get it now and then and its the p trap at the washer machine in the back of a closet. it looses enough water to allow the vapors

i would suggest make sure all traps are full of water and add a drop or tiw of deodorizer in each sink and shower trap and see if it helps

matcoman · 07-06-2022, 10:29 AM

Change your air admittance valves first. And, don't be a cheapskate like the RV manufacturers and buy these:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Studor-Mini...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

Old-Biscuit · 07-06-2022, 01:42 PM

Before spending $$$ do little investigating

Plastic wrap the AAVs (air admittance valves on sink drain lines)...elminate those as source

Check area around base of toilet....(which toilet do you have????)

Course could be loose/broken lines that go into top of tank
Some MFGs use Glued fittings/some rubber grommets

IS RV plugged in continuously at CG Site?
How's the battery water level? (boiled batteries stink)

shootist · 07-06-2022, 08:54 PM

If you have a sink on the black tank it could be an air admittance valve. If you have a black tank spray/flush system when you dump you have an air break on it. They are usually under the sink up high, one water line in one out. Not drain pipe like the air admittance. When they leak your coach will reek. Just permiates the whole trailer.

deandec · 07-06-2022, 09:28 PM

Washer dryer drain and shower drain have been sources of foul black tank odor for us. Put water into each.

DFord · 07-06-2022, 10:24 PM

Many of us "old timers" swear by Happy Campers Holding Tank Treatment because after using just about every other product on the market, we've found this one that actually works. The bigger the container, the cheaper it gets. It's hard to find at RV supply stores. I buy it at Quartzsite on shop around on Amazon and eBay.

https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Campers.../dp/B005XEFADU

shootist · 07-07-2022, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deandec

Washer dryer drain and shower drain have been sources of foul black tank odor for us. Put water into each.

Those are grey tank items

shootist · 07-07-2022, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFord

Many of us "old timers" swear by Happy Campers Holding Tank Treatment because after using just about every other product on the market, we've found this one that actually works. The bigger the container, the cheaper it gets. It's hard to find at RV supply stores. I buy it at Quartzsite on shop around on Amazon and eBay.

https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Campers.../dp/B005XEFADU

I used and still use happy camper. It works, but it will not stop a bad air break from stinking up the house. When you flush you stir the pot so to speak and that starts the odors all over again. I went through this for awhile, if either of those valves is leaking your toast. Mine only has the air break on the black tank. No sinks or shower, so after replacing all the air admittance valves I stuck my head under the sinks and really started smelling for the source. I caused the problem by using a garden hose to flush the black tank that I had used to drain grey water with. It only took a few hairs to stick the valve open. The second one went bad in a few months so I put in a 90 and ditched the valve. You have to have a shut off and a one way at the hose to absolutely prevent any back flow.

**hamm2018** · 07-07-2022, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capatania

We purchased a camping lot and our camp stays there full time and we go camping about every other weekend. I leave the talks closed and then empty them before we go home. I put some water back in tank with some black tank deodorizer when finished. When we come the next weekend it smells every time we flush the entire weekend. Any suggestions?

Just wondering here, how high are the temperatures at the location? If you do not put in enough water, is it possible the water is evaporating, because it is so hot there?
If you are gone for 2 weeks, could this contribute to the issue? Possible, try filling the tanks, completely, double the number of deodorizers, since you are gone for 2 weeks.