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07-03-2023, 08:35 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 562
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Newbie Question - My RV Smells
We went on a two day trip and returned home with the black and gray tanks at 25%. After a few days sitting in the driveway it smells inside. I flushed a deodorizing packet before we headed home from the trip but that didn't seem to help.
We're headed back out for another two day trip in a few days. Do I have to empty the tanks after every trip to keep it from smelling?
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2023 Newmar Bay Star 3014
Norton, MA
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07-03-2023, 08:50 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Eastern outskirts of Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevenapril
We went on a two day trip and returned home with the black and gray tanks at 25%. After a few days sitting in the driveway it smells inside. I flushed a deodorizing packet before we headed home from the trip but that didn't seem to help.
We're headed back out for another two day trip in a few days. Do I have to empty the tanks after every trip to keep it from smelling?
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Always, always, always - dump your black and gray tanks when breaking camp or on the way home.
And always, always, always add back at least 5 gallons of freshwater - never let your gray and black tanks go dry.
Read up on”the Geo Method” - YouTube is your friend there.
__________________
‘91 Ultrastar Champion‘02 Georgie Boy Landau 8.1l Workhorse
‘03 Jeep Wrangler TJ 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK toad
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07-03-2023, 08:52 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Commercial Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: behind the steering wheel
Posts: 2,906
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be sure to refil p traps after dumping. sometimes, the suction caused by dumping both tanks is too much for the venting system, and the ptraps under the sinks, and shower drains are sucked dry, allowing sewer gas to enter the coach.
ive found the kitchen sink drains stink more than the bath sink and shower drains.
thats why i put deoderant down the sink drains as well. it doesnt hurt.
just my opinion. i know there are others,.
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07-03-2023, 10:54 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 2,998
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A "deodorizer" or other treatment isn't going to make a 50 gallon tank of sh*t smell nice. There's no more of a chance of smells inside while sitting vacant as occupied if the vent system is sound. I've gotten into the habit of just putting the drain stoppers in the sinks and a disc stopper for the shower between trips, and that minimizes anything coming up in the event of a dry trap.
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
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07-03-2023, 11:36 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 562
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_K5LXP
A "deodorizer" or other treatment isn't going to make a 50 gallon tank of sh*t smell nice. There's no more of a chance of smells inside while sitting vacant as occupied if the vent system is sound. I've gotten into the habit of just putting the drain stoppers in the sinks and a disc stopper for the shower between trips, and that minimizes anything coming up in the event of a dry trap.
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
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I filled the traps with water and the smell went away. I'll find some stoppers for all of the drains to prevent this in the future.
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2023 Newmar Bay Star 3014
Norton, MA
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07-03-2023, 12:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,638
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevenapril
I filled the traps with water and the smell went away. I'll find some stoppers for all of the drains to prevent this in the future.
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Your tank vent might be stopped up and sucking water out of traps . You might could run sink for a second to fill after dumping.
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2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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07-04-2023, 08:45 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,996
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMark52
Always, always, always - dump your black and gray tanks when breaking camp or on the way home.
And always, always, always add back at least 5 gallons of freshwater - never let your gray and black tanks go dry.
Read up on”the Geo Method” - YouTube is your friend there.
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I've never, in over 40 years, added water to the tanks after dumping. Replaced one gray valve in all that time, pretty sure because of it being worn out after being around 18 years old.
As far as smell, it should not matter how much is left in the tank. Something's wrong with the plumbing if it stinks when sitting in a driveway. In this case, looks like a P trap issue. Water inside a trap does not normally dry up/evaporate in just a few days.
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03 Itasca Sunova, Workhorse P32 with the 8.1 and 4L85-E
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07-04-2023, 09:45 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Eastern outskirts of Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mudfrog
I've never, in over 40 years, added water to the tanks after dumping. Replaced one gray valve in all that time, pretty sure because of it being worn out after being around 18 years old.
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Good for you!
Your use characteristics and your procedure for dumping (when you do dump) may be outside of that of the typical user.
If you flush your tanks clean every time you dump - you won’t have a problem storing dry, and you’ll be less likely to have odor issues.
I’m always surprised to hear of people having issues with their dump valves that require total replacement.
Thought I was going to have to replace the “new to us” 20 year old gray dump valve as it was a bear to open and close.
Then the black valve did the same thing.
Read up on all the shade tree mechanics advice about drilling a hole in the valve body, installing a zerk fitting and filling the valve body with grease.
Thought I would try a shot of dry silicone on the valve stem - darn near knocked myself out as I fell over when pushing the stem back in it slid so easy.
Everyone’s specific use eliminates absolutes when it comes to solutions and remedies - again, it’s kinda like hand-grenades and horseshoes.
__________________
‘91 Ultrastar Champion‘02 Georgie Boy Landau 8.1l Workhorse
‘03 Jeep Wrangler TJ 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK toad
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07-04-2023, 10:53 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 562
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mudfrog
I've never, in over 40 years, added water to the tanks after dumping. Replaced one gray valve in all that time, pretty sure because of it being worn out after being around 18 years old.
As far as smell, it should not matter how much is left in the tank. Something's wrong with the plumbing if it stinks when sitting in a driveway. In this case, looks like a P trap issue. Water inside a trap does not normally dry up/evaporate in just a few days.
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I agree the P Traps should not dry out that fast... need to figure out how to determine if there is an issue with them... any suggestions? For now I put stoppers in all sinks/shower and put some water in the sinks/shower to ensure it's sealed... that seems to solve the issue.
__________________
2023 Newmar Bay Star 3014
Norton, MA
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07-04-2023, 12:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Eastern outskirts of Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevenapril
I agree the P Traps should not dry out that fast... need to figure out how to determine if there is an issue with them... any suggestions? For now I put stoppers in all sinks/shower and put some water in the sinks/shower to ensure it's sealed... that seems to solve the issue.
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Stoppers in the drains or water in the traps - your choice. But if the traps are going dry, you might want to make sure you don’t have a trap leak - otherwise, you might try keeping the coach on at least 3 wheels to insure the traps don’t get dumped out.
FWIW - no difference in the plumbing for a MoHo than for a home relative to sewer smell - other than one is generally more mobile than the other.
__________________
‘91 Ultrastar Champion‘02 Georgie Boy Landau 8.1l Workhorse
‘03 Jeep Wrangler TJ 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK toad
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07-04-2023, 12:19 PM
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#11
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Moderator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,663
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I never leave my MH tanks with anything in it except clean water when it is stored. Dump your tanks before storage and you will find a big difference in the smell.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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07-04-2023, 08:23 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,996
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMark52
Good for you!
Your use characteristics and your procedure for dumping (when you do dump) may be outside of that of the typical user.
If you flush your tanks clean every time you dump - you won’t have a problem storing dry, and you’ll be less likely to have odor issues.
I’m always surprised to hear of people having issues with their dump valves that require total replacement.
Thought I was going to have to replace the “new to us” 20 year old gray dump valve as it was a bear to open and close.
Then the black valve did the same thing.
Read up on all the shade tree mechanics advice about drilling a hole in the valve body, installing a zerk fitting and filling the valve body with grease.
Thought I would try a shot of dry silicone on the valve stem - darn near knocked myself out as I fell over when pushing the stem back in it slid so easy.
Everyone’s specific use eliminates absolutes when it comes to solutions and remedies - again, it’s kinda like hand-grenades and horseshoes.
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That's for sure! There are many variables such as how a person uses their rig, the efficiency of the plumbing, etc,,,.
I do try to represent with my posts, the experiences I have had over the years. They're what has worked fine for me and are certainly not set in stone.
I'm all about keeping things simple, and imo, holding tanks, at least on the RVs we've owned, have always been very simple to deal with. I don't flush the tanks or add water to them after a dump. But as they say, ymmv.
__________________
03 Itasca Sunova, Workhorse P32 with the 8.1 and 4L85-E
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07-04-2023, 08:38 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,996
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevenapril
I agree the P Traps should not dry out that fast... need to figure out how to determine if there is an issue with them... any suggestions? For now I put stoppers in all sinks/shower and put some water in the sinks/shower to ensure it's sealed... that seems to solve the issue.
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Not positive but I think I read someplace, maybe in these forums, that the person's tank developed a negative pressure inside it while traveling down the road. Venturi type effect maybe? If so, I suppose it could be enough to suck a P trap dry and that it was dry by the time you got home. Really no ideas otherwise..
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03 Itasca Sunova, Workhorse P32 with the 8.1 and 4L85-E
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07-05-2023, 07:35 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 562
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mudfrog
Not positive but I think I read someplace, maybe in these forums, that the person's tank developed a negative pressure inside it while traveling down the road. Venturi type effect maybe? If so, I suppose it could be enough to suck a P trap dry and that it was dry by the time you got home. Really no ideas otherwise..
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That seems like a reasonable explanation as I'll refill the traps and it's fine now. I'll just refill them every time I get home.
__________________
2023 Newmar Bay Star 3014
Norton, MA
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