The "SMELL"

[Fred Mc]

In an attempt to get rid of the toilet smell I put in a new seal(toilet to flange) and sealed up the overflow hole(Sealand Toilet) But I'm still getting the smell.So I looked at the venting that I have and wonder if that is part of the problem.

The black and grey tanks are side by side with a pipe connecting the two.This pipe is is at the top of the tanks. I also have a roof vent but it connects to one of the pipes that drains into the grey tank. So although both tanks are theoretically vented to the outside through the roof vent, in order for the odor to vent out of the black water tank it must go through the pipe connecting it to the grey tank first and then to the outside.

However, my thought is that even if the venting to the outside is not optimum there must still be a way for odors to get into the bathroom. Water remains in the bowl so the odor is not coming up past that seal.

Any ideas.

Thanks

Fred Mc.

[FloridaCliff]

Fred,

Any chance one of your traps(sink, shower...etc) has dried up and is letting the "smell" pass on in?

Cliff

[TomC]

You maybe getting the smell coming up from the shower.  If it is a rotten egg smell, it is from the gray tank-put a cup or two of bleach down the drain and that will stop that smell.  If you're getting smell from the black tank, use more chemical-it shouldn't smell at all. 
As to the vent, both tanks should be separate.  Gray is alright to vent through the drain.  On my black tank, I have the separate 3" line for the toilet with the vent on a separate fitting off the tank.  My vents go to the ceiling and have venturi caps on it so the forward motion of the bus creates a vacuum to suck out the smells.  Good Luck, TomC

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

I also have a roof vent but it connects to one of the pipes that drains into the grey tank.

Fred, then what you have is the proverbial "wet vent" and is prone to siphoning your traps and creating positive pressure in your tanks (which leads to smells). To solve your odor problems, you should put a discrete roof vent on each of your tanks. You can combine them once they're above the rim line of your highest fixture.

HTH,
Brian B.

[busdesigner]

Fred,
Do you have a exhaust fan in the bathroom? Had this same problem years ago in a bus I built. The problem was that the vent from the holding tanks was to close to the fan. So that when you flushed the toilet you would get the smell right back into the bus. So I put a 90 degree elbow on the vent tube and took it back to the rear of the bus no more smell.

Thomas

[cody]

My tanks are all vented down thru the bay floor and I don't seem to get any smell thru the traps, the vents come out of the top of the tank and then head down the sides of the tanks and end just below the bay floor with critter screens in place.

[white-eagle]

won't the bleach in grey kill the bacteria that are supposed to be breaking up the material?  we don't always empty each trip since there is not always a convenient stop.  seems ok as long as it's not full.

i'm not sure we have a "trap" on the shower, which may be our problem.  when we turn the vent fan on blowing in, then the smell seems to be less.  turn the fan on blowing out while driving and oh, what an odor.

one of these days when i get time, i've got to take the plywood off and see how this girl is plumbed. 

[DrivingMissLazy]

one of these days when i get time, i've got to take the plywood off and see how this girl is plumbed.

Much easier way. Just run the shower for a minute before leaving and see if the smell still comes up. Also be sure and check bathroom and kitchen sink drains and dishwasher, if you have one. My problem was the overflow in the toilet. Once I filled it in, no more smell.
Richard

[prevost82]

I have one 160 gal septic tank with 1 1/2 inch vents that go up then back down through the floor of the bay with a running T on the end that creates a venturi when moving. I have 2 vents on the septic tank one on each end of the tank, so when you go around a corner the water in the tank doesn't create a vacuum and suck all the water out of the P traps (I had some smell before I did this). I bought a big flat rubber bathtub plug to cover the shower drain. I install all sink plugs and put a bit of water in the sink when going down the road. I haven't had any smell going down the road or parked.
Ron

[DavidInWilmNC]

... septic tank with 1 1/2 inch vents that go up then back down through the floor of the bay with a running T on the end that creates a venturi when moving.

That's what I'm doing.  Do you have a vent on the roof, too?  I don't plan on having one but can easily add one if it turns out to be needed.  I have a Studor vent in addition.

David

[prevost82]

No David ...no roof vent. I didn't want any holes in the roof for vents
Ron

[TomC]

With gray water there is typically very little to break down, but enough to produce the rotten egg smell.  Bleach takes care if it immediately.  Black tank can benefit from bacteria that breaks down the solids.  Good Luck, TomC

[Don4107]

I had a smell in the bathroom that was hard to find.  It was the drain from the sink.  The vertical down slip joint outlet of the P-trap was loose.  Did not leak water but would smell when traveling with the roof vent partially open (sucking out). 

Good luck finding it.

Don 4107

[Fred Mc]

Well, I just spent a lovely afternoon tracing down the "smell". Since the odor is also very evident even when parked I figured it must be comming back up through the toilet. So I took the toilet out,turned it upside down and poured water into the pedestal and it leaked like a sieve, even though when upright water stayed in the bowl.

Sealand toilets(at least the older ones) consist of a porcelain bowl and a plastic pedestal.They are connected and held together by a removable flange which is secured by a giant hose clamp. Two rubber gaskets are in between the bowl and pedestal. What I found is unless one is VERY careful in assembling this(you have to take it apart to replace the seal occasionally) it will leak like crazy. So I finally got it assembled and it doesn't leak at that point. I also plugged the overflow hole when I had it apart as well.

Once we get a few more hot days I should be able to see how well it works.

hope this is of benefit to other as well.

Fred Mc.

[pete81eaglefanasty]

 Hi Fred
I know what you are talking about, we had the problem with a Sealand toilet. we were told by sealand that there is suppose to be a bracket at the back of the toilet to keep it from tilting forward and putting to much pressure on the back of the toilet, like when someone sits on the end of the toilet. we called them about it and thats what we were told. so I ordered the bracket, and instead of a bracket they sent me a new toilet of new design, and bracket optional. we have been OK  for 4 years now, no leak, or smell.I hope this has put some closer on your problem. we also changed the seals a few times but would still leak and smell also.


          Pete & Jean
            Fantasy