bad odor when I flush the toilet

Oregonconversion · July 16, 2010, 01:51:25 PM

Not sure why it just started now but it stinks! My tank is vented and has not smelled in the past so Im not sure whats the deal? I have never used anything that would kill the bacteria, I only use natural products. Never any additives either. Could my tank vent plugged? It happens even when my bathroom vent is pulling air in.

desi arnaz · July 16, 2010, 02:13:31 PM

stop eating burritos

eagle19952 · July 16, 2010, 02:33:35 PM

It's the sardines and limburger..... $:-\$

redbus · July 16, 2010, 03:19:15 PM

Yes the vent could be plugged or the vent tube could have slipped down in the tank.

Lin · July 16, 2010, 03:24:56 PM

There have been discussions before regarding the different types of bacteria in the tank. Apparently, the ones that thrive with no air smell worst. It is has not been in use for a while, the aerobic bacteria could have used up the oxygen and died off leaving only the anaerobic bacteria.

FloridaCliff · July 16, 2010, 05:58:42 PM

Quote from: redbus on July 16, 2010, 03:19:15 PM
Yes the vent could be plugged or the vent tube could have slipped down in the tank.

Both of these happen more often than you would think.

Since you have not had a problem in the past, I would check these first.

Let us know what you find.

Cliff

desi arnaz · July 16, 2010, 06:00:06 PM

mud daubers in the poop air vent?

?

JohnEd · July 16, 2010, 06:30:43 PM

You are getting solid advice and just let me add my voice to that. Also, you can use some "sepic tank treatment" which is a bacteria starter. I have heard that adding a hand full of peat moss is a good periodic treatment.

If you have a "negative" air pressure in the bathroom in relationship to that that the vents are experiencing, you will SUCK tank air up the toilet opening from inside the tank and air in the tank will be replaced by inflow down the vent tube. A strong exhaust fan vent can do that BUT you say this is a new condition....right? This happened to me and I found that I had cracked a vent pipe behind the toilet while I was messing around back there and replacing a water pipe seal. I chased that for six months, off and on, cause I didn't occupy the coach until a while after I broke it and I never connected the dots. I hope you do better.

Fill your toilet with clean water. Depress the flush lever wide open momentarily and close it without letting the valve stay open to allow gas to come up. Smell in the toilet and see if there is an overwhelming odor. If not, then the odor is coming from somewhere else. The toilet flange seal is a favorite and I have never seen that the cause. ABS plastic is so very tough it seems indestructible...it isn't. Get some of that thick bodied cement and go over all the joints that are not inside the wall....mine were all outside and that is where the crack was....in the middle of a run.....go figure.

Have you drilled any holes lately?

Drag a garden hose up o the roof and run water down the vents. Then regard that as not being the problem and look elsewhere. Unless you get water running on the floor.

Good luck Amigo. I know this one is frustrating and NOBODY is gonna come over to help with a "black tank".

John

bottomacher · July 17, 2010, 04:26:34 AM

Is your air conditioner running when you get the smell? The air return system can pull air from every outside opening.

bevans6 · July 17, 2010, 04:39:01 AM

I recently had that, just after a two day trip where I wasn't able to empty the tank. I fed it the tank deodorizer tablets, it went away in a day or so. Prompting me to get on with improving the venting system. I am also going to investigate the waterless P-trap gizmo's, I think problems often start when water in the P-traps evaporates.

Brian

jjrbus · July 17, 2010, 06:18:15 AM

IF you go on the roof to run a hose down the vent. Keep an eye on it for a bit before you do. The roof of a bus is not designed for running away from bee's, hornets, mud dauber's etc

robertglines1 · July 17, 2010, 06:31:03 AM

Stop Eating ROADKILL----my vent was stopped this spring...backflushed with water..don't know nature of plug..but all is sweet smelling now..

JohnEd · July 17, 2010, 08:46:26 AM

Stop Eating ROADKILL

Thank you Robert. Isn't that one of the Major food groups?

The advice about mud daubers abd such is sage advice. I got stung on the very tip of my nose while going into my storage shed. Whee Doggies! Really hard to ignore that.

John

Oregonconversion · July 19, 2010, 10:40:48 AM

Yes it was my vent cap. Sorry it took so long to reply. I just recently plugged the hose to my in bay vacuum system that I use to vacuum my floors with. I noticed that when I had my fan or AC on it would bring foul smelling air into my bus. I also need to go fill some little holes. I have been dragging my feet when some things need to get done.