Sewer Smell in Used RV

[Green Travelers]

We just purchased a "used very little" RV. It really doesn't look like it was used much - looks new. However, once we got it home we found that it "stunk" inside. We also found all the gauges read empty except for the black. It read 1/3 full. We cleaned the tank using the instructions we had. I guess there are sprayers inside that are supposed to clean it out. However, after emptying the tank, we can still see water sitting on the bottom and the gauge reads 1/3 full. I'm wondering if the people used regular toilet paper and something is clogged. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[elh3946]

Tank sensors are notoriously inaccurate, even after cleaning.

When you emptied the tank after cleaning, did anything come out (if you have a clear attachment to your drain outlet, it will be really easy to see what comes out)? The use of regular toilet paper (as opposed to the expensive "RV" toilet paper) should not make any difference IF enough water is used...and that's the key for using an RV toilet...lots of water (several gallons put in after dumping and then lots of water when flushing, especially when flushing solids). It might be that the previous owners left the black tank valve open when at a site (a huge no-no) and you have a mound of hardened solids at the bottom, although you should be able to see that if you can see the bottom of the tank.

You might try the old ice cube trick. Although we've never done it, people say it works. Dump several pounds of ice cubes in the tank (which has some water in it) and take the RV for a drive. Then drain the tank again when you get back.

Here's a thought, too: it might not be the black tank that is smelling. Gray water can smell just as bad. Under the bathroom sink (or maybe the kitchen sink), you'll find a short piece of pipe that goes nowhere with a cap on it. This pipe has a butterfly valve in it that sometimes goes bad and allows gray water fumes to enter the RV. Replacing the cap should cure the problem, assuming this is where the smell is coming from. The cap is inexpensive, so it wouldn't hurt to replace it just to see.
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2007 Excel Classic 30RKE
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[Rocky Larson]

A black tank full, empty or 1/3 full shouldn't stink..... up the inside of the MH that is.

1) look for a round black valve smaller than an average cupcake under one of the sinks. It should be screwed onto a vertical PVC pipe. It is cheap enough. I found mine at ACE for under $5. If it is sticking, you get fumes from the holding tank.
2) be sure all your sinks and shower drains have a cup or two of water in them to fill the "traps." Sometimes while traveling or dumping, they will get sucked dry. Also over time they will dry up, allowing fumes to escape.
3) isolate and seal up all the dumping hoses and connectors. The storage compartment they are stored in often has direct air flow into the MH from around the tanks and up from under the refrig or furnace.
4) be sure the tank roof vents are not clogged. A couple of seconds with a garden hose should be enough.
5) make sure the toilet valve is holding water during travel. A sticking or leaking valve is another source.
None of the above would have been obvious upon first inspection, but after a mile or two down the road could flood the MH with fumes.

Good Luck
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[bandit1538]

Also be sure you sanitize your fresh water tank before you use it. When we bought our coach, it had sat for several months on the lot and the fresh water smelled like sewage because the water went bad.
Pat
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[AC7880]

You need to be 100% sure you are smelling only sewage and not propane. Are all stove burners all the way off? Any pilot lights lit? Main propane valve off if not needed?

A small propane leak is often mistaken as sewage smell.
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Dan
94 Bluebird BMC 37'
Fulltime USA
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[gbtate]

A topic was posted on the RV Travel website several month ago on an interesting solution. Before using the facilities in your MH, pour a mixture of water and liquid fabric softener into the holding tanks. Then when you use the facilties, the elimination is quicker, slicker and much more complete. If the poop is the scoop, it will be sent to the appropriate universe at warp 10.
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G. B. Tate

[lanerd]

[gbtate]

Ron,

My bad. You are right... it was Calgon that did the trick. Thanks. GBT
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G. B. Tate

[WCForbesPE]

I do not agree with the responder who said use lots of water and regular toilet paper. If you are dry camping, you want to conserve your water and tank space, and conservation is a good idea anyway for lots of reasons. Even if you are always on full hook-ups, using lots of water will run up the RV park's water cost and thus the fee.

You should alway use RV or marine toilet paper - it dissolves much faster and will cause fewer problems with clogging and tank buildups. If you can't get that, at least use toilet paper approved for septic tanks. Never put anything else down the drain, and no grease and as few solids as possible down the sink drains either.

I wouldn't worry about the level gauges. The fresh water tank gauge is probably fairly accurate, and the tank sizes are usually well enough coordinated that when you are dry camping, if you are out of fresh water it is time to dump.

As mentioned, you should keep your black water drain valve closed at all times except when dumping, even if you are connected to sewer. If you have full hookups, close the grey water tank the day before you are going to dump the black water so there is some water in the grey water tank to flush the hose. If the black water tank isn't full when dumping and you have water available, go ahead and fill it up first. Dump the black water tank, then the grey water to flush the hose. Occasionally and before storing the unit, dump it, fill it, and dump it several times to clean it out, and use one of the cleaning wands or spray devices.

We are in our unit travelling 75% of the time and almost never have an odor problem. We rarely use chemicals and we use minimal water for flushing. When dry camping, we dump and fill about once a week - on 45 gallon tanks! When in an RV park, we dump the black water tank about once a week or when departing, whichever comes first. The constant use and motion keeps everything pretty clean and odor-free.

[lanerd]

I don't think elh3946 was referring to "dry camping" when she made that statement. In fact, probably just the opposite as dry caming requires a whole different mindset and obviously different methods. She never mentioned dry camping as neither did the OP in the original post. So rather than "disagreeing," maybe you should just have left that part out of your reply or bring it up as an "also, by the way."

Also, have you ever "tested" RV toilet paper vs. regular toilet paper? There have been many discussions on this subject on rv.net and several people have reported results of their testing: RV TP doesn't dissolve any faster than regular 2-ply TP. In addition, RV TP does cost more and you get less. Again, as elh3946 stated, the answer is all in how much water is used.

"Using lots of water," I believe, is a misleading statement. "Lots" can be different amount to different people. I know in our case, "lots" means a quart or two with each flushing. Is that "a lot" to you? Not to me. That quart or two, however, means the difference between keeping the solids from hardening up in between tank dumpings. I don't think the RV park will know the difference. You even mentioned to make sure the gray tank is full (and to fill it if it isn't), and even to refill and dump several times. I think this practice is using a "lot" more water than using more water to each flush don't you think?

So to the OP. Keeping the black tank clean of solids is the key to having a happy black tank, and the only way to keep it clean is to use "lots" of water.

Ron
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