Sewer gas

[greg&bev]

The last 2 trips we have taken after about a day and a half we get sewer gas smell, valves are closed and toilet and traps have water in them tank is not full,2022 kw29
Does anyone have any ideas. Thanks

[ducksface]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SQ...b_b_asin_image

[Lt Keefer]

Every single RV I have been in, mine as well as others, has that slight 'camper' smell. When you flush the toilet there is a direct opening to the holding tank. Some smell is bound to get out with each flush. You can deodorize it all you want, but it still has that 'camper' smell. I've gotten used to it but when I do 'smell' it, it reminds me that I'm not at work or stuck at home, but out on the road enjoying all that America has to offer.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by greg&bev

The last 2 trips we have taken after about a day and a half we get sewer gas smell, valves are closed and toilet and traps have water in them tank is not full,2022 kw29
Does anyone have any ideas. Thanks

Originally Posted by ducksface

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SQ...b_b_asin_image

What duch has linked I have installed on both my Grey and Black tank vents in my last 3 RVs.

The other common failure are Air Admittance Valves, usually one under the bathroom sink and one under the kitchen sink.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing...s/N-5yc1vZca2v

[ducksface]

I considered making a solar powered 12v fan for the vent but the linked item has worked too well for me to do the extra.

Maybe they now sell solar fans for this?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by ducksface

I considered making a solar powered 12v fan for the vent but the linked item has worked too well for me to do the extra.

Maybe they now sell solar fans for this?

I believe I have seen one advertised.

[Skip500]

Here is one of many examples
https://www.amazon.com/RecPro-Ventil.../dp/B09HJC71TT

[ghnl]

Perhaps step one would be to make sure the vent (on the roof) is not blocked.

[dkoldman]

I really like the Solar fan option, but what happens at night or when cloudy?
I think I wait until they have one with Solar w/ rechargeable battery & wireless remote. So when there is not sufficient Solar to run continuously, it runs some set time off the battery every hour. With remote you could manual adjust the operating mode or turn off.

We use to notice this quite a bit when traveling. Several years back I bought two of these primarily for the low profile design to allow the slightest of breeze to draw fumes out. It worked so well when we first installed we saw flies around it on the roof for a few days. Eventually the odors must have stabilized because we have never seen flies around it since.

The only time I may notice inside the RV now is if the RV has been parked for few weeks not used, no ACs running windows closed, and absolutely no air circulation outside. Even then it only comes with a flush.

The Mfg has nice videos to show how it works.

https://www.amazon.com/Lippert-Compo...2&gad_source=1

[macdaddy1111]

Originally Posted by Skip500

Here is one of many examples
https://www.amazon.com/RecPro-Ventil.../dp/B09HJC71TT

Nice!

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by greg&bev

The last 2 trips we have taken after about a day and a half we get sewer gas smell, valves are closed and toilet and traps have water in them tank is not full,2022 kw29
Does anyone have any ideas. Thanks

We drive between camp sites with 1 gallon of bleach in each tank and all fixed. Only need once and we tested 30 days later no issues.

Also we use tst gray tank & a black tank cleaner after each dump

Key is bleach permanently eliminated our smell after 1 trip

[blw2]

air admittance valves... fixed mine cheap and easy while on a trip. Home Depot or pretty much any hardware store for parts

[10scDust]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

We drive between camp sites with 1 gallon of bleach in each tank and all fixed. Only need once and we tested 30 days later no issues.

Also we use tst gray tank & a black tank cleaner after each dump

Key is bleach permanently eliminated our smell after 1 trip

I tried the bleach in the tank, only to cause other problems. At least in our experience, the rubber-like seals in the gate valves swelled up enough to make the valve not shut all the way. To the point of needing to replace them.

Now I will admit, I was also intermittently trying other products, like Lysol. But I never combined them at the same time. But it was the bleach that I used more often.

Seals in the toilet ball where you flush, seals at both gate valves, as ours crosses over to the driver's side.

Since we don't add those harsh chemicals, those seal failures are bygone. The odor is the only recurring thing, and only after a week to 10 days before dumping the tank. We now use the electric exhaust fan above the toilet, that seems to help well, until getting to a dump station, then there is no worries.

Just saying be careful using those chemicals in those tanks. If the gate valve starts to feel a little harder to open, then not wanting to close all the way, your seals are swelling and the gate valve is starting to fail.

**edit in: FWIW, I, at least, will use the campgrounds facilities more often than in the RV, to help in the "cause"... lol

[ducksface]

Our toilet seal holds water until it evaporates out.
Our exit valves don't seep a drop.
We use tide pods.
There're 100 threads about what folks use.

While I expected the
Camper smell.
But
We don't have it.
Never have.
I don't know why.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

We drive between camp sites with 1 gallon of bleach in each tank and all fixed. Only need once and we tested 30 days later no issues.

Also we use tst gray tank & a black tank cleaner after each dump

Key is bleach permanently eliminated our smell after 1 trip

A GALLON! In each tank?

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

A GALLON! In each tank?

Yeap. 2 gallon at Walmart
Split

[SchoolTeacher]

A possibility could be the shower drain. I had a smell and eventually tracked it down to the shower drain pipes leaking under the shower pan. After cleaning and attaching the pipes correctly, the smell was gone.

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

Every single RV I have been in, mine as well as others, has that slight 'camper' smell. When you flush the toilet there is a direct opening to the holding tank. Some smell is bound to get out with each flush. You can deodorize it all you want, but it still has that 'camper' smell. I've gotten used to it but when I do 'smell' it, it reminds me that I'm not at work or stuck at home, but out on the road enjoying all that America has to offer.

Well then step into mine. It has no odd smells. If I smelled “toilet” every time I walked in, and couldn’t correct it, it would be gone.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

Yeap. 2 gallon at Walmart
Split

I could see this if you are simply sanitizing the tanks, but even then it is a heavy dose. I would be worried about the seals. Even when we sanitize our fresh water tank we flush with fresh water afterwards. I use about a cup for 70 gal freshwater tank and that is maybe too strong.

But after every dump I pour this in black tank. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Thetford-...hoCn18QAvD_BwE

I may try pouring the same in Gray tank one time just to see what it does. I always buy this stuff non sale and in volume so I have plenty.

FWIW, I never sanitized the black or gray tanks.

[OhDis]

We also had a problem with smells and discovered the problem when trying to solve another. Black tank vent pipe not properly connected inside wall.
Will try to attach a photo.
We have a 2022 Four Winds 24F