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Old 09-29-2018, 01:11 PM   #1
caroldee2735
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Black tank smell

When I dump black tank , I notice odor that’s not too bad considering what I’m dumping. However, we stay in a small gated campground and I don’t want the whole neighborhood to be smelly. I use happy camper but still have odor. Also, I notice my Max aire exhaust fan sometimes brings in odor . Is this normal and should I be concerned about smelling up the neighborhood? I have started dumping Pinesol down the tank and that seems to help odor. Is that a safe additive for the tanks?
 
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Old 09-29-2018, 02:13 PM   #2
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Often the camp's sewer system emits stink. As fluids go in the system, air can be displaced out from their vents. Sh'; happens. As long as you aren't spilling any that's just the way it is.
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Old 09-29-2018, 03:47 PM   #3
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I agree. While it's not every time it is common. If your vent fan is pulling in oders that would be coming from your black tank vent located somewhere near it on the roof. We haven't had that problem in 8 years of full timing and we also use Happy Camper. Our black tanks are larger than the small rigs, do you use two scoops in yours every time you dump. That's what we do.
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Old 09-29-2018, 04:24 PM   #4
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If you are running the vent fan in the bathroom, recommend you close the toilet cover before flushing. Other wise the vent fan will pull some tank smell out while the flush valve is open.
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Old 09-29-2018, 05:49 PM   #5
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The secret to good "dumping" is to use lots of water. However, as previously noted, there will always be some odor. Any deodorizer used in the black tank (or gray tank) will serve no useful purpose other than to the selling company's bottom line.
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Old 09-30-2018, 06:57 AM   #6
mjammersc
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In addition to the tips above, if possible it is best to wait until the blank tank is close to full before dumping as that will get a better/more aggressive dump (no pun intended). If you are leaving a campground and the tank isn't full, add water to it to get it fuller before dumping.
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Old 09-30-2018, 09:34 AM   #7
caroldee2735
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Thanks to everyone’s response. I turn fan off before flushing but I hadn’t thought about the vent on top. I wait til I get the burp before emptying.
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Old 09-30-2018, 12:21 PM   #8
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I'm sorry, crap stinks. If a honey wagon came through, you'll notice a bit of odor as they connect, pump and disconnect. Unless there's something really special about your crap that your neighbors should know about, smell away!
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Old 09-30-2018, 12:23 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by caroldee2735 View Post
Thanks to everyone’s response. I turn fan off before flushing but I hadn’t thought about the vent on top. I wait til I get the burp before emptying.
What is the "burp"?
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Old 09-30-2018, 12:52 PM   #10
caroldee2735
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Originally Posted by Soon 2B snowbird View Post
What is the "burp"?
The burp is a burp as black tank nears capacity which I depend on because level indicators aren’t accurate. The burp might be described as a small bubble of water coming up as you flush.
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Old 10-01-2018, 08:22 AM   #11
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To anyone who waits for the burp. These tanks are a 2 piece design with a top that is glued on top. They are known for literaly bursting at the seams. There are multiple treads on this topic. DO NOT LET YOUR TANKS GET TOO FULL OR YOU ARE FLIRTING WITH DISASTER. Also do not travel with more than a few gallons in them.
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Old 08-14-2019, 08:59 AM   #12
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I think the “pun” was intended!!!!’
It’s a stinky subject.
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Old 08-14-2019, 01:21 PM   #13
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I agree with beeje! If your unit is a model before 2017 or so you have the two piece tanks and as he stated they are glued together at the top. I can definitely verify not to let the tanks get FULL even to the "burp" stage. This WILL cause your tank to split or rupture. I have had to replace two of the three tanks so far and the third, I think is now leaking when it gets full so that means it is split at the top somewhere. I use plenty of water when flushing the toilet so there is plenty of water in the tank to carry the solids out but it still will not totally flush out the solids because the exit valve is about an inch or two above the bottom of the tank and the tank still has solids in it after dumping. This is why there is a tank flush line and even that does not clean everything out. I also use Happy Camper and like DQDick, I use two scoops of it in the black tank after every flush or dump. Dumping Pinesol down the black tank may make it smell better but that is also killing any of the bacteria from the Happy Camper you have left in your tank that breaks down the solids and also kills any bacteria from the new Happy Camper you are adding thus creating a non-dissolving, non-breakdown Happy Camper. This is more than likely why you are getting the smell that is stronger than normal when dumping. You will always get some smell when dumping but if you use plenty of water when flushing the toilet this helps a lot to speed up the dumping process of the black tank. I follow the black tank dump with dumping the galley gray tank and then the shower gray tank to clean out the lines and the slinky sewer hose going to the sewer dump.
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Old 08-14-2019, 04:29 PM   #14
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I know a lot of people use a lot of water when flushing(IMHO not necessary). We also do NOT put any PT down the toilet (it goes in a small trash can next to it). I installed a valve in the water line that feeds the toilet. If we are boondocking, we turn if off unless you really need water. We have gone upwards of 10 days without dumping this way. Never a smell in the camper. We also use happy camper.
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Old 08-20-2019, 08:38 PM   #15
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I agree about no TP going into the holding tank. We stopped doing that 15 years ago. No problems since then. Always had problems before stopping. Odor, dump valves leaking, buildup in tank, etc.

At a Montana Rally, one of the speakers reccomend using dawn dishwashing liquid to help keep the tanks clean for sensors to work. Didn't help sensors, but helped odor. Now it's the only thing I use in all my holding tanks. It's cheap enough, doesn't take much, and NO ODORS anymore.
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Old 08-21-2019, 05:01 AM   #16
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TP in the trash can... yuck. I use a couple of capfuls of Ridx after every dump. When I dump I do not see any TP or other solids, it is all decomposed and mixed with the liquid.

Concerning smell, I tried everything and always had a bad smell when flushing. When I replaced the toilet with a Dometic... no more smell. I can’t explain that but I am a happy camper (but don’t need to buy it).
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Old 08-21-2019, 03:06 PM   #17
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Absolutely nothing yucky about it. The can gets emptied every day or 2. Never any smell issues. Get some non dissolved TP stuck in your valve, requiring its replacement, and maybe you will see why we don't put it down there.
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Old 08-21-2019, 03:39 PM   #18
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It's a small price to pay for no holding tank build up and/or dump valve problems. And no more surprises when removing the dump cover.
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Old 08-21-2019, 04:04 PM   #19
richfaa
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We use our holding tank for the intended purpose to hold till we can dump. We have never had a tank build up problem in 15 years of Montanas .We have had them burst from being to full.
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