|
02-28-2016, 05:42 PM
|
#1
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 1,239
M.O.C. #5906
|
Sewer odors
We have been using the low cost orange liquid toilet treatment from Wally World for about the past year now. It has worked pretty well until recently. We usually empty the black tank once a week or sometimes longer if we are going to be leaving a campground. Starting about a month and a half ago, after five days the bathroom fills with sewer odors every time we flush. After the odor returns the water in the bowl doesn't immediately drain when the foot pedal is depressed. Instead an air bubble forms then pops, spraying liquid within the bowl and occasionally outside. Without the odor the liquid drains as intended with no bubble. When we notice the odor we dump the black tank, until last time on 5 day intervals rather than seven. This past interval was only a three days until the odor returned.
When we dump we always use the black tank flush. This past dump it ran for a little over an hour. After dumping we have been using 4 oz. of the orange treatment followed by a gallon of water down the toilet from a jug. Our concern is that since the orange treatment has worked for almost a year, do we have another issue that might be generating the odor. We don't want to change treatment brands if something else is the cause.
Any thoughts?
|
|
|
02-28-2016, 11:40 PM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Arroyo City
Posts: 3,110
M.O.C. #13395
|
Sounds like you are getting a build up. Exam with a flashlight
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 12:07 AM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
|
If you are only flushing once a week sounds like you are not using nearly enough water.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 01:02 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jefferson,
Posts: 264
M.O.C. #13170
|
We too, only dump once a week but I dump two nearly full bowls of water after each flush. We've done this for three years with never an odor.
We use an orange drop in and a few tablespoons of Calgon after dumping.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 01:14 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,727
M.O.C. #7992
|
I would check to insure your vent is not blocked or obstructed.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 02:07 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
|
I agree with the posters about an underlying problem. The vent, as Jim states would be my first check. We have an '07, I have never used any odor additive with no problems. You might get a wand type flusher, or just take a hose and flush from the stool down. Dump the tank, with a clear fitting on the dump line, flush from the stool for a time, checking to see if any solids come out the drain.
When you flush each time with normal use, run the water with the flush pedal for a bit.
You can get on the roof and examine the vent, even take the hose and run it down from there.
If that doesn't do the trick, hire a Plumber with an inspection camera and have the system checked out. That is not normal.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 02:48 AM
|
#7
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 1,239
M.O.C. #5906
|
We should mention that we traded for a new 3720RL in mid November. It was a little more than a couple months after acquiring the new rig that the odors started.
We do have a clear discharge tube and do not turn off the black tank flush until the water runs clear. We use a Sewer Solutions macerator system which does slow the discharge flow out of the tank. We've used this system for more than two years with no previous odors as a result.
The vent is a possibility. Will get that checked and report back.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 02:55 AM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
|
We used the orange additive for years until I read an interesting post on a boating forum that I belong to. Keep in mind on most boats that the vent system is near the waterline and if there is a noticeable smell of any kind, you will know it immediately (been there, done that). We still keep the orange TST as a backup but have switched to a product called Odorlos. The results were immediately noticeable. Read some reviews on it. We use it on both our boat and the Montana now and are extremely happy with the results. Just a suggestion and not a recommendation as usual, but the stuff works!
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 03:08 AM
|
#9
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kelowna
Posts: 1,475
M.O.C. #6237
|
We use a product called Happy Camper. It works very well breaking down the solids and eliminates odors. They also have a product that cleans build ups. You can get it on line and at some RV stores. It is biodegradable.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 03:28 AM
|
#10
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fairfield Glade
Posts: 216
M.O.C. #6892
|
Speaking from experience (bad, not good), I would highly recommend that you dispose of the Sewer Solution at your earliest convenience. While it seems like a good idea, it does not allow your tank to drain properly and eventually results in buildup that will require power cleaning. While this may or may not be what's causing your current problem, it will help avoid future problems.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 04:41 AM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jimcol
I would check to insure your vent is not blocked or obstructed.
|
What he said..
Mark
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 06:05 AM
|
#12
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Fowler
Posts: 414
M.O.C. #12748
|
X2 ON BLOCKED VENT
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 09:10 AM
|
#13
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Victor
Posts: 940
M.O.C. #1709
|
Richard are you saying it was a blocked vent?
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 12:32 PM
|
#14
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Fowler
Posts: 414
M.O.C. #12748
|
Yes, I was agreeing with the blocked vent statement on an earlier post.
|
|
|
02-29-2016, 12:51 PM
|
#15
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
|
I agree with the blocked vent group. We have been full timing for 5 1/2 years in 2 different Montanas and never have an odor problem. We use nothing but plenty of water and dump at about 10 days.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
|
|
|
03-01-2016, 10:54 AM
|
#16
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
|
You don't need anything but water. Why does anybody put a deodorant in the black tank? If you can smell the black tank odor or the deodorant odor, you have a problem with your system and/or something is amiss with the plumbing. We don't use deodorants in the toilets at home because the system is vented...just like your RV. If you insist on an additive, use Calgon which will aide in dumping...anything else is a waste of money.
|
|
|
03-01-2016, 01:12 PM
|
#17
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brandon
Posts: 3,944
M.O.C. #1034
|
In our camp we feel the need to add to our septic system to help with odors. After years of using Calgon and Pinesol we have just recently switched to the Happy Camper product along with a dash of Calgon in each tank fill.
__________________
Darwin & Maureen DeBackere
Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada
2011/3500/Silverado/4x4/DRW/Duramax
2017/3721RL/Legacy Pkg./Pressure-Pro
|
|
|
03-02-2016, 03:51 PM
|
#18
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Kissimmee
Posts: 545
M.O.C. #14096
|
We just don't feel that the installed tank flushes do that great a job. Most times, we run the hose in the toilet and flush really well with it. Haven't had any problems.
When our previous Montana started "burping," I used a plumber's snake down the vent pipe to see if that was the problem. It wasn't. That's when I decided the tank flushes didn't work so well.
|
|
|
03-03-2016, 06:16 AM
|
#19
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 1,239
M.O.C. #5906
|
We're working through this by default. We dumped this past Monday with the black tank flush running. While it was dumping we filled the commode with water. When the clear discharge tube ran clear, we flushed the commode. The force of the water turned the clear discharge tube brown. We repeated the commode water dump three times, each time driving more deposits out of the tank. If we can reach or exceed a week without the odors returning, then we have solved the problem. If not, the roof vent is next.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|