Toilet Chemicals - RV-Dreams Community Forum

pierreandcolleen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Toilet Chemicals

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

Colleen,

Not sure when or from what area you are experiencing a "stinky" odor. There are a few things seldom mentioned that can lead to such and solve the problem.

If it is outside near the ground connect, make sure you have a solid and air tight connection. Some ground connections provide a screw in base, and you can purchase the counterpart for your sewer hose end to interface with this screw type seal. For just a non-screw ground connect, a rubber doughnut from an RV supply store provides a good connection.

If the situation is inside, there are two things we do that have literally obliterated any odor.

First, if it is while the RV is in a campground. Having the overhead exhaust fan on while flushing (opens the valve leading to the holding tank) simply brings those wonderful tank oders up to change your head (toilet) into a lethal gas chamber. Simply turn the fan off while flushing.

Second, if this occurs while driving, it is likely that the liquid in the p-traps of a shower or basin has sloshed out due to movement and you are getting grey holding tank oder into the RV. Believe it or not, grey holding tanks develop a fiesty, strong odor also. The solution is to close the basin stoppers prior to travel and to place a wet wash cloth over the shower drain or galley (kitchen) sink drain.

I am confident there will be other contributions that will be useful, but these solved our problem and seldom discussed in most forums.

When emptied often, neither tank actually requires a chemcical additive of any type. If, however, a holding tank is not emptied before storing for a week or more, you will likely argue this point.

I wish you safe and oderless travels.

Charles

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Coleen,

We have not used any chemicals in our tanks since we went Full-timing over 7 years ago.

We do not have any odor, have not had any blockage problems, and have saved a bunch of money.

We dump the tanks once a week, if we're sitting still, every couple of days if we're traveling or the temperatures get up in the 90's. None of our neighbors have complained, so I guess we're not offending anyone. (Not with smell anyway). biggrin

Many Full-timers that I have talked to, do not use chemicals. They just aren't needed. After the first few times without them, the natural bacteria in the tanks start to break down the waste naturally. (Kind of like a septic system).

One last note. For the people who are not Full-timing yet, you'll probably have to use chemicals. If the tanks are not used regularly, they will smell thing up.

Jim

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

Roz has the source of stink options identitifed very well..
I use NO chemicals as well, never a problem.

Howard · Host

Yep, same here. We use no chemicals. smile

leno · RV-Dreams Family Member

We do the GEO method. Water Softener and detergent, no problems yet...

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

10 years and 2 RVs - never used chemicals - no odors - never have left the valves open when parked

jdensie · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with a lot above,
Don't use any.

pierreandcolleen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everyone. I think the source was the overhead fan while flushing. We haven't used any chemicals since then and haven't had any problems. Thanks for setting us straight on the chemical usage....that can get pretty expensive and I'm glad we don't need it.

I apologize for not responding sooner. We have been in Prince Edward Island, Canada for almost a week now so haven't had much for internet access (don't what to get hit with those Verizon international fees). Have hit a couple internet cafes, but only to access email.

Thanks again,
Colleen

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

pierreandcolleen:
And another satisfied olfactory as well as another new environmentally gentle RV'er! Hooray!

Travelin Duo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jim01 wrote:

One last note. For the people who are not Full-timing yet, you'll probably have to use chemicals. If the tanks are not used regularly, they will smell thing up.

Jim

We are not fulltiming as yet. Waiting for our home to sell like so many other people, but we do go away for long weekends and for two weeks at a time.
So as Jim stated above we use chemicals until we fulltime.
We use Odorlos and it works , and is safer for the environment. It was Bill Joyce on here that told us about it last year when we bought the MH, and of course it was good advice. I don't know what we'd do without all the great ideas and advice on here.
Larry also installed X-treme Vents and they also work fine.
Colleen you can also stop at Camping world in Chichester NH on Rte 4 for all of these things if you're going back towards Vermont....or order on line of course. Whatever you choose...hope this helps out a little for you.
Here are a few sites to look at ...Good luck and Happy travels. Arlene aww

http://www.coilnwrap.com/more/Xtreme-Vents.htm

http://www.rvnetlinx.com/dba/dba.php?id=5683&cat=p08

http://www.rvpartscenter.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=25623&StoreID=19&DepartmentID=21&CategoryID

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use Odorlos and it works , and is safer for the environment. It was Bill Joyce on here that told us about it last year when we bought the MH
Hmm, I don't remember Odorlos since I have never used it, just Odorcon. Odorcon is chlorine dioxide, which is also used by municipal water companies to sanitize the water. Glad Odorlos is working for you anyway.
Extreme Vent and their equivalents (360) solve the odor problem for most people.

Travelin Duo · RV-Dreams Family Member

bjoyce wrote:

Hmm, I don't remember Odorlos since I have never used it, just Odorcon. Odorcon is chlorine dioxide, which is also used by municipal water companies to sanitize the water. Glad Odorlos is working for you anyway.
Extreme Vent and their equivalents (360) solve the odor problem for most people.

OK Bill...sorry if I gave the wrong name...so many posts ..so little time confused

... Could be my age too !!!
Besides you gave us so many great ideas and answered so many of our questions I gave you the credit as I truly thought it was you on this one....Odorcon...not Odorlos. But like you said ..it is working. Will be great to not have to use any when we get to Fulltime. Yes the Extreme Vent is a good thing. I installed that as a precaution...just in case. While I have you here...the table has been a hit all summer each time we go anywhere. People ask us about it, and I know you gave me that one. Thanks again. smile