Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Odor when Gray Tanks are open
Post Info TOPIC: Odor when Gray Tanks are open
DeeJee


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 92
Date:
Odor when Gray Tanks are open
Permalink  

Hello Fellow 5'ver's  :)

We have tried to leave our grey tanks open instead of emptying them every other day, but we keep getting a foul smell.

We tried Odorlos liquid down the drains yesterday and the odor has been gone for 24 hours. 

Is this a regular issue? How often should we expect to use this?

 

 



__________________

John & Dana Ellison

Knoxville, TN, (Fort Mill, SC 10/13-1/15)

Full Timing Since October 2013

2014 Cedar Creek 38FL (Biscotti) 

'08 Super Duty F-350 2WD DRW Lariat Crew Cab Long Bed, 

18K Draw-Tite Hitch

 
Lucky Mike


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2950
Date:
Permalink  

could have been a trap was dry

__________________

 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
adeline and ed


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 56
Date:
Permalink  

Did you make a p trap in your sewer hose. if not the smellwill find a way to come into the trailer

__________________
s e melnick
The Bear II


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1337
Date:
Permalink  

I use a deoderizer plus enzyme treatment (from Thetford) every year in the grey tanks and after I empty the black tank.

No odor problems even after the rig has been closed up for several months.

Also, I do not use a sewer hose cradle, instead I prefer to allow the hose to rest on the ground so it is below the park sewer connection and my RV connection. This forms a water trap to keep smells from coming in from the sewer hose. Never had a problem with clogs or dumping the tank with the hose on the ground.

__________________

"Small House, Big Yard "

"May the FOREST be with you"
Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
Clay L


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  

I never make a P trap in my sewer line and I don't have any odor.
I leave the gray tank open until about three days before I intend to dump the black tank.

There are air admittance valves under the sinks. They keep the water from being sucked out of your traps by the vacuum formed when you dump.
If the flapper in the valve sticks open odor can get in from the sewer line. If one is faulty you can also get odor from your gray tank with the valve closed.

They are screwed on and are usually easy to unscrew and replace.
They are on a stub coming off of the line on the sewer side of the trap.

You can get replacements from your local hardware store - less than $10 as I recall.

__________________

Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (wife), Katie, Kelli (cats) Full timed for eleven years in a 2004 Sightseer 35N. Snowbirds for one winter and now settled down in CO.
GENECOP


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1417
Date:
Permalink  

Also check your roof vent make sure it is open and clear....

__________________
GOING FOR IT
DeeJee


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 92
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks for all of the suggestions! John did check the roof vent, the RV store sold him a roof vent fan but when he tried to install it our vent is different than what the directions said. John is out of town for the week he left grey 2 open and 1 closed with the chemicals in it. After 2 loads of laundry I emptied the grey 1 by myself for the first time:) and will leave it open. So far so good! No smells:)

__________________

John & Dana Ellison

Knoxville, TN, (Fort Mill, SC 10/13-1/15)

Full Timing Since October 2013

2014 Cedar Creek 38FL (Biscotti) 

'08 Super Duty F-350 2WD DRW Lariat Crew Cab Long Bed, 

18K Draw-Tite Hitch

 
Clay L


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  

There are a great many of us out here that have found no chemicals are necessary - just a fair amount of water when you flush. The waste systems are sealed except for the roof vents and if you have odor you have a problem that needs to be addressed.

__________________

Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (wife), Katie, Kelli (cats) Full timed for eleven years in a 2004 Sightseer 35N. Snowbirds for one winter and now settled down in CO.
sdman


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 117
Date:
Permalink  

X2 Clay L.  We have been FT for just over 15 months now and do not use chemicals, just a lot of water.  We have not had any odors so far.

Mark & Patty



__________________

Full Time Since August 4, 2012

2008 F-450 King Ranch 4x4 crew cab DRW

2013 Sanibel 3500 5er

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

Mark & Patty

Our Blog: http://markandpattyrv.blogspot.com/
el Rojo and Pam


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 911
Date:
Permalink  

Clay L wrote:

There are a great many of us out here that have found no chemicals are necessary - just a fair amount of water when you flush. The waste systems are sealed except for the roof vents and if you have odor you have a problem that needs to be addressed.

 Thanks for the tip, we'll have to try it.



__________________

Full timing since 2/27/14.

Silverado HD 3500 4X4 Dually.

Momentum 380 by Grand Design.
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Odor when Gray Tanks are open
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us