Tank Odor

[Curt Sprenger]

The Bird sometimes has tank odor, and other times no tank odor inside of
the coach. Before departing, I always make sure the kitchen sink and
shower p-traps have water in them as well as a deodorizer treatment, the
toilet has water in it above the flapper level, and the roof vents are
closed. Seems strange that sometimes the odor is present and other times
no odor. What else should I check for?

--
Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.

[rogerwwebb]

Check for Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell) from a bad battery. After the
coach sits, the smell may be in accumulating in the battery compartment, if so,
look for bad battery.

Happened to me and to another BB owner I know.

Roger Webb

91 WLWB

Cedar Rapids, IA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> The Bird sometimes has tank odor, and other times no tank odor inside of
> the coach. Before departing, I always make sure the kitchen sink and
> shower p-traps have water in them as well as a deodorizer treatment, the
> toilet has water in it above the flapper level, and the roof vents are
> closed. Seems strange that sometimes the odor is present and other times
> no odor. What else should I check for?
>
> --
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>

[Curt Sprenger]

Roger,
Thank you for your suggestion. I topped up the batteries a month ago and
no smell at the batteries at that time. But I will be sure to check. How
does that smell get inside of the coach?

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.



rogerwwebb wrote:

>
> Check for Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell) from a bad battery.
> After the coach sits, the smell may be in accumulating in the battery
> compartment, if so, look for bad battery.
>
> Happened to me and to another BB owner I know.
>
> Roger Webb
>
> 91 WLWB
>
> Cedar Rapids, IA
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
> wrote:
> >
> > The Bird sometimes has tank odor, and other times no tank odor
> inside of
> > the coach. Before departing, I always make sure the kitchen sink and
> > shower p-traps have water in them as well as a deodorizer treatment,
> the
> > toilet has water in it above the flapper level, and the roof vents are
> > closed. Seems strange that sometimes the odor is present and other
> times
> > no odor. What else should I check for?
> >
> > --
> > Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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[rogerwwebb]

I don't know how it got inside the coach, however, my coach is not air tight.
Hydrogen Sulfide is a strong oder often found in some well water and in sewer
gases. It will be quite obvious if it is coming from a battery as soon as you
open the compartment and stick your nose in. If you don't smell it then, it
probably isn't the battery.

Roger Webb

91WBWL

Cedar Rapids, IA



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> The Bird sometimes has tank odor, and other times no tank odor inside of
> the coach. Before departing, I always make sure the kitchen sink and
> shower p-traps have water in them as well as a deodorizer treatment, the
> toilet has water in it above the flapper level, and the roof vents are
> closed. Seems strange that sometimes the odor is present and other times
> no odor. What else should I check for?
>
> --
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>

[Curt Sprenger]

Ok, thanks, good to know. I'll open the side cover near the batteries. I
usually open the rear cover first so maybe I'm allowing a cross breeze
to move the smell out of the compartment.

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.



rogerwwebb wrote:

>
> I don't know how it got inside the coach, however, my coach is not air
> tight. Hydrogen Sulfide is a strong oder often found in some well
> water and in sewer gases. It will be quite obvious if it is coming
> from a battery as soon as you open the compartment and stick your nose
> in. If you don't smell it then, it probably isn't the battery.
>
> Roger Webb
>
> 91WBWL
>
> Cedar Rapids, IA
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
> wrote:
> >
> > The Bird sometimes has tank odor, and other times no tank odor
> inside of
> > the coach. Before departing, I always make sure the kitchen sink and
> > shower p-traps have water in them as well as a deodorizer treatment,
> the
> > toilet has water in it above the flapper level, and the roof vents are
> > closed. Seems strange that sometimes the odor is present and other
> times
> > no odor. What else should I check for?
> >
> > --
> > Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> SPONSORED LINKS
> Recreational vehicles
>
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Recr...vehic\
les&w2=Wanderlodge&w3=Automotive+maintenance&w4=Recreational+vehicle+dealer&w5=U\
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[trvlngnrs]

> The Bird sometimes has tank odor, and other times no tank odor
inside of the coach.

Curt, I don't know if BB uses the valves, but Newmar has valves in the
bathroom, under the sink that can stick open and allow the holding
tank odor in the rig. Here are some posts reagrding this valve from
the Newmarowners forum on Yahoo.
Steve Harrie
St. George, UT

Subject: Re: Strange White Undersink Valve in Water Lines/Smells
>The valve is behind the drawers, located quite high, and installed
between two lines which have the same appearance as water lines.
There are two pipes and there is a directional flow arrow on one valve
fitting. The gravity weighted one-way valve inside appears to restrict
flow to the bottom fitting, but not the side fitting. The side
fitting appears to be vented to open air through the top of the valve.
I also noticed that the valve has some markings: 110 degrees F & 125 PSI.

What you are calling the very strange looking valve is the anti back
flow valve in the line that goes to your black water tank flush
system. It keeps stuff from backing up to the connector where you
attach your hose to flush your black water tank.

I have replaced my valve twice. If it sticks open you get a terrific
odor. Check message #30212 for a solution which has worked for me.

I too have been plagued by smells at one time or another. The
anti-siphon valve under the sink in the bathroom is for the black tank
rinse (I believe). I have checked and rechecked this valve. I have
removed it, bypassed it, and replaced it. All with no positive
results. I have determined that somehow I have a leak or improper
seal in one of the tanks that causes fumes to occur in the basement.
When I turn on the Fantastic Fan in the bath area. I can feel air
rushing in from under the sink cabinet. This air coming in is smelly!
I think eventually I will foam the area around the hoses and pipes
that penetrate the flooring and this will keep the smell in the
basement. The next step is to find the exact source of the smell.

There is a one way vent under the sink, which is called a vacumn
breaker, I believe. It breaks the vacumn caused by water rushing out
of the sink and allows the sink trap to retain water, for odor control
purposes. I tried taping the vent shut, and filling the trap with
water prior to moving, but that didn't seem to help.

1. The valve under the lavy sink is for the black tank. 2. You have a
mechanical vent by each sink drain line. It unscrews and is 1 1/2 inch
diameter. These can be covered or wrapped with a ziplock bag and
secured with a rubber band. 3. The location of the roof vent does not
make a difference. The refer is sealed from the inside. 4 If you have
any roof vent open while traveling and one of these vents is close to
the gray roof vent you may have pulled in the odor since you have a
vacumm in any RV while traveling. Unless you open some windows and
equalize the pressure. Make sure the washer dryer prep drain pipe has
water in the P-trap. Put water down the tube and then seal to top.
Brent

Subject: DSDP '01--Odor under bathroom vanity
The drain line for the washer and sink(that is at the bottom of the
cabinet) has a "valve" that seems designed to allow air to enter the
line to expedite drainage when the washer empties. Air enters the
line through a rubber diaphram which I think is designed to allow
airflow in only one direction. The problem is that we seem to be
getting gray water odors that that backup into the vanity.

I was in a location where I couldn't easily get another valve, and I
managed to get mine to work again. The valve is a combination
anti-siphon air inlet and one-way sewer flush water valve. The
one-way valve can get stuck if you run water quickly into the valve.
We did this when we flushed our black tank using one of the campground
water valves that has a handle you lift (they're used in areas that
freeze). Lifting the handle instantly turns the water on, and
initially air is in the hose, and the air can travel quickly through
the small Newmar valve. When the water hits the valve there is a lot
of momentum, and the one-way water part of the valve can travel
further than it is designed to travel, and get stuck. After we got
ours unstuck, I've only turned the sewer flush water on slowly, and
haven't had a problem since. -- Daryl Daughters

I think the valve is called a "vacuum break valve". Lets air in but not
out when it is not stuck or broken. Lowes, Home Depot would have them.
Works on the same principle as a straw full of water with you finger
over the end. The water fill not drain out until you remove your
finger, thus breaking the vacuum. Also, before I blamed the under sink
vacuum valve I would go to the roof and check the air vent. The roof
air vent may be blocked thus forcing gasses out the vacuum breaker
valve. You can just take a water hose on the roof and run water down
the air vent. It goes directly in the holding tank. Tom Nagy

Does the sewage odor only appear after you have driven down the road
for several hour? Does it abate after you have sat in a campground
for several days? If you answer yes to the above questions it is most
likely the anti-siphon/backflow prevention valve in the black tank
cleaning system. Usually you will have to remove the drawers to see
this valve. There are two valves under the sink. The first one that
you mentioned is an anti-siphon valve that, usually sits on top of a
short riser, on the drain line from the sink. You can isolate this
valve by either removing it and replacing it with a solid cap or the
easier and cheaper method is to wrap it in Saran Wrap and either
rubber band or tape the bottom around the riser pipe. If this does not
eliminate the problem then most likely it is the anti-siphon/backflow
prevention valve in the black tank cleaning system. I don't know which
anti-siphon/backflow prevention valve that you have in the black tank
cleaning system. If it brass with a, most likely, gray fitting coming
out of it horizontally then what you need to replace is that little
gray valve. They can also be repaired. The problem is, like Daryl
mentioned, due to a large rush of water/air there is a little o-ring
that gets moved out of position. If you unscrew the valve. Take a
small rod and insert it in one end of the valve. Then push and open
the valve. While holding it open use a tooth pick or somethin similar
and reseat the o-ring underneath the little plunger. Put it back
together and you should be off and running.
If the anti-siphon/backflow prevention valve is one piece I cannot help
you. But I would suggest removing it and looking in the horizantal
attachment end and see if it would appear as describe above and maybe
you can fix it.

[martingregg598]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>Curt, I have a 95 BMC that had sewer smell at times, after a close
examination of the plumbing system I found that the problem was that
at the factory they put the penetration thought the roof and then
the vent pipe through and then the vac-u-vent, they never sealed the
pipe to the roof. So every time there was any kind of a inversion in
weather the sewer gas would go up the pipe and come back down in the
coach. I removed the vac-u-vent covers and sealed the pipe to the
roof with RTV and put on new vent covers, problem solved. It's hard
for me to believe that the two previous owners never got it fixed.

> The Bird sometimes has tank odor, and other times no tank odor
inside of
> the coach. Before departing, I always make sure the kitchen sink
and
> shower p-traps have water in them as well as a deodorizer
treatment, the
> toilet has water in it above the flapper level, and the roof vents
are
> closed. Seems strange that sometimes the odor is present and other
times
> no odor. What else should I check for?
>
> --
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>

[Jeff Miller]

If the flapper is closed, holding water above it, the most likely
culprit as has been mentioned is the gasket/seal between the toilet and
the floor/pipe. Many leak, stinks when there is a negative in the coach
(front windows are worst for creating negative pressure), otherwise go
unnoticed until the unfortunate overfilling of the blackwater tank.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI

[Curt Sprenger]

Our toilet has the air pressure assist for pushing the contents
over/down to the holding tank. Would this still apply?

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.



Jeff Miller wrote:

> If the flapper is closed, holding water above it, the most likely
> culprit as has been mentioned is the gasket/seal between the toilet and
> the floor/pipe. Many leak, stinks when there is a negative in the coach
> (front windows are worst for creating negative pressure), otherwise go
> unnoticed until the unfortunate overfilling of the blackwater tank.
>
> - Jeff Miller
> in Holland, MI
>
>
>
>
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[g_man1146]

Hi Curt,
Is your toilet a Microphor air unit? The Microphor air toilet has a
hopper below the bowl that collects the contents of the flush, then,
after the flapper closes, air pressure is applied to this hopper and
the contents are pushed down through a 1 1/2" pipe. On these, there
is no floor pipe in the fashion of an electric Microphor or other
straight drop type toilet. The 1 1/2" pipe may still be a source of
a leak where it connects to the hopper. Most connect at the rear of
the hopper and the connection is visible by removing the lid at the
back of the toilet and looking with a flashlight. Some also connect
at the bottom and will be harder to see. These toilets are designed
for use where a straight drop direct to the tank is not possible due
to floorplan design and tank location. Air pressure is necessary to
keep the clean water, after a flush, in the bowl but if air is
depleted and it leaks into the hopper, this clean water should still
prevent odors from entering through the toilet. Here is a link that
will let you download Microphor installation and service manuals.

http://www.microphor.com/html/2quart-rec.html

Rich D. '99LXi43' CT


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> Our toilet has the air pressure assist for pushing the contents
> over/down to the holding tank. Would this still apply?
>
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
>
>
> Jeff Miller wrote:
>
> > If the flapper is closed, holding water above it, the most likely
> > culprit as has been mentioned is the gasket/seal between the
toilet and
> > the floor/pipe. Many leak, stinks when there is a negative in
the coach
> > (front windows are worst for creating negative pressure),
otherwise go
> > unnoticed until the unfortunate overfilling of the blackwater
tank.
> >
> > - Jeff Miller
> > in Holland, MI
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
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