Sewer (Holding Tank) Odor

Due to a relative temporarily living in our RV, we didn't notice the holding tank was FULL, she didn't know where the smell was coming from, so I was wondering if anyone has had this to happen. We have emptied and flushed lots of times and have added the chemicals to the tank, so my question is does anyone know how to get the odor out of the stool? Everytime we flush the smell is in your face again, so any solutions would be appreciated,thanks in advance.

Comments for
Sewer (Holding Tank) Odor

Click here to add your own comments

Dec 31, 2010

Stinky Job
by: Anonymous

One possibility that came immediately to mind -- are you sure the vent from the holding tank is clear so methane and other gases are exhausted via the vent, rather than the stool? With an empty tank, you can insert a hose and run water down the vent. If there is tissue of flotsam stuck at the holding tank junction, the weight of the water will clear out the plug, usually. This is also a great way to discover if the manufacturer took a short cut and failed to glue the vent pipe...

If that doesn't solve it, it may require a pressure washer to clean the top of the tank off. Fabricate a cleaning wand from 3/8" copper tubing and the appropriate fittings into a "J" shape. Purchase a new flange seal at the local RV store for your unit. Remove the stool (just two or four flange screws and a water connection, usually). Using either the built-in pressure regulator or a ball valve installed ahead of the pressure hose before the wand, set the pressure to a low setting - no more than 80 PSI. Don eye protection. Carefully insert wand through the flange into the tank, wrap a beach towel around the wand to keep "blow-back" to a minimum and have your assistant turn on the pressure washer. Scrub the tank top as best you can. Swap out the bent wand for the regular nozzle and clean the sides and bottom. Clean up yourself, reinstall the stool with the new flange, dump tanks and install the desired chemicals. You may be surprised just how much crap (literally) you dislodged with this cleaning...

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to RV Q and A

Return to Full Time RVing Home Page