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MOTORHOME ODOR JOHN H 8-25-01  
I have a 84 winnie chieftain. When we are in transit, there is a foul odor which appears to come from the rear bath area. This is not improved by putting deodorizer tablets in the sewer tank. It doesnt occur when parked. I have checked the vent on the roof and it does not appear to be blocked. Do I need to do something different? Is this a common problem? I tried to keep a small quantity of water in the toilet but there must be a slow leak in the valve because the water is only kept for a few minutes in the top before it disappears through the valve (dump valve) below. Any ideas??
Re: MOTORHOME ODOR SHANNON 8-10-04  
We are new to the RV world, and we made a mistake during our first trip. We used the wrong toilet paper, and now we have a toilet paper back up. How do we fix the plug up?
Re: That smell! FAST FRED 8-25-01  
Poisoning the stuff in your black tank only raises the cost of camping , as the stuff that kills the smell ,also kills the septic field wherever you dump.

All campers get stuck in higher over night fees from this.

Its simple , sewage stinks, always will.

To not smell it you have water traps under the sinks and the wet spot in the toilet is the toilets seal.

After you dump , be sure to run 2 cups of water in any sink and
be sure to refill the tiolet bowl , another cup of water.

IF the toilet looses the "wet spot" its usually to calcium buildup from hard water , or paper build up from somone closing the seal with paper still moving.

Clean it out at the seal lip with a house hold product {limeaway or similar} and it should hold water.

IT MUST hold water not to stink.

If everything holds water , the toilet seal , and various J traps the coach will smell like.... well like NOTHING .

Just what we all want.

FAST FRED
Re: That smell! JOHN HERBERT 8-28-01  
Dear Fast Fred, thanks for your help. I will try keeping the "traps" and "wet spot" filled. The camper is in storage after a trip two weeks ago and we will be taking it out this weekend. I had not even thought of the sinks being part of the solution, but I think it's the toilet not being able to hold it's "water". I read in my manual for the motorhome that some household cleaners can do damage to the toilet "system". Is "lime away" one of those you've found "safe"? Appreciate your help already.

John H.


Poisoning the stuff in your black tank only raises the cost of camping , as the stuff that kills the smell ,also kills the septic field wherever you dump.

All campers get stuck in higher over night fees from this.

Its simple , sewage stinks, always will.

To not smell it you have water traps under the sinks and the wet spot in the toilet is the toilets seal.

After you dump , be sure to run 2 cups of water in any sink and
be sure to refill the tiolet bowl , another cup of water.

IF the toilet looses the "wet spot" its usually to calcium buildup from hard water , or paper build up from somone closing the seal with paper still moving.

Clean it out at the seal lip with a house hold product {limeaway or similar} and it should hold water.

IT MUST hold water not to stink.

If everything holds water , the toilet seal , and various J traps the coach will smell like.... well like NOTHING .

Just what we all want.

FAST FRED
Re: That smell! FAST FRED 8-29-01  
No problem so far with lime away.

Also be sure to check for paper stuck in area that seals bowl.

GROSS but needed.

FAST FRED
Re: That smell! Montana Eddie 9-5-01  
No problem so far with lime away.

Also be sure to check for paper stuck in area that seals bowl.

GROSS but needed.

FAST FRED

You might want to consider something else. Does it smell anything like gasoline? The fill and vent lines for the Auxiliary Gas Tank go right over the top of your black water holding tank, under the bathroom. If you have long enough arms, you might see if you can reach up into the hose cavity(from under the coach) and check to see that the hose connections are all tight.. It ain't easy.
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