- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 5 years, 10 months ago by
CLOC-Admin.
CLOC-Admin.- Topic
- CLOC-AdminPosted: 2:55 PM – Dec 22, 2016We have a ’14 model LS38RS and are experiencing an odor from the black tank after only 3 or 4 days of camping since the last dump. Emptying the tank solves the problem & there is no odor for a few more days. We use Pure Power for our sewer chemical (enzyme based) and have had very good luck with this product in previous rigs. I am certain that the tank isn’t near being completely full based on our experiences with other rigs.
I am wondering what could be the cause & what might be the fix for this odor. Here is what happens when I empty the black tank. I can hear bubbling from inside the tank. I can also see the bubbling effect in the clear plastic joint between the drain hook up on the rig & the sewer hose. After the tank has drained some & the level comes down a bit this bubbling goes away & the tank drains normally for the rest of the procedure. This , to me, indicates that the tank is not properly vented. I am wondering if the pipe for the black tank vent that vents the tank through the roof may extend too far down into the tank. If this vent pipe goes down below the water level in the tank that would account for the bubbling & would also explain why the bubbling stops after the tank level has dropped a bit.
I have two questions: (1) Is it possible that inadequate ventilation in the tank is affecting or even killing the enzymes in the Pure Power causing the odor and (2) Is there a possible easy fix for this if my quess has merit?
One more question. Could it be caused by something else?
Please give me your thoughts, opinions, guesses, ideas or whatever.
Thanks in advance for ypor help in this matter.
WarrenPosted: 3:45 PM – Dec 22, 2016Sounds like the vent that goes up through the roof my be clogged ………RichPosted: 4:11 PM – Dec 22, 2016I, too, suspect the vent pipe. If it is to far down into the tank, once the tank contents level touches the bottom of the vent pipe, its venting properties become nil.
I had the same issue on the Cameo but traded it for he LS before I addressed it. I experienced the same thing on the LS when the tanks topped out. I checked the length of the vent pipe and was only able to cut off about an inch or a little more. Since the tanks are not much more than 6 inches deep, an inch does make a difference.
Finally, the vent in the basement for the shower p-trap and the one under the sink could be malfunctioning and allowing sewer gases to escape. I replaced them with a slighter better version available at big box home stores that has a spring diaphragm instead of the gravity type installed by the factory. Hope this helps.Posted: 6:08 AM – Dec 23, 2016I ended up replacing all three of the p-trap vents with high quality replacements. I was getting a odor from the kitchen sink, so if I was going thru the effort to replace them, I wanted high quality replacements…..RichPosted: 8:08 AM – Dec 23, 2016subframe wrote:I ended up replacing all three of the p-trap vents with high quality replacements. I was getting a odor from the kitchen sink, so if I was going thru the effort to replace them, I wanted high quality replacements…..RichRich,
Where did you get your parts from?
NatePosted: 9:57 AM – Dec 23, 2016Warthog…..I got them from Lowe’s ….In the plumbing dept. ……Got the best ones $26 apiece….The kitchen one and the shower one were a PITA to get to. So, hopefully I won’t have to replace them again…Getting to old for squeezing into tight places!!!!…. RichPosted: 10:37 AM – Dec 24, 2016My vent pipe is pretty well attached at the roof. I don’t think it could slide into the tank. Maybe your vent is clogged. You can spray a hose down the vent. Also try dumping several gallons of hot water down the toilet to clear any possible build up.Posted: 11:58 AM – Dec 24, 2016JoeLifestyle wrote:My vent pipe is pretty well attached at the roof. I don’t think it could slide into the tank. Maybe your vent is clogged. You can spray a hose down the vent. Also try dumping several gallons of hot water down the toilet to clear any possible build up.While the vent pipe may secured at the roof opening and of adequate length, it still could be too far down into the holding tank. If so, its venting properties are reduced once the contents cover the bottom of the pipe.
Posted: 4:51 PM – Dec 31, 2016If the vent pipe is blocked, you will have a “burping” action in the toilet when it is flushed. The air trapped in the system has to escape somehow when the toilet is flushed. I solved our odor problem by making sure the tank is flushed well each time I dump. I run the flush water while the valve is open and then l fill the tank about 1/3 full. I let that set about 5 minutes then flush again. That seems to take care of any build up. Good luck.
RayPosted: 6:47 AM – Jan 30, 2017Thanks for all the good responses. I am now convinced that my guess about the vent pipe extending too far down into the black tank are correct. The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be an easy fix for this, but it shouldn’t be a big deal to just live with the problem as long as we are able to dump regularly.
Everyone here should check out my article, ” How to Maintain and Operate Your Black Water System” which is published on http://www.thisoldcampsite.com & let me know what you think. Check out my other articles as well.
Thanks again.Posted: 6:51 PM – Jan 30, 2017If you can get to the tank vent pipe inlets, its not that hard. I did it to the LS. Mark the pipe at the tank top, cut the pipe, pull it out. Measure the distance from the mark you made on the pipe to the end that was in the tank. Measure the distance from the top of the tank flange the to bottom of the tank flange. The difference in the 2 measurements is how much you can cut off. Use a slip union to connect the pipe cut back together then seal the ends. As I mentioned, with a tank depth of sometimes only 6 or 7 inches, an inch will make a difference.B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.