Grey Water Tank Odor

[BBBlue]

I have an issue I cannot resolve. When ever I dump the grey water tank, I get an initial blast of bad odor outside the unit. I cannot see any evidence of leakage under the unit or at dump hose connections. The odor subsides midway through the dump. Anyone have any ideas?? Could it be the vent?

[dannyabear]

The vent should have a vaccum on it when the tank is draining

[Kimber45]

Ive smelled grey water that was as bad as black. If you rinse a lot of food etc down sinks that can build up. Prob nothing wrong at all. Grey water is not exactly clean just because it's not the toilet. They do make some deodorizers and additives for grey tanks.

[BBBlue]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

Ive smelled grey water that was as bad as black. If you rinse a lot of food etc down sinks that can build up. Prob nothing wrong at all. Grey water is not exactly clean just because it's not the toilet. They do make some deodorizers and additives for grey tanks.

Don't have any tank odor problems inside the unit, only when initially dumping the tank. We do use the grey water treatment.

[oldcomputerwiz]

We also use the grey tank deodorizer to eliminate the smell during dumping. It works well for us.

[Kimber45]

P traps on drains are designed to stop gas/odor from venting into living area in RV or regular home. Maybe just smelling a build up in tank while initially draining?

[mailman6]

Most campground drainage systems are not the best in the world and poorly vented, thus you get the smell when dumping. A lot of the stubs where you hook up and not even glued in just stuck together or have been bumped and cracked below ground or if you are next to a vent in the park you will smell every time somebody on that line initially dumps. The higher end parks are usually better and some of the mid to lower ends are just plain terrible. Use lemon deodorizer and also run a little water thru sinks and bath after tanks are dumped before closing valve helps with odors helps tremendously.

[Comanchecreek]

fill the tank with water and throw a couple of the enzymatic holding tank packets in, and let it sit for a week. Enzymes will eat up the food particles and the bacteria in the tank. Pays to do it once or twice a season.

[5picker]

I'm just wondering what you could be smelling?

The system is 'closed' at the time of dump, meaning the sewer hose is securely connected to the dump port and the tank drain plumbing is not open to atmosphere. What 'initial blast' could there be to smell?

Unless you were standing directly over the campground's sewer connection you shouldn't smell anything. Even then, most codes require a foam gasket or screw in connection so you really shouldn't smell anything there either.

[Flybob]

If I understand you correctly the smell is outside and only when dumping. When you dump into the dump station, the air in the underground tank must go somewhere. If the tank has a good vent, it will exit the vent if not it will exit around the hose to in ground connection. It will slow down as you continue to dump as the flow usually slows after the initial out-rush.

[donanddona]

Concur with "Kimber45". I save coffee cans to wipe all pot, pans, and dishes. Since then our odor is 90% less. We had it so bad once when the wife emptied sink water it smelled bad. Additionally, you can pour Dawn dish soap straight down the drain for that transit to the campsite.

[robbdrell]

We dump some dome white vinegar down our drains probably one a week. We use it in black too. Got the tip from an old timer who had been camping for years. Works for us and cheep and a no so harsh approach to preventing and eliminating smells.

[Teaman]

Teaman here.

I had a similar problem when I bought my 2013 Sunseeker 2300 back in August. The coach would get overwhelmed with bad odor upon dumping the graywater tank. Also to a minor degree when taking a shower with the graywater outside drain valve closed.

Have seen a great improvement after using flat rubber sink stoppers to cover all drains in kitchen and bathroom during dumps. Also, found a huge air leak of bad odor coming thru the bathroom wall cutout where the sink drain went thru. This was under the bathroom sink cabinet. And when I plugged up the gap around the pipe and the wall cutout, all bad odor from outside stopped entering the coach. I think there must have been some sort of vent near the graywater tank whick leaked bad odor underneath the unit during tank dumps.

[BBBlue]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I'm just wondering what you could be smelling?

The system is 'closed' at the time of dump, meaning the sewer hose is securely connected to the dump port and the tank drain plumbing is not open to atmosphere. What 'initial blast' could there be to smell?

Unless you were standing directly over the campground's sewer connection you shouldn't smell anything. Even then, most codes require a foam gasket or screw in connection so you really shouldn't smell anything there either.

Exactly my thought. No leaks from the tank or hose connections, but I get a blast of stink for about 45 seconds when dumping the tank. No smell at all in RV. I guess I should check to see where the unground vent is. That could be the culprit.

[5picker]

What is an unground vent?

[Tom48]

When I sanitized the fresh water system in our old tt, it used 100 gallons two or three times. I ran a lot of that water through the holding tanks then ran my "clean" tanks on to the ground ( we are in an ag area) so no harm ----I thought, until I got a whiff. I had always noticed the odor when dumping, but blamed the dump station. There must have been a lot of food stuff rotting in that gray tank..What we think are clean tanks still STINK. FINALLY I FILLED the gray, which smelled the worst of the two, with a strong solution of bleach water. Soaked it like sanitizing fw tank then started to avoid putting too much food scum down the sink. Problem of gray tank odor solved.

[rockfordroo]

My DW won't let any food down the drain. All pots, pans and plates get wiped off with a paper towel before they get washed in the sink. There's "some" food remaining, of course, but not very much.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

My DW won't let any food down the drain. All pots, pans and plates get wiped off with a paper towel before they get washed in the sink. There's "some" food remaining, of course, but not very much.

Sounds like your DW is a smart Lady !!!

[jeff64]

Are you using any kind of strainers in your sinks to keep particles of food out of the tank?

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-42273-Assorted-Shower-Strainers/.../B000T9YO5E

[BBBlue]

Originally Posted by jeff64

Are you using any kind of strainers in your sinks to keep particles of food out of the tank?

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-42273-Assorted-Shower-Strainers/.../B000T9YO5E

Just the strainer that comes with the sink stopper. We wipe down most of the residues on plates and cooking material.