Light sewer smell behind toilet

Dotsos · 09-25-2020, 05:44 PM

Doing my recent trip noticed a little sewer smell behind toilet in bathroom after a couple days at camp site. Using FHU so emptied tank and fully flushed it out, but smell still there. Don't see any leaks outside or inside. Connectors to toilet appear tight. This is a 2020 2104S Rockwood MiniLite.
Any ideas?

Scrapper · 09-25-2020, 07:14 PM

The plastic Dometic Model 300 toilets are notorious for leaking between the bowl and base. The bowl leaks into the base. Call Dometic and upgrade to a 310 or 320 china toilet. The problem has been going on for years and it's a shame Dometic is still making a toilet that always leaks.

chriscowles · 09-25-2020, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotsos

Doing my recent trip noticed a little sewer smell behind toilet ...

Wait 'til it ripens. It won't be "a little."

Dotsos · 09-25-2020, 07:37 PM

Scrapper, do you mean it actually leaks onto the bathroom floor? If so, we don't have that issue. Or is it "silent but deadly"

chriscowles · 09-25-2020, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrapper

... Call Dometic and upgrade to a 310 or 320 china toilet. ...

Don't upgrade to a 320 unless you know it fits. I have a 310 coming as a replacement for my 300 but haven't received or installed it yet. From diagrams I've seen, the clearance of a 310 from the wall behind it matches the 300. That is not true of a 320, which requires more space, and for which the outlet offset from the wall differs similarly.

Also, I started the process by waiting on hold for an hour with Dometic, only to be told I had to go to a "service center" for replacement. I did that by way of a phone call to RV Wholesalers, where I bought my trailer. (I live outside Ohio.) They've arranged for one to be shipped to my home. I'll install it myself, which I prefer for timeliness and hassle reasons.

Reverse_snowbird · 09-25-2020, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotsos

Scrapper, do you mean it actually leaks onto the bathroom floor? If so, we don't have that issue. Or is it "silent but deadly"

He means that some of the urine is retained inside the toilet itself. Is that the toilet that you have? The problem is specific to the toilet model.

Dotsos · 09-25-2020, 08:18 PM

Great info. Thanks

Scrapper · 09-25-2020, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotsos

Scrapper, do you mean it actually leaks onto the bathroom floor? If so, we don't have that issue. Or is it "silent but deadly"

No, the leak is between the bowl and the base. Because of the way the two pieces join together waste water stays inside the base. As far as I have read on this forum is there is a dish-like lip surrounding the neck for the bowl that fills up then the excess runs down into the opening to the black tank. There is a post where someone took a photo showing where the problem lies and where the waste water gathers.

Look under the toilet on the back half for a sticker with the model number, if yours is the 300 model (plastic bowl, plastic base) then the problem is well documented on the forum. If you have a 310 (china, round bowl) or a 320 (china, oval bowl) then most likely someone keeps missing the target.

DW keeps asking why we need a nightlight in the bathroom at home and the TT.
I tell her, "I'm not afraid of the dark".

Dotsos · 09-25-2020, 11:33 PM

Thanks Scrapper for the follow-up info. This is very helpful and pretty sure it is the 300, but will confirm.
Looks like a trip to the RV repair shop. Love the night lights, too. 😀

Also, Chris C. appreciate your info on which model to replace it with.

chriscowles · 09-26-2020, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotsos

... pretty sure it is the 300, but will confirm. ...

Because of the position of the sticker, the only way to see it is with mirror or using a smartphone in selfie mode. I had to adjust the selfie setting so it didn't appear as a mirror image.

I was told I'll need to peel off the label and return it to the dealer as part of the warranty repair. I won't have to do that until I replace the toilet.

Dotsos · 09-26-2020, 01:32 PM

Good to know. Thanks

dmctlc · 09-26-2020, 02:25 PM

Just curious is the dealer you bought it from close by? Call the service manager tell him what you know after you verify the model and see if they'll do all the work for you including covering the cost of replacing that piece of junk with a better model. Just a thought!

cariboo camper · 09-26-2020, 02:55 PM

Replaced our 300 with a 310, smell went away. In the meantime try mixing some soap and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray around base. Helps greatly in keeping the smell under control. Seemed to be the only thing that helps.

Dotsos · 09-26-2020, 02:59 PM

Thanks, did that call to dealer this morning. Have appointment to install upgraded one under warranty. Just don't understand, since it's a long term known problem, why Dometic continues to install this cheaper, bad product, since they then are frequently replacing them under warranty??

5picker · 09-26-2020, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotsos

Thanks, did that call to dealer this morning. Have appointment to install upgraded one under warranty. Just don't understand, since it's a long term known problem, why Dometic continues to install this cheaper, bad product, since they then are frequently replacing them under warranty??

Dometic doesn't install them, Forest River does.

dmctlc · 09-26-2020, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotsos

Thanks, did that call to dealer this morning. Have appointment to install upgraded one under warranty. Just don't understand, since it's a long term known problem, why Dometic continues to install this cheaper, bad product, since they then are frequently replacing them under warranty??

Glad you called the dealer and they're going to dot he swap.
Thanks for the update.

TGO Bill · 09-26-2020, 04:07 PM

I used to get that. What I did was open the toilet with the foot flush and take a garden hose and clean it real good in side. Works like a champ. No more smell. I think I will alway do that occasionally in the future

TGO Bill · 09-26-2020, 04:17 PM

I forgot to add to my post that you could/should use a spray cleaner to help clean it up in there

Scrapper · 09-26-2020, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Dometic doesn't install them, Forest River does.

The real question should be "Why does Dometic still make this flawed, crappy toilet after all the replacements they had to supply?"

Qwkynuf · 09-26-2020, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrapper

The real question should be "Why does Dometic still make this flawed, crappy toilet after all the replacements they had to supply?"

Sounds like a lot of the time, they are actually *selling* replacements (upgrades), and at $75, probably making a little bit of profit on them, too! So they sell the original 300 to the manufacturer, and then sell the upgraded 310 to the consumer - sounds like a win/win.

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