Smells (1 Viewer)

Mags52

Free Member
Jun 2, 2010
1,433
1,731
Melrose Scottish Borders
Funster No
11,895
MH
Hymer B774
Exp
Since 2010
We get a lot of smells from our wash room and I'm fed up with it! :Blush: The waste tank keeps belching smells up from the shower waste and I keep putting Fenwicks waste cleaner down it but it only lasts a couple of days. I rinsed the whole water system out with Milton a few weeks ago and that only lasted a short time too. Also, the loo gets smelly. We used bio washing liquid for months then in desperation I went back to blue liquid but it's still smelly! I bought a new toilet seat and holding tank from Thetford and I've steam cleaned everything.
We never had this problem in the caravan and I'm starting to wonder if there's a wee (literally) leak somewhere from the loo going down into the floor - the very idea gives me the creeps.
Could there be something nasty going on that we can't see or am I just being too fussy?
Any thoughts?
Mags
 
Jan 4, 2012
2,240
2,022
somerset
Funster No
19,320
MH
Fiat Ducato
Exp
A few years now
Check the black waste tank mounting frame .
The loo seal may have leaked over the old tank and run under the support frame :Eeek:-- and there it sits festering.
Spray some antibacterial sprays all around inside the Thetford:thumb:
 
Jun 10, 2011
464
361
Yorkshire (nr. Leeds)
Funster No
16,820
MH
C Class
Exp
Since 2011 (so a bit of a newbie)
If you drain the grey tank and flush some water through it, and then thoroughly clean the toilet unit, and then don't use anything for a week do you still have the smell?

I'm just thinking it computer bug detection terms and figure a full reboot might help you to start eliminating the cause.

If the smell does go completely during the week, or is much reduced, it might then be possible to just use the water and make do with campsite toilets for a day or two, to see if the smell returns. If it doesn't then it is safe to say it is a toilet issue. Bug detected :)

And if smell returns after reboot and just using water (i.e. before using toilet) then it is safe to say it is a waste water issue and not a toilet issue.
 

Terry

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 27, 2007
11,904
8,969
Lincolnshire
Funster No
1,075
MH
A class
Exp
Can't remember ;)
We get a lot of smells from our wash room and I'm fed up with it! :Blush: The waste tank keeps belching smells up from the shower waste and I keep putting Fenwicks waste cleaner down it but it only lasts a couple of days. I rinsed the whole water system out with Milton a few weeks ago and that only lasted a short time too. Also, the loo gets smelly. We used bio washing liquid for months then in desperation I went back to blue liquid but it's still smelly! I bought a new toilet seat and holding tank from Thetford and I've steam cleaned everything.
We never had this problem in the caravan and I'm starting to wonder if there's a wee (literally) leak somewhere from the loo going down into the floor - the very idea gives me the creeps.
Could there be something nasty going on that we can't see or am I just being too fussy?
Any thoughts?
Mags

Hi Mags can you make a bend in the waste pipe to make a u bend -smells do not go through water :winky:
terry
 

pappajohn

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 26, 2007
43,207
48,811
Dark side of the moon
Funster No
172
Exp
Since 2005
put the plug in the sink and a wet flannel over the shower drain.
thats the grey waste sorted.

if the seal on the cassette is in good order it cant leak or release odours.
if it is damaged it will leak liquid when being carried to the elsan point....unless you carry it flat in both hands.
only thing i can thing is at some point it has been overfilled and spilt into the cassette compartment...but that should be plastic and watertight anyway so easy to clean out..

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Mar 17, 2013
386
387
Devon
Funster No
25,130
MH
Carado T339
Exp
Since 2007
We always travel with the plugs in the kitchen and washroom sinks and use a egg cupful of bleach everytime we empty the grey waste tank - works for us. Sorry no idea about the toilet!
 
Apr 26, 2012
95
8
Dorset
Funster No
20,750
MH
A class
Exp
Newbie
Smelly washroom

We have a swift kontiki 18 months old we also are getting smells from the wash room. I cleaned under the toilet tank the smell did go away this was whilst in Italy recently but did return I wondered if it was the hot weather but not so sure ? :Sad:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

camocam1

Free Member
Aug 28, 2012
1,112
788
Elgin,Moray,Scotland
Funster No
22,620
MH
bailey approach 760 se
Exp
since 2012
Comment about the mouse is a possibility but is it dead
I had may still have one in the MH cleaned everything as smell was coming from the toilet cassette locker
MH was in today and they took the whole cassette out and I would never have believe how much mouse wee and poo was UNDER the cassette
The smell was terrible
 

Ed Excel

Free Member
Nov 27, 2012
870
547
Ribble Valley
Funster No
23,815
MH
Coach built
Exp
Started 2007
As far as water outlets are concerned, any traps in your waste systems will dry out very quickly in hot weather; the pipework used is pretty small and doesn't hold much water. You need to prime the traps on a very regular basis. Also, you could buy plugs for all the outlets.
 

rainbow chasers

Free Member
Oct 30, 2009
3,680
1,725
Mid Cornwall
Funster No
9,132
MH
Various
Exp
9
Used to get a similar problem every now and again in our old van. The sink and shower would smell - I did use a cheap drain cleaner (from poundland I think, on the basis that being it was cheap, would be weak and do the job eventually without damaging the pipes)

It actually worked very well, and would last for a good month or so before building up again. In the end I bit the bullet on a sunny day, got beneath and cleaned all the pipes and traps - they were clogged up to high heaven! Once they were cleared - never had a problem again, but did still occasionally blast some cleaner down!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Mags52

Mags52

Free Member
Jun 2, 2010
1,433
1,731
Melrose Scottish Borders
Funster No
11,895
MH
Hymer B774
Exp
Since 2010
After reading all the advice I gave the loo a massive clean out inside and out and the cassette locker then went out for the evening. Came back to a nasty drain smell so it's obviously the waste tank. When I'm feeling brave I'll get underneath to clean out the pipes but in the meantime will keep putting cleaning fluid down.
Thanks folks
M
 

peter marshall

Free Member
Mar 5, 2009
2,466
1,704
Cleveleys,Lancashire
Funster No
5,822
MH
Low Line
Exp
9 Years
Hi Mags
Try putting a couple of 2 ltr bottles of coke down the sinks with a drop of water, after a run should bring a lot of rubbish out of the tank. Pete :thumb:
 
Jan 25, 2013
1,083
22,720
Dorchester, Dorset, UK
Funster No
24,414
MH
Sad former owner
Exp
Since 1991
smelly tanks

Smelly tanks seem to be a recurring theme!


Broken Link Removed

Put to the test yesterday when I flushed out a whole lot of muck that had been washed down the kitchen sink by my family when they borrowed it for a family festival recently! I really blessed this modification I made!!
 
Jan 25, 2013
1,083
22,720
Dorchester, Dorset, UK
Funster No
24,414
MH
Sad former owner
Exp
Since 1991
smelly tanks

Smelly tanks seem to be a recurring theme!


Broken Link Removed

Put to the test yesterday when I flushed out a whole lot of muck that had been washed down the kitchen sink by my family when they borrowed it for a family festival recently! I really blessed this modification I made!!
 

Snowbird

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 24, 2009
11,818
22,345
Liverpool.
Funster No
6,422
MH
Fifth wheel.
Exp
Since 11-05-2000
It cant be coming from the grey tank. I have read loads of posts on here that grey water is clean and does not smell :Doh:. It has to be a toilet issue :Smile:.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Mags52

Mags52

Free Member
Jun 2, 2010
1,433
1,731
Melrose Scottish Borders
Funster No
11,895
MH
Hymer B774
Exp
Since 2010
LOL Snowbird - but it is the tank. :Smile:
I'm going to try the coke option next, thanks Peter. I assume cheap coke works just as well... does it have to be the sugary stuff?
 

Terry

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 27, 2007
11,904
8,969
Lincolnshire
Funster No
1,075
MH
A class
Exp
Can't remember ;)
OK SO if it's a loo issue leave about an inch or two of water in the loo basin -if it's still there after a day then you have illiminated the loo,and established the seal is good ::bigsmile:
terry
 

Terry

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 27, 2007
11,904
8,969
Lincolnshire
Funster No
1,075
MH
A class
Exp
Can't remember ;)
LOL Snowbird - but it is the tank. :Smile:
I'm going to try the coke option next, thanks Peter. I assume cheap coke works just as well... does it have to be the sugary stuff?

Any fizzy pop does the same :winky:
terry
 
Oct 29, 2012
887
1,043
essex
Funster No
23,489
MH
Rapido 9090df
Exp
20 years (unless you count my dads VW which makes it 52 years with a few gaps!!)
not if you have drunk it first:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 

rainbow chasers

Free Member
Oct 30, 2009
3,680
1,725
Mid Cornwall
Funster No
9,132
MH
Various
Exp
9
Don't forget to clean the pipes out first! The pipes and traps are the things that block first. Clear those, and then do the fizz - make sure it isn't diet version though! Has to be full fat (Phospheric acid)

Incidentally, you can treat rust with it too!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top