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sewer odor from shower while parked

Yahoo Message Number: 76476
I've read many of the post on sewer odor but my problem is slightly different. We get a strong sewer odor from the shower drain while parked. We can reduce the odor significantly by covering up the shower drain. I've made sure the p trap is full and we leave the gray water drain open all the time while parked. I've looked at the underside of the shower floor area and can see no evidence of leakage ( I suspected a leak that had caused the plywood floor to rot). There is no odor from the washer area which is adjacent to the shower. We don't have any problem when driving as many of you have. Could there be clogged vent for the shower drain? How would I check? I have an access hole to inspect the black and gray tanks and noticed dried scum in the gray water tank. I will try cleaning the gray water tank with Borax as someone suggested. What puzzles me is how the sewer gas is getting past the shower P trap. Could there be some problem in the trap that allows the water to drain out of the trap? Thanks for all your suggestions.

Mike Hergenrather
#10313

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76478
"We leave the gray water drain open all the time while parked".

Me-thinks you just found the cause.

Jim

07 Allure #31570

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76481
Mike: Try leaving both drains closed while parked. When near full empty black tank first then grey tank then close both again. When you get ready to travel dump a cup of calgon in each tank with about a gallon of water, and that should clean the scum from the tanks. There are more complicated concoctions but this works for me. No odors. Barrie Boas 94 Concept 5111

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76482
Barrie,

Is there a liquid form of Calgon or are you using a cup of dry calgon beads?

Jock Vargo
51428

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76484
JOCK: More like flakes! This stuff is really slippery and cleans the inside of the tank going down the road. Been using it for 7 years with no problems. I buy it at wal mart or wallgreens and it comes in a box like cereal. Barrie Boas 94 Concept 5111

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76485
Jock/Barry,

Calgon also makes a liquid though hard to find. I use it in my mix.

George

'04 Inspre 51061

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76486
Calgon was recommended to me to use along with Tide granules to "clean" the black tank --- have been unable to locate Calgon in any form, anywhere...... suggestions? thank you
jan

06 Inspire DaVinci 51898

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76487
My wife thinks we found the liquid in a Walmart but not all stores have it. Look in any and all places that sell laundry detergents.

George

'04 Inspire 51061

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76489
I bought Calgon once at Walmart.

Larry

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76490
thank you so much!!!!
sure appreciate it
jan

06 Inspire DaVinci 51898

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76503
I purchased Liquid Calgon at Walmart. It was close to the fabric softner, but quickest way is to ask.
We have started using the Calgon/Tide & a little bit of Pinesol. Seems to be working great. No foul odor .

Chee Chee

2007 Tribute # 81042

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76506
Call me skeptical, but putting any cleaning product in the black tank in hopes of making odors go away is, in my opinion, a waste of money and probably toxic to the environment.
Of course, I only use my black tank to store strawberry ice cream. Maybe that's why there are never any odors.

If you have odors, you have an opening somewhere.
All the Calgon in the world isn't going to make the inside of your black tank smell pretty after you use it once.

How's that for a nice New Year's thought?

Jay

Inspiring

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76509
Hi Jay --- never thought of storing strawberry ice cream in the black tank.... hmmmm
Guess I never knew the black tank was refrigerated.........................

Its a great New Year's thought, Jay.......................... jan

From: Jay Williams

To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 7:00 PM Subject: RE: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Call me skeptical, but putting any cleaning product in the black tank in hopes of making odors go away is, in my opinion, a waste of money and probably toxic to the environment.
Of course, I only use my black tank to store strawberry ice cream. Maybe that's why there are never any odors.

If you have odors, you have an opening somewhere.
All the Calgon in the world isn't going to make the inside of your black tank smell pretty after you use it once.

How's that for a nice New Year's thought?

Jay

Inspiring

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76510
That's good to know, I won't be eating any strawberry ice cream at your place. By the way what do you do with your poop?

Chuck Penque

03 Intrigue 11673,

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76512
Jay,

The purpose of the Calgon is to clean the sludge out to reduce odors. It is not going to make it smell good, just not so bad. It is no more toxic than washing your cloth. Your story reminds me of the outhouse salesman who guarantied his outhouse would not stink. When someone complained he opened the door and said shoo wee, it does stink but you crapped in it!!!!!

Vick Welsh

99 intrigue 10714

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76516
Nice thought Jay but the chemicals are not being used to make the odors go away, they're used to keep from getting them.

If your tanks are clean, there will be no odors.
As to the environment, Calgon is used in many laundries, Pinesol in many homes, etc. None of these items is toxic in any way.
I've been using the GEO method for about six years now and am pleased with the results. Other than a time when one of the back valves (?) was broken, we are free of odors. By the way, I also use the mixture in my grey tank about once a month.

George

'04 Inspire 51061

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76585
What is the GEO method?

George James, WB5LDN
08 Affinity 6877
gjames@...

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76593
Good Morning -- is there anyway someone would take a moment and give me a procedure, suggestions, etc., for getting both my black and grey tanks nice and clean? I do hose out the black tank, but one of the other Country Coach owners here at the park, calls in a service that does a professional cleaning job of both tanks and told him to use Tide Granules and 1 cup Clorox in an empty tank just prior to hitting the road, then draining when arriving at a park..... any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.... thank you
jan

06 Inspire 51898 DaVinci

From: George James

To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, January 2, 2012 7:37 PM Subject: RE: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

What is the GEO method?

George James, WB5LDN
08 Affinity 6877
gjames@...

Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76595
Janice- go to the site that Walt recommended on the Geo system. Great information on the system and over the last two months- there is no odor and I quit using the purple stuff. I also add about 1/2 cup of pinesol with the mixture.

From: Janice Gould

To: "Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com" Sent: Tuesday, January 3, 2012 9:22 AM Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

Good Morning -- is there anyway someone would take a moment and give me a procedure, suggestions, etc., for getting both my black and grey tanks nice and clean? I do hose out the black tank, but one of the other Country Coach owners here at the park, calls in a service that does a professional cleaning job of both tanks and told him to use Tide Granules and 1 cup Clorox in an empty tank just prior to hitting the road, then draining when arriving at a park..... any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.... thank you
jan

06 Inspire 51898 DaVinci

From: George James

To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, January 2, 2012 7:37 PM Subject: RE: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: sewer odor from shower while parked

What is the GEO method?

George James, WB5LDN
08 Affinity 6877
gjames@...