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Bad smells

Yahoo Message Number: 70795
We have always had a bad smell when we go down the road. (Gray water not black water smell. I can smell the difference!).Although not always and then when we do get the smell it's only for the first 30 minutes or so. We have sealed up everything and I have replaced the 'breathers' on the plumbing under the vanity and kitchen sink. Although a pain it's not the end of the earth for us. Just one of those nuisances of RVing!
But we now have the smell while camped. (Not bad but it's there). This time, for the very first time ever, I have our sewage hose hooked up and the grey valve open. Something I never do. (I normally pack the hose away and pull it out, connect, dump and put it away each time I need to dump).
Question. Do you thinks it's possible for the negative pressure in the campground sewage system to suck the water out of our S traps?

Thanks.

Bruce 2001 Intrigue #11278

Re: Bad smells

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70796
Bruce: The chance of that happening is very remote, if not impossible. In fact, there is usually a flow of sewer gasses the other way from a sewer main - that's one of the reasons you have vents from your plumbing system to the roof of your motorhome.
A properly vented system will vent sewer gasses to atmosphere and allow air in to relieve any negative pressures which occur within your system.
I would be more concerned about excess sewer gas becoming a nuisance around the campsite if you stayed connected and open.
There can be pressure inversions which bring the gas down to the surrounding area.
Your traps should be p-traps, not s-traps. S-traps (no vent connected or connected in the wrong location) can lose their water when a fixture is drained.
If a vent gets plugged, the trap can operate like an s-trap and you could then lose water in the trap.
When you get the grey water smell, have you checked all of the traps to see if one might be dry?

Richard Owen

Re: Bad smells

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70797
One time after having a pumper come out to Quartzsite to empty our tanks we had this terrible stench from the grey water tank. I tried all day to chase it down. A neighbor said to put some water in the clothes washer drain trap and sure enough as soon as I did the stench quit. Have to access the back of the washer and put in a cup of water. ??

Rich O.

Re: Bad smells

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70798
Hey Bruce,

The only bad smells that we get (with good tank maintenance) is when that washer/dryer pipe gets dry. Run a load of laundry.

D Bradley

04 Intrigue #11830

Re: Bad smells

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70915
I use to have the same problem, until someone told me to put a venturi on the vent pipes on the roof. These can be purchased at most parts stores. I have put them on the last 4 Motorhomes that I have owned, and it solved the problem. Good luck....George