Terrible smell :( Forums

asprn

Always a delicate subject, but I'll act like I'm grown up & tell it like it is, in the hope that everyone else will too.

We've been full-time for the past 2 months and will continue to be for the next 3 until our house building works are finished. We've got mains water hook-up, direct-dump grey waste (via 3" slinky) and a top-quality macerator for the black waste into a septic tank. We have access to the house toilet which we 99% use for solids disposal, and 99% use the van loo for No. 1s. Rolling Eyes

Last week, the black waste suddenly starting smelling terribly from the toilet, reminding me of the worst boys' school toilet. It was 3/4 full, so I emptied it & put copious amounts of blue-whatever-we-use (can't remember, it's in the hold, and it's chucking it down) into the tank. The smell took about 24 hours to subside and disappear.

I came in from work at 03:00 hrs this morning, and the smell in the van was not good, which I traced to the toilet, and had to literally shut the door as it was unbearable. This time however, it was sulphuric (eggy) and was definitely a grey-waste smell, such as the fumes you get after emptying the grey tank. That tank is also just about 3/4 full, and has plenty to go before being full. I can't pinpoint the smell, but it appears to be coming from either under the sink or the shower. There are no leaks, and no water lying anywhere.

I think I cured the black issue by flushing more after use. I can't however think why the grey tank should be smelling so dreadfully? I will empty it when the rains stops, but that's not really a solution.

Incidentally, I've never added anything to the grey tank after emptying, although the van has a separate mains water flushing connection which I use on both tanks after they empty.

Dougie.

oilslick

When the stuff in the grey tank starts fermenting it smells awful and the gas produced bubbles out of the shower and basins etc. we always put blue toilet stuff in the grey tank to kill the bugs and stop this happening.

Grant

camperian

Hello Asprn

Had the same problem myself. I thought it was the hot water tank as the smell was most noticable when first running the hot tap.

After investigation, it turned out to be the holding tank. For some reason the hot water seemed to magnify it more than the cold.

Hope this helps.

Ian

ps: Alternatively, try flushing with more 10yr old Laughing

Floozie2

Hey Dougie,

Sorry to hear about your niffy problem, it ain't nice Shocked

. We are full time (as you know, sold up just before you - glad you got there eventually by the way!) and don't use chemicals at all and no niffs. If you're toilet is smelling, it could be a seal has gone on it. As for grey, do you leave it open all the time or do you let the tank fill, then dump it? If the former, do the latter, as leaving it open alows solids to stick on the bottom of the tank. Letting it go all at once takes all the the solids with it. Or am I telling granny how to suck eggs Embarassed

One thing we always try to do is put plugs in the sinks when we empty the grey as when it rushes out there's a bit of a vacuum and it sucks the water outta the traps letting the pongs through.

Cheers

Richard

asprn

oilslick, camperian, floozie2 - thanks for your input. My favoured solution must be the 10-yr-old one, although it won't be the tank I'll be flushing with that. Wink

Interesting that oilslick used blue which stopped it, and floozie2 doesn't, and he avoids the problem. Rolling Eyes

I think I must try the blue though in the grey tank, as a potential solution. Grant, where do you pour it?

"Sucking eggs" however wasn't a helpful metaphor. Confused

Cheers,

Dougie.

carolgavin · Quiz Queen

I could lend you a clothes peg for your nose Wink

asprn

camperian

Thought the 10yr old would be a bit much to bear.

Mine seemed most noticable at the wash hand basin and poured the stuff in there, then followed up with the shower (lowest point).

Did the trick.

Ian

asprn