Discharge line/pump odor

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Dean Rowland

Peggy, I've searched all your articles and archives, but can't find discharge hose-to-pump installation discussed. Please excuse me if I overlooked it. I believe I built a Peggy Hall dream system on my 35' Wauquiez, but it still stinks (!): Simple Groco manual head, white PVC flexible 1.5" hose direct to top of a custom polyethylene bow tank I had built, 3/8" thick, triangle-tapered in 2 dimensions to match both the vertical flare of the hull, and the normal reduction in beam as you go forward. Because of the efficient use of space, I calculated it to be about 32 gallons, but only takes up the usefull room that an off-the-shelf 15-gallon rectangular tank would. Two 1" vents, one forward, one aft on top of tank; Groco 1" full-flow 90 degree tail pieces (West Marine). 1" PVC flex hoses sweep upwards to deck, one port, one starboard side. I used 1.5" PVC 90 elbows as cowls, one points forward, one aft. Stainless screen prevents insect. (I made plastic 'donuts' to connect the 1.5" elbow to the 1" hose.) I of course use K.O., and flush dry,dry,dry; initial flush strokes you can hear the water splashing into the tank, then flush hard so last 5 strokes are pure air. The discharge 1.5" hose goes from the bottom of the tank up to a Henderson diaphram pump at the level of the top of the tank, then out and down to a 1.5" seacock. No vented loop since the seacock is only open during a 3-minute pump-out-at-sea session. The odor slowly increases day after day, and seems to be coming from around the pump. I am so frustrated, I want to drill a hole in the top of the pump to install a vent line with a ball valve to block it during pumping. You say there are truly odor-free systems, is there a trick in this final link of the system? Last Note: if I pump out completely, then flush with 20 gallons of water, then empty, there is no odor for a week; it only starts with the first use of the head, even though the discharge seacock remains closed and the pump unused. How can this be? Thank you very much, Dean
 
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

Is the odor inside the boat, or out the vent?
 
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Dean Rowland

Reply to Discharge line/pump odor The Head Mistre

Inside, around the pump/tank compartment, under the V-berth. The vents on deck have a characteristic odor, not bad, not a sewage smell. This I believe indicates a healthy tank. Thanks for getting back so soon!
 
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

My guess: a leaky pump

A very slight leak, either in the diaphragm or at a connection. Odors are always strongest at their sources...the pump is where the odor is strongest...ergo, the pump is the culprit. No mystery as to why it's happening with the first flush...it prob'ly would happen after a few days in the summer heat even if you only "dry" flush it with nothing in the bowl it unless you could sterilize the system. It only takes one surviving bacterium to multiply in to zillions...flushing puts a little bit of pressure on everything in the system--hoses, connections, and the pump. Unless it can escape elsewhere, it all goes out the tank vent...but if it has anywhere else to go too, it will. Check your connections...tighten the hose clamps...if you didn't double clamp, you should have, so add second clamps. If that doesn't cure it, and if the pump is new, return it for a warranty exchange (wash it out REALLY well first!). If you "recycled" an older pump, rebuilding it should cure the problem.
 
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Dean Rowland

Thanks

Thanks, Peggy, I think you're right. The pump is original, a 1985 boat, so the 17-year-old rubber diaphram must go! I still may come up with a pump-vent, though. As you yourself say, odor will permeate anything eventually, especially the thin rubber diaphram. If I Tee the vent line into the pump chamber, that should get the needed oxygen working. A plastic ball-valve will be normally open, only closed to allow the pump to develop suction. Dean
 
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

You're over-engineering it

Rebuild the pump, don't just replace the diaphragm. That should be good for about 10 years. Once it stops leaking, you won't have any odor to vent.
 
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