I get a horrible rotten eggs/sulphur smell whenever i use the head after not having used it for a couple of days. I recently saw a device in the Boat US catalog (its called tank-ette). It hooks up between the head and the sea water intake. you put a "disc" in the device and it chemically treats the water which stays in the intake line when the head is not in use. every time you draw water into the head, it passes over the disc and gets deodorized. The disc is basically a chemical "block" about with a diameter of about 3 inches and three inches thick. It is supposed to last about 1 month. any experience with this product
Head odors
- Thread starter James Hill
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odors
Adding a deodorizer is might just be a temp fix. Depending on the age of the hoses, they could be the cause. The old black hoses used in days of ol will eventually "leach" the smell. Deodorizer will not fix. You may also have a small leak somewhere, or the vent line may be venting inboard to the bilge rather that out the side through a vent fitting (proper method). I've had all of these issues and have repaired over the years,, stinky work. Andy O'28.
Adding a deodorizer is might just be a temp fix. Depending on the age of the hoses, they could be the cause. The old black hoses used in days of ol will eventually "leach" the smell. Deodorizer will not fix. You may also have a small leak somewhere, or the vent line may be venting inboard to the bilge rather that out the side through a vent fitting (proper method). I've had all of these issues and have repaired over the years,, stinky work. Andy O'28.
fresh water
i would do this. disconnect the hose from the thruhull (after closing it). fill a container with bleach water. put the hose into the container and run the bleach through the pump and rim of the toilet to purge the smell. plug the hose and clamp it without reconnecting it to the thruhull. then use a bowl, cup, or shower head and only use fresh water. believe me, as water temp heats up in summer, the problem of the smell gets worse. also, the treatment you speak of may not "play nice" with the holding tank treatment chemical.
i would do this. disconnect the hose from the thruhull (after closing it). fill a container with bleach water. put the hose into the container and run the bleach through the pump and rim of the toilet to purge the smell. plug the hose and clamp it without reconnecting it to the thruhull. then use a bowl, cup, or shower head and only use fresh water. believe me, as water temp heats up in summer, the problem of the smell gets worse. also, the treatment you speak of may not "play nice" with the holding tank treatment chemical.
Bleach is a no-no
Never use bleach or any cleaning products that contain bleach in a marine toilet...it's highly destructive to the rubber parts in the pump and also to sanitation hose. Household chemical bowl cleaners, household tub and tile cleaners, Lysol, pine oil cleaners and all petroleum based products should never be used in marine toilets either. Not only are all of 'em destructive to rubber and hoses, but can react negatively with holding tank products, producing toxic--even lethal--gasses. They'll also destroy the electrode pack in a Lectra/San. If you put anything in clean fresh water, make it white vinegar only. JJ posted this same question in the Head Mistress forum...see my reply there for a simple permanent solution to the problem of stagant sea water trapped in the head intake.
Never use bleach or any cleaning products that contain bleach in a marine toilet...it's highly destructive to the rubber parts in the pump and also to sanitation hose. Household chemical bowl cleaners, household tub and tile cleaners, Lysol, pine oil cleaners and all petroleum based products should never be used in marine toilets either. Not only are all of 'em destructive to rubber and hoses, but can react negatively with holding tank products, producing toxic--even lethal--gasses. They'll also destroy the electrode pack in a Lectra/San. If you put anything in clean fresh water, make it white vinegar only. JJ posted this same question in the Head Mistress forum...see my reply there for a simple permanent solution to the problem of stagant sea water trapped in the head intake.
Taking Robert Taylor one more step.
Completely disconnect the raw water intake and keep a gallon of fresh water in the sink to flush with. The raw water deteriorates in the line all week, and then burps the sulfer smell the first few flushes. BTW, fill the jug from your boat taps, which keeps the fresh water flowing and thereby flushing the pipes clean.
Completely disconnect the raw water intake and keep a gallon of fresh water in the sink to flush with. The raw water deteriorates in the line all week, and then burps the sulfer smell the first few flushes. BTW, fill the jug from your boat taps, which keeps the fresh water flowing and thereby flushing the pipes clean.
Do This to Control Odor
JJ, First off - I am against all chemical deodorizers that simply "mask" the problem. The rotten egg odor is from decaying sea-critters in your raw water line. What I did was installed a "T" on the raw water seacock and plumbed both my head sink drain and head raw water intake line to the same seacock. At the end of the day you close the raw-water/sink-drain seacock - fill your sink with fresh water (no soap) and then pump the head. The head will then suck the fresh water through and your lines should not smell nearly as bad. Also - read up on Peggy's suggestions regarding head treatments. I ONLY use KO which is an enzyme that promotes the breakdown and decay of liquid and solid waste thus controlling the odor. Any other chemicals or detergents kill off the "Good" bacteria that you need in the system to control the smell which originates from the break-down process of waste. Good luck - Rob
JJ, First off - I am against all chemical deodorizers that simply "mask" the problem. The rotten egg odor is from decaying sea-critters in your raw water line. What I did was installed a "T" on the raw water seacock and plumbed both my head sink drain and head raw water intake line to the same seacock. At the end of the day you close the raw-water/sink-drain seacock - fill your sink with fresh water (no soap) and then pump the head. The head will then suck the fresh water through and your lines should not smell nearly as bad. Also - read up on Peggy's suggestions regarding head treatments. I ONLY use KO which is an enzyme that promotes the breakdown and decay of liquid and solid waste thus controlling the odor. Any other chemicals or detergents kill off the "Good" bacteria that you need in the system to control the smell which originates from the break-down process of waste. Good luck - Rob
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