Hi Peggy, I am stumped by a persisitant odour from my waste system. All of the fittings are 4 months old with no visible leaks. The odour is less when the system is pumped out but still noticable. There is also a strong smell immediately after pumping to flush. I checked the vented loop to see if this may be a contributor but found that it is for the water supply and not the waste. Is it possible this is all from the same problem or combination of problems. Ed
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I had a similar problem ...
on my boat with the strong odor immediately after flushing, and Peggie advised me to switch to the Odorlos brand tank treatment. It worked very well, since my Cat 320 holding tank is apparently starved for oxygen, and the Odorlos doesn't need O2. Perhaps your Hunter has the same problem. Sorry to weigh in before you, Peggy - I know this is your forte.
on my boat with the strong odor immediately after flushing, and Peggie advised me to switch to the Odorlos brand tank treatment. It worked very well, since my Cat 320 holding tank is apparently starved for oxygen, and the Odorlos doesn't need O2. Perhaps your Hunter has the same problem. Sorry to weigh in before you, Peggy - I know this is your forte.
Ditto Pete, Plus One
I read here that someone was using BOTH KO and Odorlos. I decided to try it and was amazed that it seems to have done a terrrrrific job wherein either alone didn't quite. I have a Legend 40.5 with a marginal vent and really long run from one of the heads. I don't know which one is working, but the result is great and while not cheap, works. Peggie commented that if KO didn't work, just use Odorlos and don't waste money, so some experimentation will ultimately help me figure it out. In the meantime, it works for me. And, thats with a tank that's likely permiated some. Also, the CP cleaner is just great. Remember that it is compatible with either of the enzime products, and other cleaners likely are not. When I change out the tank, I'm going to a larger vent (or two). Good luck, Rick D.
I read here that someone was using BOTH KO and Odorlos. I decided to try it and was amazed that it seems to have done a terrrrrific job wherein either alone didn't quite. I have a Legend 40.5 with a marginal vent and really long run from one of the heads. I don't know which one is working, but the result is great and while not cheap, works. Peggie commented that if KO didn't work, just use Odorlos and don't waste money, so some experimentation will ultimately help me figure it out. In the meantime, it works for me. And, thats with a tank that's likely permiated some. Also, the CP cleaner is just great. Remember that it is compatible with either of the enzime products, and other cleaners likely are not. When I change out the tank, I'm going to a larger vent (or two). Good luck, Rick D.
Before I can offer a solution...
Is your odor inside the boat, or only out the tank vent? If it's inside the boat, nothing you put in the tank will have any effect on it. Read the articles "holding tank odor--odor out the vent," "head related odors...," and "boat odor isn't ALL in your head" in the Head Mistress forum reference library (link to it is on the forum homepage). They should help you find the source of your odor and tell you how to cure it.
Is your odor inside the boat, or only out the tank vent? If it's inside the boat, nothing you put in the tank will have any effect on it. Read the articles "holding tank odor--odor out the vent," "head related odors...," and "boat odor isn't ALL in your head" in the Head Mistress forum reference library (link to it is on the forum homepage). They should help you find the source of your odor and tell you how to cure it.
Ditto Pete, Rick, Plus 2
I too use KO AND Odorlos.. I also have only flushed the heads w/ fresh water since commissioning. And, I add a pt. bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide ($.50) when the holding tank is about 1/3 full...My thinking on this is that while h. peroxide itself is somewhat bacteriocidal (possible killing some of the good bacteria in the holding tank), it quickly decomposes into oxygen (reducing the aneriobic bacteria and helping the aerobic bacteria). Boat is now 18mos old and I have never had any odor problem at all... Buck
I too use KO AND Odorlos.. I also have only flushed the heads w/ fresh water since commissioning. And, I add a pt. bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide ($.50) when the holding tank is about 1/3 full...My thinking on this is that while h. peroxide itself is somewhat bacteriocidal (possible killing some of the good bacteria in the holding tank), it quickly decomposes into oxygen (reducing the aneriobic bacteria and helping the aerobic bacteria). Boat is now 18mos old and I have never had any odor problem at all... Buck
356 vent odor
Ditto for me! I had a baad odor out of the vent when she was about 1 month old-switched to KO on peggy's advice and no problem since!
Ditto for me! I had a baad odor out of the vent when she was about 1 month old-switched to KO on peggy's advice and no problem since!
Listen to Peggie, Version 4.5
Darn it, Ed, that's why Peggy is the expert. You may well have a problem with salt water in the bilges, or trapped along the way from the limber holes leading to it rather than the head. Or, both. I know I chased a head problem for weeks a long time ago only to find it was water trapped behind a berth. I'm not even sure it was salt water. It stunk! Anyhow, read the articles as she suggested. Rick D.
Darn it, Ed, that's why Peggy is the expert. You may well have a problem with salt water in the bilges, or trapped along the way from the limber holes leading to it rather than the head. Or, both. I know I chased a head problem for weeks a long time ago only to find it was water trapped behind a berth. I'm not even sure it was salt water. It stunk! Anyhow, read the articles as she suggested. Rick D.
Head Odor
There are 2 types (instances) of head odor. One is the holding tank. If the vent is long you will have to use OdorLos, if it is short KO will probably work. I used KO for about a year, and the head odor came from the vent evey time the head was flushed. I switched to OdorLos after reading Peggy's comments on a long vent line, and the odor has gone away. The second "head odor" is the first flush after it has sat for a couple of days. This is the sea water left in the intake hose. This odor does not come from the vent, but comes immediatly from the head. Try to pump all the water from the intake hose by closing the through hull and pumping on wet bowl until no more comes out. Also some sea water sloshing around in the bilge will sell just like "head odor" in a very short time.
There are 2 types (instances) of head odor. One is the holding tank. If the vent is long you will have to use OdorLos, if it is short KO will probably work. I used KO for about a year, and the head odor came from the vent evey time the head was flushed. I switched to OdorLos after reading Peggy's comments on a long vent line, and the odor has gone away. The second "head odor" is the first flush after it has sat for a couple of days. This is the sea water left in the intake hose. This odor does not come from the vent, but comes immediatly from the head. Try to pump all the water from the intake hose by closing the through hull and pumping on wet bowl until no more comes out. Also some sea water sloshing around in the bilge will sell just like "head odor" in a very short time.
There are more than just two, Mike
At least 3 sources of "head" odor inside the boat as well as odor out the tank vent. And then there are a few sources of odor inside the boat that can smell like "head" odor, but have nothing to do with the sanitation system. You might want to read the articles related to odors in the Headmistress forum library too.
At least 3 sources of "head" odor inside the boat as well as odor out the tank vent. And then there are a few sources of odor inside the boat that can smell like "head" odor, but have nothing to do with the sanitation system. You might want to read the articles related to odors in the Headmistress forum library too.
More Types
I'm sure there are other reason's for head odor, but the most common reported problems are associated with the holding tank, and the salt water flush. Problems with odor permeating the hose are usually not found on the newer boats these people are talking about. I have had salt water sloshing around in the shower sump stinking the head like a broken holding tank, and I have had the odor come out the vent, and the first flush smell. I have read all your articles. Thank you.
I'm sure there are other reason's for head odor, but the most common reported problems are associated with the holding tank, and the salt water flush. Problems with odor permeating the hose are usually not found on the newer boats these people are talking about. I have had salt water sloshing around in the shower sump stinking the head like a broken holding tank, and I have had the odor come out the vent, and the first flush smell. I have read all your articles. Thank you.
356 head odor
I also experienced the odor problem from the vent line and from the intake. I fixed the vent problem by installing an in-line filter in the vent line which I purchased from West Marine. You have the change the cartridge once a year at the cost of $74.95 but it did solve the problem. I also use Odorlos after each time the tak is emptied and periodically flush the empty tank with fresh water. I agree with Peggy that the intake problem probably is due to sea life making a home in the intake line. Fortunately my problem seemed to have fixed itself after several weeks of a smelly first flush. I still think that I will remove and flush the intake line especially prior to hauling the boat at the end of November.
I also experienced the odor problem from the vent line and from the intake. I fixed the vent problem by installing an in-line filter in the vent line which I purchased from West Marine. You have the change the cartridge once a year at the cost of $74.95 but it did solve the problem. I also use Odorlos after each time the tak is emptied and periodically flush the empty tank with fresh water. I agree with Peggy that the intake problem probably is due to sea life making a home in the intake line. Fortunately my problem seemed to have fixed itself after several weeks of a smelly first flush. I still think that I will remove and flush the intake line especially prior to hauling the boat at the end of November.
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