Over the last year, I've eliminated about 90 percent of the odor from the sanitation system. However, there's still a lingering odor coming from the area of the holding tank under the V berth. I've replaced all of the sanitation hose, and reconfigured the run from the head to the holding tank so that it's only 7 feet. I've also replaced most of the vent hose and the vent thru hull fitting, except for two lengths of hose about 2 ft each that go from 2 openings on the top of the holding tank to a tee (which then goes thru new vent hose to a thru hull.) Those lengths will be replaced when the weather is cooler, as the tank will have to be moved to get to the fittings. Have also thoroughly cleaned the bilge and sump, and sprayed the tank area with KO. I'm thinking that there must be a problem with the fittings on the holding tank, either the vents or the input from the head since these are at/near the tank top, and I've seen no signs of leaking liquids. Is there a way to test the holding tank and fittings to determine if there's a leak and/or loose fitting? Does anyone have any additional thoughts as to what might be the cause of this elusive last bit of odor?
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Tee in tank vent line??? Nooo...
I doubt if that's what's causing your odor, but the tee doesn't serve any useful purpose, does totally negates any benefit from two tank vents, and does impede the flow of air in and out the vent. When you replace the hoses, get rid of the tee. Either go with a single vent (put a threaded plug in the other fitting on the tank), or run the second one to a new thru-hull. The two most likely sources for your odor are either the hose sections you haven't replaced, or residual from any spill when you replaced the rest of the hoses. It's easy to determine which--test those hose sections for odor permeation...if the test is negative, get back to me and I'll tell you how to get rid of the last of any residual odor.
I doubt if that's what's causing your odor, but the tee doesn't serve any useful purpose, does totally negates any benefit from two tank vents, and does impede the flow of air in and out the vent. When you replace the hoses, get rid of the tee. Either go with a single vent (put a threaded plug in the other fitting on the tank), or run the second one to a new thru-hull. The two most likely sources for your odor are either the hose sections you haven't replaced, or residual from any spill when you replaced the rest of the hoses. It's easy to determine which--test those hose sections for odor permeation...if the test is negative, get back to me and I'll tell you how to get rid of the last of any residual odor.
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Ed Ryan
Peggy - More info on holding tank situation
OK - I checked out the remaining vent hoses and they definitely need to be replaced (they're clear vinyl and permeated). Would it be better to just eliminate the tee from the holding tank vents, or to run two separate vent lines, even though the second vent thru hull would have to be in the same general location as the existing thru hull due to physical limitations of the layout? Finally, is there something else I can do for the lingering odor, other than hosing down the area with water and spraying with KO after it drys? Thanks for your usual help!
OK - I checked out the remaining vent hoses and they definitely need to be replaced (they're clear vinyl and permeated). Would it be better to just eliminate the tee from the holding tank vents, or to run two separate vent lines, even though the second vent thru hull would have to be in the same general location as the existing thru hull due to physical limitations of the layout? Finally, is there something else I can do for the lingering odor, other than hosing down the area with water and spraying with KO after it drys? Thanks for your usual help!
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Definitely eliminate the tee...
It prob'ly wouldn't do much good to run two to the same location on the hull...so for starters go with one and use Odorlos in the tank. If you still have odor out the vent, we'll have to figure out how to modify the vent to cure it. Unless you've had a spill, there's no need to clean the area, or even hose it down with water. Just saturate every surface with K.O. and let it dry, leaving that locker open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate in it for 24 hours. If you still have any odor in that area, you either missed a spot with the K.O. or there's another source of the odor--trapped water somewhere. Now that the weather is starting to cool off, you may not find out whether you've missed anywhere till the weather gets hot again next year.
It prob'ly wouldn't do much good to run two to the same location on the hull...so for starters go with one and use Odorlos in the tank. If you still have odor out the vent, we'll have to figure out how to modify the vent to cure it. Unless you've had a spill, there's no need to clean the area, or even hose it down with water. Just saturate every surface with K.O. and let it dry, leaving that locker open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate in it for 24 hours. If you still have any odor in that area, you either missed a spot with the K.O. or there's another source of the odor--trapped water somewhere. Now that the weather is starting to cool off, you may not find out whether you've missed anywhere till the weather gets hot again next year.
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Al
Maybe it's not the sanitation system.
If your odor has been there a while, could it be impregnated into the fabrics of the cabin and not in the sanitation system? Just a thought.
If your odor has been there a while, could it be impregnated into the fabrics of the cabin and not in the sanitation system? Just a thought.
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Ed Ryan
Peggy - another follow up question
I've eliminated the Tee, plugged one vent hole in the holding tank, and did the KO thing, leaving everything open to dry. However, the hole required a 3/8 inch plug, and the only one I could find was bronze. Is bronze a problem? (I put teflon tape on the threads) Hope you don't say to replace it with nylon, since I don't see that size in the catalogs, and I have to stand on my head to get to the back of the tank to access it.
I've eliminated the Tee, plugged one vent hole in the holding tank, and did the KO thing, leaving everything open to dry. However, the hole required a 3/8 inch plug, and the only one I could find was bronze. Is bronze a problem? (I put teflon tape on the threads) Hope you don't say to replace it with nylon, since I don't see that size in the catalogs, and I have to stand on my head to get to the back of the tank to access it.
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Not thrilled with bronze
Bronze and plastic have different thermal coefficients (fancy way of saying they expand and contract at different rates and in different amounts)...a metal fitting or plug can result in a cracked tank. Check your local hardware store and/or plumbing supply for a PVC threaded plug. Only 3/8"??? Or was that a typo? 'cuz vents should be a minimum of 5/8".
Bronze and plastic have different thermal coefficients (fancy way of saying they expand and contract at different rates and in different amounts)...a metal fitting or plug can result in a cracked tank. Check your local hardware store and/or plumbing supply for a PVC threaded plug. Only 3/8"??? Or was that a typo? 'cuz vents should be a minimum of 5/8".
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Ed Ryan
3/8 inch was not a typo
The vent hose was 5/8 inch, and I assumed the fitting/plug would be the same size, but the fitting on the front of the tank that I could see looked smaller. When I was in WM, I checked out a couple of their holding tanks, and they had 1/2 inch threaded holes for the vents. However, 1/2 inch was too big, the 3/8 inch worked (and bronze was the best I could do at the time). Thanks for your help -- I'll try to find a PVC plug and replace the bronze.
The vent hose was 5/8 inch, and I assumed the fitting/plug would be the same size, but the fitting on the front of the tank that I could see looked smaller. When I was in WM, I checked out a couple of their holding tanks, and they had 1/2 inch threaded holes for the vents. However, 1/2 inch was too big, the 3/8 inch worked (and bronze was the best I could do at the time). Thanks for your help -- I'll try to find a PVC plug and replace the bronze.
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