Hey Peggie...just to let you know that, as suspected, the hoses were permiated. Replaced all the hoses the odor is gone. There is one last hose that I have put off replacing because it runs from the bottom of the holding tank to the maserator. It is only about 30" long, but I don't see anyway to replace it without spilling any residual waste into the bilge while taking the old hose off. Because this hose is always full of sewage(being the low point of the tank),it has been suggested that I replace it with solid PVC (I forget the number) with a small piece of the white Sealand hose at each end to make it fexible. Does this make sense to you? My inclination is to "let sleeping dogs lay" and not replace it until I smell it. I am certainly open to any suggestions you may have. As always, I appreciate your input. Thanks, Mark Johnson
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Flush it good
Goes wothout saying - before attempting to replace the last hose, make sure that the tank is flushed out very good. ;D
Goes wothout saying - before attempting to replace the last hose, make sure that the tank is flushed out very good. ;D
Wrap it in Saran Wrap
You prob'ly won't know whether that piece of hose has permeated or not till the weather warms up. But if the rest of the hoses had permeated, it's a good bet that piece has too, especially since it's low and waste sits in it. Wrapping hoses in Saran Wrap (and it has to be Saran, not just any plastic wrap) is old trick that actually works...the molecular structure of Saran is odor impermeable. So if you don't want to replace that piece hose, wrap it tight and secure the ends with electrical tape. Otoh, you can replace it without having to clean up a spill: First, as Paul said, pump out and THOROUGHLY flush out the tank...so that only clean water will be spilled. Get a plastic garbage bag under the connections to catch the water. Now you know why I recommend a y-valve instead of only a tee fitting in the tank pumpout line. Sooner or later you're gonna have to replace the impeller in the macerator (it really should be done as preventive maintenance at least every couple of years as part of spring recommissioning, 'cuz impellers never fail when the tank is empty)...how are you gonna do that without a major spill if you can't shut off the flow of waste from the tank?
You prob'ly won't know whether that piece of hose has permeated or not till the weather warms up. But if the rest of the hoses had permeated, it's a good bet that piece has too, especially since it's low and waste sits in it. Wrapping hoses in Saran Wrap (and it has to be Saran, not just any plastic wrap) is old trick that actually works...the molecular structure of Saran is odor impermeable. So if you don't want to replace that piece hose, wrap it tight and secure the ends with electrical tape. Otoh, you can replace it without having to clean up a spill: First, as Paul said, pump out and THOROUGHLY flush out the tank...so that only clean water will be spilled. Get a plastic garbage bag under the connections to catch the water. Now you know why I recommend a y-valve instead of only a tee fitting in the tank pumpout line. Sooner or later you're gonna have to replace the impeller in the macerator (it really should be done as preventive maintenance at least every couple of years as part of spring recommissioning, 'cuz impellers never fail when the tank is empty)...how are you gonna do that without a major spill if you can't shut off the flow of waste from the tank?
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