Hi Peggie, I tried the hot towel trick on all the hoses. No smell. I added KO a couple of weeks ago & there was a small amount (maybe a gallon) of "stuff" in there. Still smells bad. So I did some poking around. Here's a little history: the system was new about 4 years ago. The hoses are that high end white USCG approved hosing - not permeated according to your hot towel test. The odor is definitely coming from the input/output area, not the vent (opposite end of tank - no odor). The connectors were installed with plumbers tape and there are no leaks BUT they're not screwed in all the way. The output connector is the loosest as I can move it easily by hand. The others are pretty tight - I also tightened all hose clamps but there wasn't much tightening needed. Could odor be escaping through this/these connections but not leak? Should I clean the system out & tighten everything up or would that matter? LaDonna
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Clean it out and tighten the connections
You found the problem. If no odor is coming out the tank vent, the problem can't be in the tank...it has to be elsewhere in the system. The environment inside hoses is anaerobic of necessity...there's just no way to ventilate hoses. So the answer to your question is yes..gasses CAN escape from the inside of hoses, y-valves etc through loose connections that aren't necessarily leaking liquids. Re-wrap all the threaded connections with teflon tape to ensure a good seal...tighten 'em one full turn past hand tight, plus enough to aim an elbow where it needs to go, but no more--even if threads are showing. Tank fittings are very slightly tapered...over-tightened will result in a cracked tank fitting.
You found the problem. If no odor is coming out the tank vent, the problem can't be in the tank...it has to be elsewhere in the system. The environment inside hoses is anaerobic of necessity...there's just no way to ventilate hoses. So the answer to your question is yes..gasses CAN escape from the inside of hoses, y-valves etc through loose connections that aren't necessarily leaking liquids. Re-wrap all the threaded connections with teflon tape to ensure a good seal...tighten 'em one full turn past hand tight, plus enough to aim an elbow where it needs to go, but no more--even if threads are showing. Tank fittings are very slightly tapered...over-tightened will result in a cracked tank fitting.
Thanks - ugh!
But it's mostly my own stuff and if this is the worst I ever have, I'll count myself lucky!
LaDonna
But it's mostly my own stuff and if this is the worst I ever have, I'll count myself lucky!
LaDonnaFirst, pump out and THOROUGHLY rinse out
the holding tank. Then run some C.P. through the hoses to knock down the odor. It shouldn't be that bad a job if you do that.
the holding tank. Then run some C.P. through the hoses to knock down the odor. It shouldn't be that bad a job if you do that.
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