CDRtommy wrote:

Don't discount the fresh water tank. When we took delivery of our used coach we had a foul odor in the toilet area which permeated throughout the coach. Cleaned the fresh water tank with clorox (overnight)and then vinegar for few hours. Bad odor disappeared and the water was good enough to drink. Oddity, perhaps. Tommy (

hershey wrote:


Rid X is a good idea for a potential fix but don't try to add it to the system on a regular basis.

PUCampin wrote:

As one poster mentioned, it could be the vent pipe settled too low in the black tank, say an inch or less off the bottom. This means as soon as it gets some liquid in it, it seals off the vent. The only place left for odors to go is the coach.

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Another possibility is the toilet itself. Some toilets have a overflow hole near the rim and there is a trap inside. If that trap dries out you will get odor. Fill the bowl so water goes down the overflow.

It could be a dried out gasket between the toilet and the floor.

It could also be another part of the toilet. I had the exact same problem you are having, where just sitting the TT would fill with odor, and it took me two months to track it down. After exhausting much of the above advice, I tried to locate the exact source of the odor. The smell seemed to be originating behind the toilet. Not on the floor, but behind it near the top.

I had a handle flush Thetford Aquamagic V. The flush handle is attached to a shaft that penetrates to the inner "Splash" chamber, which is open to the black tank, of the toilet where the blade mechanism resides. The seal on the shaft had failed allowing odor from the inner chamber to make it's way out. It didn't matter that the toilet was only 3 years old. I called Thetford, and it turns out the Aqua Magic V is disposable, there are virtually no replacement parts. I had to replace the whole toilet. I bought a Style II with a china bowl and straight tube from the flush valve to the tank, no "Splash Chamber" that is impossible to get clean.

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Also, the vacuum breaker is on the fresh water line and provides the required break between the fresh water supply and the toilet. It will not be the cause of the odor.

So now you have a couple more possibilities to check.

Good luck

Daniel

03FatBoy wrote:


One more possibility is a poop mountain at the bottom of the toilet? Some people think they can leave the black drain open all the time with full hookups. If it's a straight shot from the toilet to the tank, get one of those wands you can hook up to a hose and angle it to make sure you're hitting the bottom of the tank under the toilet. Flush the heck out of it. Your water may be clear coming out, but I'd just about bet it won't be when you do this.

KlipschHead281 wrote:



I find no vents at all in the closets but I am interested in finding this vacuum breaker the dealer mentions is in the toilet room just above the floor. I have not found it. I have no doubt my RV was the garage toilet for a few of the workers, you'd think they would have checked for the issue but I don't believe that they did.

hershey wrote:

To check your roof vent, just let a garden hose "TRICKLE" into the vent for a while. If its plugged, it will fill with water, if its free and clear it will just continue to add that water to your black tank.
If your tank is properly vented, and clean from the standpoint that there isn't anything left in the tank for months and has gotten solid and your toilet seal is good (holds water when not in use) you shouldn't have an odor nor a need to add phoo phoo chemicals to perfume the area.
Rid X is a good idea for a potential fix but don't try to add it to the system on a regular basis.

Camptrotters wrote:



When I say closet, I do not mean where you put your clothes. I was refereeing to the seal on the floor between the toilet and black tank, there could be a leak there. The vacuum breaker (depending on your commode is usually attached to the back of the toilet) as far as I know the breaker is part of the fresh water system designed to keep water in the flush system from backing up into the fresh water system. Similar to a one way valve or check valve. Not sure how this could be your problem unless you have very smelly fresh water.

KlipschHead281 wrote:



Great ideas, thanks, will use the hose method when I get the vent cap off. I would prefer not to use any chemicals if possible so hopefully this all works and we can just enjoy the RV soon.