BAD SMELL

N

none

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Messages
48
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Vessel Name
DANCA
We just came back from A 2 day trip to Desolation Sound. For all of you arriving next week RELAX everything over there looking GREAT.
The problem I had on our trip was the odor coming from the holding tank. When I flush the toilet I get air bubbles coming up from the holding tank that air STINKS, question is there no air went installed to the holding tank or is mine plugged up, anybody out there had the same problem???
Smelly Jens
 
I had a similar problem on my R29...check the sensors on the holding tank. Mine were bad and allowed to tank to get too full...that caused a few problems. The light on the wall pad should turn red when the tank is just about full.
 
If a vent was clogged, it would be difficult to pump out the holding tank via the macerator pump or using a pump out station. They do sell inline filters that you can install in the vent line that help eliminate the odor which I know quite a few people using that really do the job. If bubbles are coming out, it might just be that the tank is getting full. You can stick your head down under the forward salon cushion and physically look at the holding tank. It is located near the shower sump box underneath the plastic white velcro base board.
 
Andrew Custis":18y1p73x said:
If a vent was clogged, it would be difficult to pump out the holding tank via the macerator pump or using a pump out station. They do sell inline filters that you can install in the vent line that help eliminate the odor which I know quite a few people using that really do the job. If bubbles are coming out, it might just be that the tank is getting full. You can stick your head down under the forward salon cushion and physically look at the holding tank. It is located near the shower sump box underneath the plastic white velcro base board.
Click to expand...

Hi Andrew thank for getting back. Question where does the went pipe come out on the boat and how do you installed and where do you install a filter???
We ran the pump out for 1/2 an hour prior to docking at home the light on the head was green after that we flushed the can and bubbles with stinking air filled the bathroom.
. Need a gas mask JENS
 
The inline filters Andrew referred to can be purchased from West Marine or other marine stores as well as RV stores. They are relatively easy to install and do a great job in helping reduce odors. The filters are made by Sealand, Dometic and my guess is they would less expensive from an RV store. They are installed between the holding tank and the outside vent by cutting a section of the vent tubing out, insert and connect the filter and you're ready for fresh air. These need to be replaced, depending on use every year or two.
 
Jens,
If I am hearing you right, the bubbles are coming up in the bowl? If that is the case, I would think it would be a clogged vent issue as the "gas" is being forced out through the bowl as it has no other way to escape.

The vent line can be found under the galley. You will have to remove the refrigerator to get to it. Once you pull out the refrigerator you will then crawl down into the bilge.

If you have never removed your refrigerator, it is very simple. First remove the door by taking the top pin out. Then remove the four plastic caps (two on each side) from the frame of the refrigerator. Place a towel on the floor (this is to set the refrigerator on to slide it out of the way). Unscrew the screws, wiggle the refrigerator out onto the towel, slide forward, crawl back over the top of the refrigerator, note the large hole below where the refrigerator once was, crawl inside..... You should have two vent lines, the forward vent line is for your main fuel tank, the aft is the holding tank vent.

The first thing you will notice when you look in the bilge here is the enormous amount of space under here. This is where we are having an additional twenty gallon water tank installed. It will gravity feed off of the main tank as it will sit lower. The supply line will be moved down to this tank.

Hope this helps!
David
 
I have posted on this issue before. The best vent filter that I found is big orange http://www.bigorangefilter.com/
I like this one because I can replace the charcoal in the filter when it needs(once a year) rather then the others that you need to buy a whole new filter. Much more cost effective.
It is easy to get to the vent line through the aft cabin. Take the bulkhead out that is in the far back(most forward). Just a few screws. You will find the vent line coming up from the holding tank. That is where I installed my vent filter. Took less then a half hour and I did not need to remove the fridge to get to it. Much easier!
Just cut the vent line and put the vent filter in line. I have had no issues for over a year now. Also make sure you use a good head chemical every time you you clean out the head. It is also good to fill your holding tank with water and then pump that out for a good flush.

Happy boating!
 
Stuart,
Good thought at putting the filter close to where it exits the tank. I have just gotten very good at removing the refrigerator and did not even give it a thought to your placement. I have pulled that refrigerator so many times, I can have it out and back in within about 15 minutes..... I was trying to figure out how to do "Quick Release" fixtures on it with maybe wheels on the bottom.... :lol:
 
David,
I have pulled the fridge myself to run some wires and know what you go through to do it. There is also a risk of dinging the teak floor.
I think I remember you pulling that many times when you had a water line breaking loose over and over or something like that.
As I am sure you have, I have had every panel off and have crawled through the whole boat. Mainly just to see if I can and to see where everything is. These are the stupid things i do while at anchor. I guess if I took up drinking again I would not do such silly things. Come to think of it I would still do silly things but they would not involve taking the boat apart and putting it back together.
I think I will stick to exploring the boat when bored at anchor, It makes me a much happier man then the alliterative.

Hope you are having a great boating season. We sure are and season #2 starts again in the Fall. Back to the ocean,yeah!

Stuart
 
Sometimes, if you haven't flushed for several days and then do, you will get an awful smell. This is from little marine critters that are pulled into the intake hose and then die. Flushing for a bit the first time you get on the boat will get the stinky water out on the intake side and leave you with fresh smelling flushes. It may not be the issue here but it is a very common cause of stinky flushing.
 
Hey guys,
If you ever decide that you want to replace your head or are tired of the maintenance I highly recommend the Airhead. By the way I am not a paid representitive, but when something is good I like to tell others about it.
 
Thanks you all for the info. If I new exactly where the vent-pipe comes out on the outside of the hull and if it is plugged what is wrong with back-flushing it with water to clear it ????
If I can't figure it out I'll be a George harbour Aug. 3rd, hoping some one will give me a hand figuring it out.
I'm tall and to old to be crawling around down under. Andrew if you read this tell Jeff you have a job up here next week.
Jens
 
Jens,
If you look on the starboard side of your boat just aft of the pilot house door, you will see two vents. The one furthest aft should be the head. The one forward is your fuel tank. I would not see a reason why you could not flush it with water other than making sure of course that you are flushing the head vent not the fuel vent..... Every once in a while Ranger will change the set up and what could be the head vent on Karma may not be the head vent on yours....

David
 
We have had this exact same issue. In our case, the screen inside of the vent through hole had corroded and therefore significantly reduced the size of the vent. We removed the screen and have installed a filter. Once these two items were done, the odor has gone away. FYI, we are on the East coast with heat indices of 100+ degrees. Even in the heat, there isn't a problem.
 
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