Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

 
 
 
 
 
 
Waterford guy
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Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 01.09.2022  ·  #1
I'm about three weeks into my Italy trip and I thought before leaving that maybe a smelly toilet would be the worst smell, the toilet is actually fine but the waste water tank gets really smelly sometimes. I can deal a bit of a whif, bit I mean really bloody smelly once it starts to fill a bit. The 30 degree heat probably isn't helping.

Have any of you has similar issues and any tips to help it. When I Google it I get conflicting messages ranging from "don't put any detergent etc into it as it's not good for the tank" to "throw a load of bleach into it and it will sort out the smell", so I thought maybe I'd see if any of you have first hand experience.


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 01.09.2022  ·  #2
Two very large bottles of cheap cola. Drive around for 20 minutes to let it slush about, hey presto :)


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 01.09.2022  ·  #3
Thetford do a "Grey Water Fresh".
We've been using it for the last few weeks in the high heat, and no problems. No bad smell on emptying, and no smell from the plugholes either.

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 01.09.2022  ·  #4
Try not to let food go down into it, use a plug hole strainer.
And keep the plugs in the plug holes when not in use.

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 01.09.2022  ·  #5
No food and the plugs in the plug holes will make a big difference.

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 01.09.2022  ·  #6
Another vote for cheap coke here plus keep your plugs closed when the sinks are not in use.


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 02.09.2022  ·  #7
I actually said to my wife we should throw some fizzy cola down it, the stuff is so corrosive it'll burn through anything down there! I'll definitely try that. Also, u had been letting food get down when washing up, so I'll get a strainer.

Thanks again! 👍


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 02.09.2022  ·  #8
The root cause is lack of water traps.
We've had our mh for 17 years and have never cleaned out the tank. We've toured all over Europe in temperatures up to 45°c and never had a smell from the waste water tank into the mh, but sometimes it's necessary to stand well back when emptying 😳


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 02.09.2022  ·  #9
Although i havent used it myself yet, Lidl/Aldi bio detergent is supposed to work well. I have used cheap cola in the past and that seemed to work also.


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 02.09.2022  ·  #10
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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 02.09.2022  ·  #11
Quote by JJF

2 paracetamol works well.


That’s a new one on me Jon👍

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Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 02.09.2022  ·  #12
Quote by Albert the Talbot

Quote by JJF

2 paracetamol works well.


That’s a new one on me Jon👍


They are for the headache, you get after the smell knocks you down.🤕

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 02.09.2022  ·  #13
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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 03.09.2022  ·  #14
Woke up this morning with an horrendous smell in the van. Couldnt find where it was coming from. I thought it was the toilet seal or the waste tank. Turned out it was a pipe off the SOG in the cassette compartment.


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 03.09.2022  ·  #15
I had the same problem with mine. Turned out the pipe which attached to the sog fan had came adrift. Secured with a suitable jubilee clip and normal service resumed.
Sog is good when fitted properly!

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 03.09.2022  ·  #16
If you want to try the cola trick in your waste tank...... today's your lucky day.
Providing you have the Lidl Ireland app on your phone, your free gift with a purchase this week is....brace yourself.....A FREE BOTTLE OF LIDL COLA !!!! 🥳✨🎉💥
It doesn't get any better than this 😁

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 26.09.2022  ·  #17
Quote by Waterford guy

I actually said to my wife we should throw some fizzy cola down it, the stuff is so corrosive it'll burn through anything down there! I'll definitely try that. Also, u had been letting food get down when washing up, so I'll get a strainer.

Thanks again! 👍


How did this work out ? There is another thread on it. I bought 12 litres of Aldi Cola at 59c per 2L. Two bottles down each of the 3 sinkholes, drove around for a day and emptied. Solved the problem

Throw in a bit of vinegar every now and again too but not convinced how well this works.


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 26.09.2022  ·  #18
A bottle of Milton sterilisation fluid use a 1/4 of it kills all smells


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 26.09.2022  ·  #19
We have only noticed this problem when the van has not been used for a period of time. Before I go away I connected the hose pipe to the outlet on the van and backfilled the tank about half way and then let it all run out again. It seems to take the smell away.


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 26.09.2022  ·  #20
Quote by hillton9

A bottle of Milton sterilisation fluid use a 1/4 of it kills all smells


A cap full will be plenty Rob 👍🏽


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 26.09.2022  ·  #21
Quote by mad max

Quote by hillton9

A bottle of Milton sterilisation fluid use a 1/4 of it kills all smells


A cap full will be plenty Rob 👍🏽


With the likes of Milton or vinegar when do you add it ?

If there is a smell first thing you would do is empty the tank. Do you put the Milton in straight or wait until there is some waste water water in the tank or let the taps run and then put it in ?


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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 26.09.2022  ·  #22
Quote by harringtonp

With the likes of Milton or vinegar when do you add it ?

If there is a smell first thing you would do is empty the tank. Do you put the Milton in straight or wait until there is some waste water water in the tank or let the taps run and then put it in ?


Empty the tank add about 2 Ltr of water and add the cap of Milton,
than use as normal, 👍🏽

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 27.09.2022  ·  #23
I’m not dismissing any of the cheaper hacks to getting rid of the smell from the grey water but I use products that have been specifically designed for the purpose, Elsan being probably the best in my experience. I have also useda Thetford version and. Fenwicks version.

I don’t use charcoal to clean my teeth I use toothpaste. I don’t use a washing tab in my toilet cassette, I don’t use thetford toilet liquid in my dishwasher I use products that were designed and manufactured for their intended purpose.

I find the main source of the smell is due to food waste, if plates and pans are wiped with kitchen roll before being washed up this reduces the amount of food waste in the tank. I also regularly fill the grey tank with clean fresh water drive a bit and then empty the tank. I also use a hose in the open grey water pipe and spray from outside in.

When I use the elsan grey tank cleaner I use the amount specified then drive to slosh it around before emptying it. I do this every two weeks when I’m touring in Spain or Portugal.

I must say some of the debris left on my grey drive over on the campsite is amazing. Rice and pasta being the main culprits. You really don’t want to be downwind of some vans. Coffee granules are often a source of a blockage it seems, especially in hire vans.

The other thing I have noticed is that the British built motorhomes tend to have a small grey waste pipe which take a lot longer to drain and are easier to block up.

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Re: Any Tips For Really Smelly Waste Water Tank?

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Posted: 27.09.2022  ·  #24
The only time I get a smell from the waste tank is when I'm emptying it and then its no big deal. Are you all talking about a smell in the van when it comes back up the drain. Over the years I've tried most things but it always comes back. I use washing powder with a few litres of fresh water after draining the waste


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