Odor After New RV Toilet Installation

[Bearcatrp]

Got the new toilet installed. Thought my sewer woes were gone. Now, after each flush, bad smell. If I open the front compartment, it’s real strong. My steps to bedroom on 5th wheel has vents, which is where the odor is coming from. Opened panel in front compartment to look at pipes. Son watched while I flushed toilet. No leaks. Next step is to look at vents on roof. Am I missing anything else to check?

 

[TheBar]

You can't see an air leak. Your roof vent is connected to a down pipe to vent the toilet/tank. It sounds like your vent pipe is disconnected or leaking air.

 

[Bearcatrp]

am assuming the pipe mounted on the tank is on top of the tank which the only way to tell is remove the black tank. Or is there a better way? Could I lift up on that pipe to see if it moves? Will have to wait until I get home to remove everything underneath to remove the entire panel to get back by the pipe.

 

[Kirk]

First a question. Do you have a powered vent fan running in the bathroom when using the toilet? If you do it will cause the air from the waste tank to be drawn up through the toilet and into the bathroom because of the slightly lower air pressure in the room due to that fan. If the fan is turned off just before flushing that will not happen. Another issue that exhaust fan can cause it to draw air from the grey tank which will also smell bad, if the plumbing vent uner the sink is not closing properly. Those are very easy to replace and don't cost much.

Could I lift up on that pipe to see if it moves?

You can do that and it may move but unless it is down below the point where it should be, you would be wiser to leave it alone. The pipe can sometimes slip down into the tank and if it does the tank should work fine when empty but once partially full you would feel a burst of air up on your fanny when you flush due to the end of the vent pipe being covered with liquid.

 

[Bearcatrp]

I don’t use the fan in the bathroom or open that vent. When I had my other toilet issue with the seal, I did run that to remove odor but new toilet fixed that. Think I’ll let the pros look at it and fix this. Have a big trip coming up next month so don’t want to smell this. Will leave the pipe alone. Be my luck I would make it worse . Still have 2 more days camping. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Since the problem started when you swapped toilets, the first place to look is the new toilet and its connection to the black tank. The smell in the front compartment is another clue to the same area - odor is escaping from somewhere low down. Not up the vent pipes.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I agree with Gary. I would check under the toilet to make sure the flange gasket is in good shape.

 

[Rene T]

I agree with Gary. I would check under the toilet to make sure the flange gasket is in good shape.

It should be a foam gasket and not wax. That’s what I’ve been told to use

 

[Bearcatrp]

I didn’t install it so not sure what they used. There is no leaking on top in bathroom and no leaking underneath when my son watched while I flushed the toilet for a good couple minutes. When I get home and empty the belly so I can remove the panel, I’ll grab the pipe that’s connected to the toilet to see if any movement. Would think if the odor is coming from that area, it would move. Since I had a Rv business install it, and they didn’t secure it properly or use the correct seal, shouldn’t get charged for it. It’s a lippert porcelain toilet.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Got the bad news today. One of the vent pipes failed, disconnected. May have to rip open a wall to get to it. Not going to like this bill at $120 an hour.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Sorry to hear that, but at least now you know how to fix the stinky problem.

 

[Rene T]

That going to be a crappy job!!!

 

[Bearcatrp]

I wouldn’t know anything about fixing that. At least this business doesn’t team you like most places. Still going to be a large bill if they have to remove the wall. Part of RV ownership so will bend over and cry when I get the bill. Have a big trip next month so will be nice not to smell sewer while camping.

 

[Rene T]

Was it your black tank vent or one of your gray tank vent?

 

[Bearcatrp]

Black tank.

 

[Kirk]

Let us know how this works out, if you would. We all may learn something new.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Will do.

 

[Edd505]

Might check the air admittance valve too might just be coincidence it went bad at the same time as the toilet. That was the issue in my prior 5W. Valve replace

 

[Rene T]

Might check the air admittance valve replace value too might just be coincidence it went bad at the same time as the toilet. That was the issue in my prior 5W.

An easy way to check that valve is to put a small zip lock bag over it then wrap an elastic around it. Keep an eye on it for a couple of hours.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Don’t think the black tank has a valve like the grey tanks have. Pretty sure the 2 black vents on the roof handle the ventilation.