I'm beginning to notice a stronger odor coming from the port side where my holding tank is located. Have added the deodorizer to the tank and it's only half full. The vent is also located nearby as well and I'm wondering if that might be the source. There is a vent filter installed, but it has not been changed in 2 or 3 seasons. Probably time for a new one, but was curious as to their life expectancy. Isn't that filter made up of carbon granules?
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Boat has BO (Bilge Odor)
- Thread starter jmicklov
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 3238
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- 4,831
Before we get into"the Great Filter Debate", my money is on your hoses being permeated...
Test for hose permeation first. Here is how:
Get an old ratty cotton cloth, soak it in hot water then wring it out till "well-moistened". Drape the damp, warm rag over the waste hose and let sit for a few ( ? 5 ? ) minutes. Then remove from hose with a "wiping motion". If cloth smells, your hose is permeated, is at least one source of the odor, and the hose(s) need to be replaced. Note that this is unrelated to any vent/filter issue. But it is a highly likely source of odor.
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Yes. The filters are made of activated carbon granules.
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I can't answer any filter issues, 'cause I don't believe in them and do not use them. I'll leave that for others to discuss.
Test for hose permeation first. Here is how:
Get an old ratty cotton cloth, soak it in hot water then wring it out till "well-moistened". Drape the damp, warm rag over the waste hose and let sit for a few ( ? 5 ? ) minutes. Then remove from hose with a "wiping motion". If cloth smells, your hose is permeated, is at least one source of the odor, and the hose(s) need to be replaced. Note that this is unrelated to any vent/filter issue. But it is a highly likely source of odor.
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Yes. The filters are made of activated carbon granules.
--
I can't answer any filter issues, 'cause I don't believe in them and do not use them. I'll leave that for others to discuss.
Bill,
Thanks. That is an easy test to do. It just now occurred to me that I may have another source. The previous owner of this boat had it on a lake in NH. Obviously, there's NO discharge period. So everything went into the holding tank. I re-routed some of the plumbing (galley sink, shower drain & sink etc.) to o/b discharge, but the cockpit sink that also goes into the holding tank was never changed over. So, obviously, if I don't keep that sink drain plug tight, there might be some venting back through this hose into the cockpit.
At times, the odor is more pronounced in the cockpit area than in the bilge itself. Needless to say, identifying if the hoses are permeated is a big step in identifying the source.
Thanks. That is an easy test to do. It just now occurred to me that I may have another source. The previous owner of this boat had it on a lake in NH. Obviously, there's NO discharge period. So everything went into the holding tank. I re-routed some of the plumbing (galley sink, shower drain & sink etc.) to o/b discharge, but the cockpit sink that also goes into the holding tank was never changed over. So, obviously, if I don't keep that sink drain plug tight, there might be some venting back through this hose into the cockpit.
At times, the odor is more pronounced in the cockpit area than in the bilge itself. Needless to say, identifying if the hoses are permeated is a big step in identifying the source.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 3238
- Messages
- 4,831
As a sort of side note:
The preferred method of handling "gray water" is send it to either o/b or to a separate gray water h/t. sending it to the black water tank makes it a vent...
Also, the reason, in household plumbing, for a "p-trap" is to keep odors in the plumbing, not the house. Same thing applies here. If you have a straight drain line, w/o p-trap, then that sink is a "vent" as well as a drain.
The preferred method of handling "gray water" is send it to either o/b or to a separate gray water h/t. sending it to the black water tank makes it a vent...
Also, the reason, in household plumbing, for a "p-trap" is to keep odors in the plumbing, not the house. Same thing applies here. If you have a straight drain line, w/o p-trap, then that sink is a "vent" as well as a drain.
quote:
Originally posted by Radioactive
As a sort of side note:
The preferred method of handling "gray water" is send it to either o/b or to a separate gray water h/t. sending it to the black water tank makes it a vent...
Also, the reason, in household plumbing, for a "p-trap" is to keep odors in the plumbing, not the house. Same thing applies here. If you have a straight drain line, w/o p-trap, then that sink is a "vent" as well as a drain.
Two excellent posts.
I don't believe a vent filter is a good idea either, and don't have one, but as for expected life, this is zero if you ever fill the tank to the point where liquid reaches the filter.
A drain from a sink to a holding tank without a trap is a no-no. Correct this ASAP. Putting the plug in the drain is not a solution.
Exactly. The reason I had not changed that was when doing the initial plumbing changes, was able to tap into an existing overboard hose with a "T" to connect the hose running from the head sink/drain sump. Thanks again for the feedback.
quote:
Originally posted by jmicklov
Exactly. The reason I had not changed that was when doing the initial plumbing changes, was able to tap into an existing overboard hose with a "T" to connect the hose running from the head sink/drain sump. Thanks again for the feedback.
I doubt that your boat was built to NH lake specifications, it was probably modified to meet them. You should be able to put everything back the way it was intended to be with little trouble.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 3238
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- 4,831
Let us know what you discover...