That odor just won't go away...

1

1Northernstar

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Joined
Feb 15, 2007
RO Number
25222
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At the beginning of the year, I had that permeated holding tank odor in the boat. Previous owner had replaced some of the waste hoses, but not the "tough" ones. So I proceeded to replace all of them.

When I removed the hoses, I capped the ends - then pulled them thru the bilge areas. So there was almost no waste that got in the bilge when these were replaced.

At first, the odor seemed to go away - but now its back. Or did it just vastly improve, but
never fully go away?

When I replaced the hoses, I had an inlet Y-valve that diverted to the tank or direcly overboard. I removed that from the system and plumbed directly to the tank. So no leaky Y-valve causing a problem.

I also have an outlet Y-valve that diverts to the pumpout or to the macerator. I originally didn't change the short stubby hoses (approx 4") between the tank an the Y-valve and between the Y-valve and the macerator. Thinking these may have been the problem - I've since replaced these.

Still the smell exists....so now the questions:
- can the outlet Y-valve actually get permeated? Its a Whale systems waste Y-valve, but I don't know the age. A sniff test at less than 1" distance seems its pretty clean.
- can the macerator have a smell problem. It looks original, functions properly, and a sniff test also seems pretty clean.
- Can the holding tank get permeated? Its a poly tank (mfgr name escapes me - starts with "K" and is from midwest (Wisc?)
- can the new hoses get permeated in such a short time? These do have a little smell to them, but is the outter surface of the hose absorbing the smell (rather than is coming from the inside-out)?

I've hear PVC is the way to go. Is this really accurate? I can possible get a majority of it plumbed in PVC, but I'd have a few section of hose left. Is there any warnings/pitfalls from PVC?

I'm really at wits end trying to solve this odor problem. My next thought is to simply replace the entire waste system and start with new everything. But that's a chunk o' change I'd rather avoid if possible.

Thoughts/comments/input welcomed from all...

Thanks. Pat.
 
are you sure that there is no water standing in some hidden part of the boat??
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

are you sure that there is no water standing in some hidden part of the boat??

Click to expand...


I went through this same thing and found I had water (holding tank variety) hidden in a small crevass. If it got excessively humid or even a little wet in the bilge, this would stink the place up.

I used a "Toilet wand" with disposable clip on scrubby thingies to reach the tough spots. Worked like a charm.
 
Wow Pat,
It sounds like we are dealing with the same problems. Only difference is I don’t have any Y valves (Y valves = a $200.00 fine here on Texas lakes.) and I have a stainless waste tank. I have changed everything except the waste tank and the hose from the tank to the pump out deck fitting. I even installed a new head and macerator. That last section of hose is next on the list of things to do. I should have done it in the first place but I would have had to take most of my aft cabin apart and I got lazy. Yes, mistake on my part.
I have seen may a diagram showing a carbon type filter in the vent system that most people say will cause the odor but when I ran that hose I did not have one. I installed a filter and still have the odor. I was thinking about just replacing the tank but being a stainless tank I took it out and had steam cleaned inside and out. I still have the odor to a lesser degree then it was. The only time I smell it now is when I first get to the boat after it has been closed up for a week or so. I thought the smell had just permeated the upholstery so I went as far as steam cleaning everything made of cloth on the boat including the headliner. This smell is driving me nuts.

Gordon
 
When you say the "sniff test" how do you do it? The proper way to test for a fitting or component that may need replacement is to wrap a clean towell around the hose, valve, or tank and rub it back and forth and then sniff the towell. If there is stink on the component you will smell it on the towell. This sounds like a spill problem to me since you've done the hard part. I'd scrub the bilges with a good smelling bilge cleaner and see what that does if there are no sniff problems.
 
I do have a couple of bildge cavities that I can't seen/can't get to, that may be holding some residual waste water. I'd have to remove the water heater, furnace, etc to get to them. If I can't solve it and it persists, that's my winter job. However, change in outside temp doesn't have much affect on its overall potentcy, its always there, always about the same strength.

I have, however, essentially flooded all the local bilge cavities with hot water and bleach. These have all drained thru the small bilge pass-thru holes and into those cavities I cannot see, and eventually drains to my midship bilge pump. While its done a great job at cleaning out the crevices that were tough to reach/clean, the smell persists.

I'm confident that its not my vent hose. I changed the vent and vent hose last year, and the vent again this year (mainly for appearance since it was looking a little crusty, but was still open).

By sniff test, I mean putting my nose within 1/2" from the item. I've tried the rag test and it usually comes up fine (the rag test is not that easy to do with the Whale valve and macerator).

Gordon - I hear ya....this smell is driving me nuts. Hopefully, this thread will generate lots of input so we can solve it and move on to better things....
 
We have a support group going here.

My boat had a spill. I have changed everything, including flooding the bilge with cleaner.. Some areas I cant get to.
 
standing bilge water can get very stinky even if it is not from the waste tank. Wife thought we had a sewer smell, after extensive investigation I found water from rudder shaft packing in a hidden area.
Dont forget to flush your head outlet lines when putting the boat away for a while.
 
If you are sitting in salt water do not forget that little critters, (bacteria)sea urchins can get through the water intake screens. they attach to the lines and thru hulls and die. Then they stink!!!! If your flushing is done with sea water, that may be some of the problem.
 
We had the same "smelly" problem. Found out that ours was caused by the shower sumps. Every time we leave the boat we squirt some Raritan CP down the shower drains and we have had no more problem.
 
Well...the odor has been sent away.

I replaced the waste hoses with black pvc waste line. It didn't take very long and I was fortunate to have a pretty straight path from the head to the holding tank. No more droopy lines with low spots to collect waste, the pvc drains right into the holding tank. I also pvc'd the pumpout hose from the tank to the pumpout fitting as waste didn't always get entirely sucked out once it loses it vacuum. I did us the black rubber couplings to connect the pvc lines to the hardpoints (toilet, holding tank, etc) so as to allow for vibration and movement.

It was my newly replaced waste hoses that were the odor problem. I've read here before from Vic that hoses can get permeated in just a few months if not flushed cleanly. This must have been my case. Or I was sold hose that wasn't really the quality waste hose they said it was. Regardless, the smell is gone and I can move on....
 
Pat, glad to hear that the problem has finally been cured. People have got to understand that sanitation hoses, if they aren't the absolute best quality, can permeate in as little as 3 months. When someone says that the hoses were "just changed" - a few years back - that the "new" hose may have permeated all over again - particularly if there are low spots in the hose where sewage is able lie all the time. Switching over to rigid PVC pipe will correct the situation once and for all (if the hose has indeed permeated). But keep in mind that you can also get a sewer smell if you have stagnant water in a corner of the bilge, where it can't drain out. So don't simply assume that the toilet system is automatically at fault when you've got undesireable smells onboard.
 
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