bathroom odor
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7658
Printed Date: 22 Jun 2025 at 4:17am
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Topic: bathroom odor
Posted By: RoadToad
Subject: bathroom odor
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2016 at 11:01pm
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OK so we have had our 2015 Rpod 179 for about 5 months, bought it used and we have never used the bathroom toilet for solid wastes- only an occasional need to relieve our bladders. I've flushed the black tank prolly half a dozen times. The toilet appears to be functioning perfectly- holding about 1/2"-1" of flush water in the bottom when flushed- indicating a good tight seal. The problem is there is a #2 odor that we smell sometimes when entering the bathroom- and we can't seem to figure where it comes from. We have put a small amount of bleach down the toilet to no avail. Anybody got any ideas for a simple fix for this? RoadToad ------------- 2015 RP179 |
Replies:
Posted By: funks
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2016 at 11:13pm
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RoadToad Does your blackwater flush system work ok? The reason I ask is some valves were install backwards and if that is the case you would get order from under the sink.
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Posted By: RoadToad
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2016 at 11:17pm
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No odor from under sink....When I flush the blackwater tank blows water out the drain so I think that's working right. Our fantastic fan was blowing BACKWARDS when we bought it- blowing air from outside into the bathroom. We had to switch the wires on the switch to correct that one. RT ------------- 2015 RP179 |
Posted By: Up the Pitt
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 1:37am
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We have exactly the same issue with our 2015 R-Pod 179 - an occasional odour in the bathroom. And like the OP, we have only ever used the bathroom for urine (and we bought ours new, so we know no-one else used it for solid waste, either). I raised this issue during a recent visit to the dealership, and they said it's probably a smell from the grey water tank (which we certainly have used, for maybe a total of 2.5 weeks' dishwashing - no showers yet). I guess the grey water tank can get a bit funky, and the smell can waft up through the bathroom? Not sure how ... ------------- Traveling with Len (the fella) and Ted (the cat) 2016 RP 179 - 2010 Nissan Frontier (6-cyl) http://www.upthepitt.com - http://www.upthepitt.com |
Posted By: funks
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 12:29pm
| I treat both tanks, black and gray. We don't use the sink in the bathroom much but you always want to make sure you have water in the p-trap under the sink. I winterize my 179 with air but I always make sure to have fluid in the p-traps with rv antifreeze. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 2:37pm
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make sure there is water in the P trap of the shower. They dry out/evaporate after a while if you don't shower in them, or over the winter etc..
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Posted By: dmcglannan
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 4:10pm
| We are considering getting a 171 R-pod but I am concerned about the questions being raised about solid waste odor. For us one of the reasons for moving from a tent to an RV is to have a bathroom. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 4:40pm
Any restroom, mobile or otherwise can stink. Just like socks. Clean and maintain. No issues. Just like home. If bathroom odor was a real problem, there would be about 8 million less RV's on the road. ------------- |
Posted By: dmcglannan
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 5:07pm
| Thanks. I did talk to my husband who had a sailboat so he knows the hazards. Since we are considering the 171, i just wanted to ask. |
Posted By: jstrenn
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 6:55pm
I have read a few articles stating that you should never dump chlorine in the black tank. It kills all the beneficial bacteria that breaks down the waste. So essentially you could be compounding the problem and making it worse by dumping bleach down the toilet. I would dump your black water tank and give it a very thorough flushing. Then only use the chemicals made specifically for black water tanks. They contain enzymes and bacteria to break down the waste properly. Thats all I ever use and so far never have any issues.
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 8:07pm
Bingo. This is a problem every time we stop with our current camper. Moving the camper empties it. Adding a cup of water is part of our setup. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 8:10pm
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When we had our 171 I think the dealer had to tighten the toilet to the floor at one point when we were having odor issues. Also be sure the wind isn't carrying odor from the rooftop tank vent into the roof vent, if it is open. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 9:13pm
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Also, if you are running the Fantastic Fan, make sure adequate windows are open to let air in. I found out that if you don't, it will pull air up through the toilet trap when it is open for flushing. It happened while the tank was still cleaned out from winterizing, but I was adding the chemical packet and water to get it ready for use this coming weekend.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: shroomer
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 9:24pm
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Re: Things that can stink in a pod: We've dealt with 3 stink issues: 1. Seal at the bottom of the toilet - replaced it. Be careful tightening - it's only plastic. 2. Dealer caulked the top of the toilet vent stack and it eliminated a black water odor and leak. 3. Replaced the air valve on the kitchen sink waste line. Cost a few bucks and got rid of an awful odor under the sink. A camper is just another name for a rolling earthquake. Things get loose and break. ------------- Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 10:20am
We have had owners that fought a smell for YEARS, and when this item was pointed out.. BOOM!! all better. I have seen a couple craptastic installs of that vent,, and yet they worked fine, and a couple text book installs that didn't. Tracked one down at the 2015 minimini actually. Owners had been battling the odor for a year, was so bad at the minimini they were going to break camp and go home. $4 and 10 minutes.. all better. ------------- |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 10:27am
If CT is anything like MA, they don't finish fixing all the potholes and frost heaves until Columbus Day!  ------------- |
Posted By: shroomer
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 9:57pm
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CT is pretty bad, but the worst stretch of road we drive on (multiple times a year) is the last two mile stretch to Tolland State Forest in Otis, MA. It is literally two miles of frost heaves. I should go 15 mph tops but never do. ------------- Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8 |
Posted By: les olvera
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 10:23pm
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I have a 2012 R-171, and I have never had an odor in either the black or gray tank. I graduated from tent to the R-171 no comparison I will never sleep in a tent again. When I come back from a trip I treat and flush both tanks. ------------- Les |
Posted By: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 12:12am
Can you be more specific about what and where this is? ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 12:55am
 ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: shroomer
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 7:01am
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Good pic. In most household sink installations, there is T on the waste line that goes up a vent pipe. It's usually buried in a wall so you don't see it though. Sinks that are in islands and some other locations can't do this so they use an "air vent" or "utility vent", which allows for the limited passage of air but seals up when not needed. The picture you see is under the sink and the vent is the little black screw-on fitting at the top of the pipe. It has a little flapper in it. If it doesn't work properly you get gray-tank gasses coming up inside the sink cabinet. It is not a pleasant smell. It is an easy fix. ------------- Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8 |
Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 10:44am
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Had a similar issue and found that the drain pipes under the kitchen sink were loose and dripping a little water. Tightened up the couplings and all was good. Yeah, gray water stinks too... ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 11:59am
Thanks! I'm familiar with roof vents, of course, but I had never heard of this. Haven't personally had any odor problems but I like to keep informed, just in case. ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |