Gray Tank Smells!

[oldmanjim]

This is a 2015 Travel Trailer. Been keeping it in the barn for several months without any problem.



Recently used it for a short trip. Upon return I clean, flushed and treated the black tank and emptied the grey tank. No real external means to flush the the grey tank out.



Well after sitting in the barn for a few weeks, the grey tank has started to snell.



So I was out of deodorizer, but got some the other day and put an appropriate amount for my tank and it has damped the smell a bit, but not completely. The tank is practically empty.


So I was just wondering what would be the appropriate amount of clean water with deodorizier to leave in the grey tank during these storage periods?

[craigav]

Originally Posted by oldmanjim

This is a 2015 Travel Trailer. Been keeping it in the barn for several months without any problem.



Recently used it for a short trip. Upon return I clean, flushed and treated the black tank and emptied the grey tank. No real external means to flush the the grey tank out.



Well after sitting in the barn for a few weeks, the grey tank has started to snell.



So I was out of deodorizer, but got some the other day and put an appropriate amount for my tank and it has damped the smell a bit, but not completely. The tank is practically empty.


So I was just wondering what would be the appropriate amount of clean water with deodorizier to leave in the grey tank during these storage periods?

I have used PineSol for such issues, each sink, shower, and into the tank. Each deodorizer brand seems to have different recommendations for how much to use.

[SmokerBill]

The only opening that you could be smelling the gray tank through is the rooftop vent.

Unless there's no water or RV antifreeze in the sink, lavatory or bathtub traps. If any of those are open, fumes from the gray tank will enter the trailer.

[16WhiteColly]

I would think if it sits for several weeks, the little water that is in the P traps could evaporate, then it’s a direct path for the smell from the grey tank to inside.

[CAG]

Gray tanks can smell worse that black considering the amount of food particles that go down the drain. Use Happy Camper. Put a scoop down the drain put about 20 gals or more of water in, let it sit for a few days then flush it.

[ggilbert]

we are believers in happy camper too. we switched to it last April. Sensors actually started working again.

[oldmanjim]

Originally Posted by oldmanjim

This is a 2015 Travel Trailer. Been keeping it in the barn for several months without any problem.



Recently used it for a short trip. Upon return I clean, flushed and treated the black tank and emptied the grey tank. No real external means to flush the the grey tank out.



Well after sitting in the barn for a few weeks, the grey tank has started to snell.



So I was out of deodorizer, but got some the other day and put an appropriate amount for my tank and it has damped the smell a bit, but not completely. The tank is practically empty.


So I was just wondering what would be the appropriate amount of clean water with deodorizier to leave in the grey tank during these storage periods?

Oh, guess I forgot to say, but the smell is just slightly noticeable in the RV, but very loud in the barn.



Thanks for the replies. The PineSol was a very good suggestion. I will mix up some in a gallon bucket and pour it in each of the drains.

[Brownie]

I put about a cup of bleach down my lavatory drain (GT #1) and kitchen sink drain (GT #2) about once every couple of months, then add a couple of gallons of water and let it until my next weekly dump. It keeps the drains from smelling and has also cleans my sensors. Since your rig is in storage, I'd fill the tanks as full as possible and let it set for a couple of days; then dump. After the dump, fill each trap with water to keep odors from traveling up the drain pipes.

If the smell is in the barn (rather than coming from the grey tanks) it might be coming from the barn itself. I you have a floor drain(s), pour a couple of gallons of water down it(them) to make sure the trap(s) are full. The other possibility is there's a critter that made its way into the barn and died. Follow your nose and you may be able to track down its carcass. If you have a dog, I'll bet he/she can track it down pretty quickly. Just don't let him/her roll in it!

[Ramman]

I use a Flush King to flush my gray tank often. It is amazing the sludge that comes out of it.

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by oldmanjim

This is a 2015 Travel Trailer. Been keeping it in the barn for several months without any problem.



Recently used it for a short trip. Upon return I clean, flushed and treated the black tank and emptied the grey tank. No real external means to flush the the grey tank out.



Well after sitting in the barn for a few weeks, the grey tank has started to snell.



So I was out of deodorizer, but got some the other day and put an appropriate amount for my tank and it has damped the smell a bit, but not completely. The tank is practically empty.


So I was just wondering what would be the appropriate amount of clean water with deodorizier to leave in the grey tank during these storage periods?

replace the air admittance valve under the sink. keep the toilet ball covered with water.

[16WhiteColly]

Just after overnight, when dumping, my grey tank has always smelled worse than the black and we wash dishes outside, so no food down the sink.

[harryjr]

Originally Posted by 16WhiteColly

Just after overnight, when dumping, my grey tank has always smelled worse than the black and we wash dishes outside, so no food down the sink.

X2 on the no food. We use fine mesh strainers in both sides of the kitchen sink and try to make sure that NOTHING other than soapy water goes into the gray tank. Knock on wood, we've never had a problem with odor.

[16WhiteColly]

I have two dedicated 5 gallon buckets was washing and rinsing dishes. We have never cooked inside either, except maybe microwaving something.

[lefoster]

to flush the grey water tank, I have put a hose in the tub and opened the dump valve and just let the hose run until all the junk comes out.
if you are parked where you are hooked to water and have hot water, i run the tub faucet and let hot water flush out the grey tank.

[16WhiteColly]

Never thought bath soap could smell so bad by just sitting overnight.

[Jagiven]

In the summer I always keep about 5 gallons of water in both of my tanks. Only time I get an odor is about 2 weeks after I put water back into the tank in the spring. Once the bacteria bloom is done, odor is gone.

[serge90]

replace the air admittance valve under the counter near the sink

[Bugman]

Another vote for Happy Camper. You'll only have about 3 gallons in the tank and no smell. All natural, that stuff really works!

[mlumia]

What I have been doing for the past 15 years after dumping my tanks is do drop 1/2 cup of full strength Simple Green down both black and grey tanks along with 10 gallons of water. On the drive home this mix is churned and it cleans both tanks and sensors. We usually stop at a public dump station on the way home to dump both tanks but if not, the mix will not hurt anything. This is super easy, cheap and biodegradable also. Plus the tanks smell great!!! Best of luck

[TaftCoach]

X5 or it's it x6 on Happy Camper. We only use it a few times a year in the gray but everytime in the black.