coachjeff
St. Charles, Mo
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The question I have is this. I installed one of the bigger vortex fans in place of the little exhaust fan in the bathroom and now when it runs it pulls a bad odor, i assume from the vent under the bath sink. It has the vent under the counter instead of thru the roof. My question is anything I can do to eliminate the smell? I know I cant get rid of the vent, and I like the air that the fan moves but at times it is tough to take. Any ideas?
Me, Wife, 3 kids and a dog
2010 Keystone Passport 285RL
2005 GMC Crew Cab 4 wheel drive.
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adrianb
Longview, WA
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Have you tried treating your black tank with some of the over-the-counter products? I just read about The Geo Method and will try this for black tank maintenance.
Good luck.
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jdonnell
Colorado
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Joined: 09/19/2008
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Hi,
Does the fan have an IN and OUT switch?
If so, try moving the switch to the IN position (assuming it is drawing air IN the TT).
Hope this might be an option for you.
Enjoy!!
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Sean Boburk
Texas
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Not familiar with your vent, but have one like that in my kitchen in my brick and mortar house. I did some checking, and there is a one way valve kind of gizmo that can be installed. Since I have not done it yet, I can't speak to how effective it will be, but it is supposed to only allow air to be sucked into the pipe, not out. Might be worth checking into.
2011 Flagstaff 29SKBS
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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Although it has a 'vent' under the sink it also has a vent line thru the roof. The 'vent' under the sink is to keep the 'p' trap on sink drain from getting the water sucked out of it when you drain your tank.
As you have found out....grey tank odors can smell just as bad as black tank.
You should only smell black tank odors if: toilet bowl is not holding water,
toilet floor gasket is leaking or running exhaust fan when flushing toilet.
Grey tanks odors when running exhaust fan can occur:
if 'p' trap on sink or shower do not have water in them
or 'vent' under sink is no longer sealing. These vents open downward under 'negative' pressure when you are draining tank and if properly working close upward under spring pressure (running your exhaust fan should pull it shut not open it). They can be easily replaced (Lowes/Home Depot etc.) they just screw into fitting on drain line....cheap also.
"Air Admittance Valve"
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javaseuf
California's Gold Coast
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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That vent under the sink shouldn't be the issue since it's spring-loaded diaphram is in the normally closed position. It isn't opened until it senses a vacume when dumping the tank, that it opens.
That vent may be bad, staying in the open position.
The other way to eliminate the odor would be to open a window so air is being drawn from another source and not through the vent.
Another issue could be a defective seal under the toilet.
* This post was
edited 07/13/11 05:19pm by javaseuf *
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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When you flush the toilet, be sure to close the lid first and then also turn off the fan. That should help.
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AZ T&T
Mesa, AZ
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If you have a window cracked open somewhere in your TT your fan will draw there air in from there.
AZ T&T
2012 Jayco Eagle Super Lite 29.5RKS
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coachjeff
St. Charles, Mo
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I may have to check the Air Admittance Valve to see if it is working. That should be an easy fix if its not.
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ExRocketScientist
Laurel, MD
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Joined: 11/11/2010
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Old-Biscuit wrote:Although it has a 'vent' under the sink it also has a vent line thru the roof. The 'vent' under the sink is to keep the 'p' trap on sink drain from getting the water sucked out of it when you drain your tank.
As you have found out....grey tank odors can smell just as bad as black tank.
You should only smell black tank odors if: toilet bowl is not holding water,
toilet floor gasket is leaking or running exhaust fan when flushing toilet.
Grey tanks odors when running exhaust fan can occur:
if 'p' trap on sink or shower do not have water in them
or 'vent' under sink is no longer sealing. These vents open downward under 'negative' pressure when you are draining tank and if properly working close upward under spring pressure (running your exhaust fan should pull it shut not open it). They can be easily replaced (Lowes/Home Depot etc.) they just screw into fitting on drain line....cheap also.
"Air Admittance Valve"
Thank you, thank you , thank you. I had to get down on my hands and knees a couple of weeks ago to find something under the bathroom sink. I saw this vent and was scratching my head. My sink goes into the black tank and I never smelled anything. Your explanation has cleared things up. I have not looked to see if the kitchen sink has something similar.
ERS
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