Tried EVERYTHING, Head Still Smells

[Sid at SailAway]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

Maybe it is not the head?

How long have you been out?

Now that's funny!

I'll replace the intake hose and flush with fresh water for a few days and see what happens. There has to be an answer to this. The port head is fine and it has original hoses from 2001!

[ohdrinkboy]

Originally Posted by Don L

how about you get a big bucket of fresh water and use it to flush the heads for a few days and see it the smell goes away, if so it the brackish flush causing the odor

This might not be said often enough, but.....smart man

A low effort diagnostic tool.

[Capt.Alex]

That hissing sound you are hearing could be an indication that your vent line is partially clogged and when you flush you are pressurizing the holding tank. The back pressure could be sending odors up the line, as well as odors coming from the vent hose itself...

Or, you said the Y valve is original, maybe some gasses escaping around it when you flush, hence the hissing sound....

[Dennis.G]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

One more tidbit of a clue, is that sometimes when we pump the lines dry I hear a gurgling or hissing sound from the head.
Pretty typical sometimes

This makes me suspect a clogged vent. Gurgles and hissing could be from pressure build up in holding tank. Could then force gas out somewhere (maybe anti-siphon valve).

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by Sid at SailAway

One more tidbit of a clue, is that sometimes when we pump the lines dry I hear a gurgling or hissing sound from the head.

Change the base valve and the joker valve (#16 & #33 in the pic). Gurgling is because the base valve isn't seating any longer, you need a new one.

I find the base valve and joker need changing at least annually and I have done it more often when necessary.

And while you are at it, lube the pump.

I'd bet the smell goes away as right now your toilet is acting as a parallel vent for the tank.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Sid at SailAway

...

6) Here is the way we flush for both #1 and #2...Jabsco head by the way...Add water to bowl and do business then pump until contents are gone and then 10-15 more pumps. After that, we pump 4-5 times to put more water in bowl, then pump 15-20 times until we feel the hose is clear.
...

You must have a massive holding tank. If we pumped like you do when we are using the holding tank it would fill up in a couple of days.

[Sid at SailAway]

Originally Posted by DotDun

Change the base valve and the joker valve (#16 & #33 in the pic). Gurgling is because the base valve isn't seating any longer, you need a new one.

I find the base valve and joker need changing at least annually and I have done it more often when necessary.

And while you are at it, lube the pump.

I'd bet the smell goes away as right now your toilet is acting as a parallel vent for the tank.

Originally Posted by Paul L

You must have a massive holding tank. If we pumped like you do when we are using the holding tank it would fill up in a couple of days.

The pump is a new assembly installed in December and have replaced the joker valve once already a month ago. The bottom seal could be the culprit.

The holding tank is 20 gallons and is only used by my wife, I use the port side, that's why we can flush with lots of water and still go for four days before emptying.

I'll add a pump rebuild along with intake hose change out as the weekend project...

[Badsanta]

1-1/2 vent line? Are you sure that does not lead to the deck pump out?

[Sid at SailAway]

Originally Posted by Badsanta

1-1/2 vent line? Are you sure that does not lead to the deck pump out?

The vent line is 1 1/2". All the lines leading to and from the holding tank are 1 1/2". I should have plenty of ventilation to the tank with this size line. I'm curious if the bacteria have a chance to start working if the tank is emptied every four days.

[Badsanta]

I would not think so. I really dont mean to be a pain. An 1-1/2 vent is great. But I have never seen one on a 20 gal tank. Have you followed all to the end? What and where does the vent line go and connect to? Still sounds like you have a cloged or no vent. Bleach will cause rubber parts to get hard and to not seal right.

[Lagoon4us]

Sid one of our three toilets has the raw water feed behind the discharge causing the raw water filter to fill with contaminated feces/water should you pump out with the dump valve open.

It took us a while to realise this stupid plumbing error, now all smells are GONE!!!!!

[poiu]

Are all the fittings at the top of the black tank airtight? You could block the vent and fill the tank it to test for escaping air. This was the cause of a stinky head for me.

[Capt Phil]

Just a thought... how old is your black water holding tank? If plastic, the sewage smell could becoming from the tank walls or bottom. Does the smell come from the head closest to the tank? Your vent line at 1 1/2" seems to be pretty large to me. Lagoon4us may have a good point on the pumpout if both the vent and pumpout line are the same diameter. Lots of good suggestions to check out here... good luck, Phil

[sy_gilana]

Stick your head into the head. Does it smell there?
Clean under the rim of the bowl, its the only place the flush does not get to.
(David Old Jersey - What are you eating...hahahaha)

[krafthaus]

I read a suggestion one time to put a couple drops of eucalyptus oil in the bowl each flush and they reported it kept their head smelling fresh.