Tried EVERYTHING, Head Still Smells

[zeehag]

use vinegar in th system then rinse then use odorlos.
works well on regular manual heads and cuts the stinky salt, which bleach will not do.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Then that simply means there is an extension inside the tank, or else the pump out wouldn't work. The location of the outlet on the tank in that case does not reflect what is built inside the tank.

Correct!

Also, a pump-out does not completely empty the tank, I calculate 1-2 gallons below the inside-the-tank-extension. Of course, the overboard discharge line is stlll full above the valve. An overboard discharge does completely empty the tank.

The positive of this design is no Y valve....just a straight ball-valve on the overboard discharge line. No valve to operate for a pump-out.

[Teknav]

Hi Zee! I think the problem with the head is that all the crud is not totally being emptied; hence the odor. He needs to be sure that after a flush, clear/clean water is present all around, without any residues. Using "detergents" is just masking the problem.

Mauritz

[Sid at SailAway]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Maybe not head? If you have a big trap (loop) in in the discharge line from a sink in the head, standing water in there can begin to smell. We keep a small plunger handy to occasionally force standing water out of that trap... and we also sometimes treat it with C.P. (one of Peggie's products).


-Chris

No traps, the sink drain goes straight down and out the side through hull. I use the CP on the sink and shower drains.

Originally Posted by Delfin

As noted above when you get tired of replumbing or replacing lines, wrapping the hoses with Petro tape solves the problem.

Could you further explain this petro tape? What is a source?

[Sid at SailAway]

Originally Posted by Sid at SailAway

No traps, the sink drain goes straight down and out the side through hull. I use the CP on the sink and shower drains.



Could you further explain this petro tape? What is a source?

Nevermind on the source. Found the link in your previous post...thx

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by Sid at SailAway

Could you further explain this petro tape? What is a source?

It's used on oil rigs, commercial vessels and other extreme environments to create a water and oxygen proof seal for metal parts. I use it to wrap hydraulic fittings on deck, and you can apply it on mild steel, take the tape off 5 years later after exposure to salt water and the metal shows no sign of corrosion. They use it to wrap steel pilings underwater to prevent corrosion if that helps understand its effectiveness.

I have a check valve on the line out of the black water tank so black water stands in that line as well, so I wrapped it with PT once I could detect odor and it pretty much eliminated it.

The product is cloth tape impregnated with a waxy product that does the sealing. You can smoosh it around fittings and it adheres to whatever you use it on, or just wrap it around the lines. Since it seals metal against oxygen infiltration, I assumed it would seal exfiltration of other gases, and it seems to. You can get it at many commercial fisheries supply stores. Stores catering to dude boats probably have never heard of it.

Worth a shot.....

BC Petro Tape
Denso North America - Denso Densyl Tape

[Sid at SailAway]

An update...So far things are looking-smelling good. It's been really hot for a few days and this weather makes for a good test. I'll give it a few more days and then report back on what I ended up doing....