BoatBanter.com - Odor in the area where the holding tank is

Keith wrote:
You probably know my system, Peggie. All new stuff with a Ronco tank, and
all new Odorsafe hose EXCEPT the pumpout hose, which is original black
rubber. The bilge area it's in is very clean, but I'm still getting an odor
from somewhere. No leaks that I can find at all. I'm wondering: Does even
the Ronco tank transmit SOME odor? If not, the only other thing I can think
of is that the black hose is permeated. ??

It's not the tank, unless you have a fitting that isn't sealed
completely...did you use enough Teflon tape on the threads?

If that's not it, it has to be either the pumpout hose, or you have
trapped water somewhere. Trapped stagnant water can smell just like a
sewer, 'cuz it generates the same anaerobic sulphurous gasses. Remember
the couple I told you about who'd gone nuts trying to find the source of
their odor...replaced their whole sanitation system...the bilge was so
clean and dry you eat off it. They were stumped...I was stumped. Turned
out to be stagnant water trapped in the keel...it had been seeping
through leaking keel bolts for years. They finally found it when they
hauled the boat to repair some corrosion in the keel. She told me that
when they drilled into the keel, about 20 gallons of water poured out
that was so foul everyone had to leave the area. Repairing the keel and
sealing the bolts got rid of the odor.

However, before you start drilling into YOUR keel, use the wet hot rag
test to check the pumpout hose for permeation...and while you're testing
that one, check the others too. AVS96 (aka SeaLand OdorSafe) rarely
permeates, but it has happened. If it has, the good news is, it has a 5
yr part AND labor warranty against odor permeation, so it shouldn't cost
you anything.

--
Peggie
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Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1