Septic odor

Shaps

Shaps

Well-Known Member
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Nov 4, 2019
2,478
Long Island,NY
Boat Info
2010 Sundancer 500
2015 Brig Falcon 330T
Engines
Twin Cummins QSC550 w Zeus Pods
Went down to the boat today, all seemed fine until I opened the door to the aft head. A VERY strong septic odor. No vacuum leak, the bowl still had water in it, the light was green. I have been using Noflex Digestor all summer with no issue(and no smell). The forward head is fine, no smells whatsoever. Both heads have new lines that were replaced in May. The smell appeared to be emanating from where the head meets the floor.
I would have assumed if it were a leak, the head wouldn't hold a vacuum, but it does.
Any suggestions? Wifey will not be pleased if this doesn't get resolved quickly.

Thanks!
Shaps
 
Sure it’s the holding tank and not the air conditioner? Sometimes it can stink quite a bit from stuff that grows in the drain pan and lines, like rotten eggs.
 
The odor is only in the aft head, not even in the aft cabin. I will check the pans tomorrow, but pretty sure its something in the septic system. Thanks, I will check and report back.
 
Just as an aside I throw noflex into the sumps and ac pans. It might be wasteful, but I figure it can’t hurt.
 
If you replaced hoses I suspect a hose leak perhaps? Maybe a clamp gave out or a hose pulled off?
 
I agree but if it were a leak would I still be able to hold a vacuum?
 
It may be a slow leak and depending on how long you are on the boat it may be holding a vacuum for several hours until it cycles. Shut off the system when you leave and see if it has vacuum after a day or two. I try to never leave the heads live when I leave in case something gets stuck in a valve seal and the pump runs on while we are not there.
Good luck finding it.
Carpe Diem
 
You sure it is from the toilet? I would consider the shower sump also...
 
Good point, thanks @ocgrant . Will check tomorrow.
Just odd that the odor is contained just in that head. Fun Fun Fun...

Edit:
Just realized I did not identify the model toilet.

It is a VacuFlush 5006.
 
Last edited:
Does the ac condensation drain and aft head share the same drain line over board. If so the order from a sour ac system could come up through the sink drain?
 
Seems it is a very slight vacuum leak. After sitting overnight, the vacuum pump came on for maybe 10 seconds when I flipped the breaker. It usually doesn't need that 'top off'. Will be ordering seals, etc. Thanks for all the suggestions. I literally checked them all!
Thanks everyone!
 
Well, no vacuum leak. Had a marine sanitation co come down and check. They said 100% no vacuum leak. They smelled the odor, and surprised it is localized only to the aft head. They were stumped, as am I.
The sump and pans were now double checked.Nothing.

I am thinking of lifting up the head, just to see if there is anything happening below it.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
 
When I bought our boat I pulled both toilets and took them home and acid washed them.... a lot of gunk came out of the water passages... very gross. I hate plumbing!!
 
Thanks @Blueone

Anything more to it than the bolts on the flange and the water valve?
 
Blueone said:
I have a pipe clamp that hold the bowel to the base...remove that and the water supply and away you go.... not sure what you have
Click to expand...
Thank you..
Getting desperate
 
Is your aft head a shower too ? We don't use our shower in the aft head but I do run water down the drain several times a year just to flush it out. Make sure your sump box is sparkly clean too. Also, water is your friend when flushing, the more the better.
 
I had an odor that I thought was the toilet, but it ended up being the washer/dryer. We never use it on our boat. A friend of mine was checking out the boat and opened the washer door. He shut it, but did not get it latched. Once air got to the water, it started getting nasty. I think the washer can get lake water through the drain hose and I guess that what made the septic odor ( I have no idea how else water got in there unless one of the guests turned it on and a little bit and did not let it spin the water out). No telling how long the stagnant water had been in the washer tub, but it got nasty. I tore the boat apart looking for the source of the odor before I figured it out. I ran an empty load through the washer and it cleared it up. Now I run it once a month or so to prevent nasty water. I was sure the smell was coming from the head.....nope.

Keith
 
The Bill Collector said:
Is your aft head a shower too ? We don't use our shower in the aft head but I do run water down the drain several times a year just to flush it out. Make sure your sump box is sparkly clean too. Also, water is your friend when flushing, the more the better.
Click to expand...

Yes, the aft head is the head shower combination.

@The crime scene , no washer dryer on my boat. We needed the extra space in that cabinet.

Took the head apart last night, took the flange out and all was fine. No odor emanating there or the area underneath the head. I had to run after putting it back together, but thinking you are correct, it may be the shower drain line. The sump box is clean, for sure. I will run some water and maybe some type of cleaning solution through that shower drain just to be sure. Thank you for all the suggestions.
 
ocgrant said:
You sure it is from the toilet? I would consider the shower sump also...
Click to expand...

Grant, I think you nailed it. I feel like a dumbass that I assumed because the sump box looked ok it was ok. Took a whiff by the shower drain in the aft head and the odor seemed to be emanating from there. Took the cover off and... well. You get the idea. Gave it a thorough cleaning and dropped in a clorox cake.

Any opinion on if it is ok to leave the bleach cake in there? I've read here and elsewhere it could be hard on the wiring and make the piping brittle. I'm going to leave it there, at least temporarily as we will be on the boat all weekend.
 
Shaps said:
Grant, I think you nailed it. I feel like a dumbass that I assumed because the sump box looked ok it was ok. Took a whiff by the shower drain in the aft head and the odor seemed to be emanating from there. Took the cover off and... well. You get the idea. Gave it a thorough cleaning and dropped in a clorox cake.

Any opinion on if it is ok to leave the bleach cake in there? I've read here and elsewhere it could be hard on the wiring and make the piping brittle. I'm going to leave it there, at least temporarily as we will be on the boat all weekend.
Click to expand...
I have been using a toilet puck in mine for 13 years...
2019-08-24 14.40.35.jpg
 
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