Head problem

[seacolt]

I have a really bad odor comming out of both heads . Valve is in discharge overboard. Oder is outside the boat and is really really bad. Any quick fix for the weekend?

 

[Pascal]

"Valve is in discharge overboard"

where are you located? you do realize that this is illegal in US waters and up to 3 miles offshore, rigth? if you get borded and they find your valve open, or even closed but NOT LOCKED, you will get a fine.

If the odor is outside the boat, it's coming out of the vent. besides tank treatment, your best bet woudl be to add a sealand charcoal filter on the vent line. about $80 or so.

 

[ThirdHatt]

Do you have freshwater heads or seawater heads? That makes a BIG difference!

It sounds like your problem is with the water in the heads, not the affluent leaving the heads so if so where it goes when it leaves the bowl is irrelevant for this problem. Look at the Raritan Toilet Water Kit (or like product) to treat the sea water coming into your heads.

Salt water will emit an unpleasant egg-smell (sulfur) when used to flush heads. Raritan's TWK will treat the water with an environmentally safe chemical to get rid of any odor and stop any bacteria growth in the water.
GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Pascal]

i dont 'know abotu that... he said "odor is outside the boat", that tells me it's the vent, not the water coming in.

 

[ThirdHatt]

i dont 'know abotu that... he said "odor is outside the boat", that tells me it's the vent, not the water coming in.

Pascal, I was adressing his opening statement of "odor is coming out of both heads", not his last comment that the odor is also outside the boat.

Out of curiosity, how would outside odor come from a vent that is on a holding tank that he is not using while the valve is in overboard discharge position?

 

[Captned]

Maybe he just needs to flush it!

Captned....

 

[Pascal]

good point... i wondered about that too... gotto love posts that aks for help but are incomplete!

 

[seacolt]

Sorry for the lack of information on my post. I was steaming in from an offshore fish trip while typing post on my iphone. In regards to discharge zones, I was (35 miles offshore) when discharge valve was open. But thanks for your concern.
The odor is most prevalent outside the boat in the cockpit area. Yes I do have raritan saltwater heads and the strong sulfur smell appears when flushing either head. I just thought that if the valve to the holding tank is closed then how is the smell coming out of the vent ? I never had a problem with sulfur smell before until now.
After poking around today I noticed the pump out hose looked pretty bad and had some of that same smell around it. I guess I will start with treating the tank and replacing the pump out hose.

 

[newinlet]

Wayne, I have the Raritan head also there is a tank that you can mix treatment and water with so every time you flush it deodorizes the liquid going to the tank. I also put a little treatment into the holding tank with some fresh water when it is empty. I had the same problem with my boat and that cured it. I do not think it matters what position the valve is in the odor comes from the vent. Sealand max control is the stuff we use you may not even have to replace the hose

 

[seacolt]

Thanks Jim , I will try that