Has anyone found a product that effectively controls unpleasant odors in the head? To be blunt, my head smells like an outhouse! My wife has declared that she will not board until such time as the problem has been remedied. Would appreciate specific product recommendations. My holding tank is original (1983) so I don't know if the organic methods will work....from what I read, they require a "clean" tank.
Mike
1983 CD28 "Valhalla"
M.Little@telops.gte.com
Head
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Tony Raymond
Check the tank fittings
My holding tank is original (1983) so I don't know if the organic methods will work....from what I read, they require a "clean" tank.
Mike, a couple of years ago on my CD28 (power) I had that "septic tank" smell as well. I assume that CD was using the same tanks for power or sail. Mine was a white plastic (polyethelene SP?)After some carefull investigation, I discovered that the fittings entering the holding tank had been overtightened (probably at origional installation) and the tank had split at the threaded openings. The fittings are on the top so it wasn't leaking but the splits were allowing the nasty odor to make it's way throughout the v-berth,head and galley area. After replacement the problem was solved. NO MORE smell....even with a full tank that has sat for a week.
Getting up close and personal with your holding tank is not pleasant, but it's nothing a 3 hour hot shower can't solve.
Good luck.
Tony
tonraymond@digital.com
Mike, a couple of years ago on my CD28 (power) I had that "septic tank" smell as well. I assume that CD was using the same tanks for power or sail. Mine was a white plastic (polyethelene SP?)After some carefull investigation, I discovered that the fittings entering the holding tank had been overtightened (probably at origional installation) and the tank had split at the threaded openings. The fittings are on the top so it wasn't leaking but the splits were allowing the nasty odor to make it's way throughout the v-berth,head and galley area. After replacement the problem was solved. NO MORE smell....even with a full tank that has sat for a week.
Getting up close and personal with your holding tank is not pleasant, but it's nothing a 3 hour hot shower can't solve.
Good luck.
Tony
tonraymond@digital.com
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Dana
Re: Head
__________________________________________________________________Mike Little wrote: Has anyone found a product that effectively controls unpleasant odors in the head? To be blunt, my head smells like an outhouse! My wife has declared that she will not board until such time as the problem has been remedied. Would appreciate specific product recommendations. My holding tank is original (1983) so I don't know if the organic methods will work....from what I read, they require a "clean" tank.
Mike
Mike,
It sounds like you have a munity on your hands! Sorry I do not have a permanently installed head on my boat (I have a portable). But having tried a number of products which were unsatisfactory, we use the SEARS deordorant (liquid bottle). You will find it in the camping dept of the store (pack of 4). It's smell is fairly pleasant (wintergreen) and it LASTS. By LAST, I mean at least 6+ weeks in hot steamy weather. You may need to flush out that system a couple of times with a good deordorant to get it back in shape and your wife back on board. Good Luck.
Dana
darenius@aol.com
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bob loewenstein
Re: Head
When I took possession of our CD27, the previous owner had not pumped the holding tank out. I did, but about 4 inches of 'stuff' would not pump out. Every so often, a we could detect a foul smell. I flushed the tank with water and pumped it out about 3 or 4 times (each time diluting with more water). Pumping would still not get the last 4" and the smell was still there.Mike Little wrote: Has anyone found a product that effectively controls unpleasant odors in the head?
At last my wife (yes) and I took the bull by the horns (as it were) and removed the holding tank from the boat and cleaned it out with chlorine (I am not going to get graphic, here). I replaced the original hoses with the really good stuff (Home Depot has it at half the cost of the marine stores). The really good hose doesn't expand at all (although I think someone here said he placed the end in boiling water and was able to get it on the fittings). The deck fitting for pumpout is 1 5/8, not 1 1/2". I had to make a coupling to fit the hose to the fitting.
I hated to use the system, the tank was so clean. I also was able to fix the hose inside the tank so that it now sucks out all the 'stuff' down to the bottom. We have had no odor at all since this rather unpleasant task.
rfl@yerkes.uchicago.edu
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Steve Alarcon
Re: Head
Mike,
We had a small crack at the vent line from the holding tank. The vent line had become clogged due to overfilling of the holding tank, and each time the head was flushed fumes from the holding tank were pumped into the v-berth.
Also, I have discovered that using sea water to flush will result in some residual odor when the boat is sealed up. To limit this problem, I "rinse" the inside of the bowel with fresh water, (about a pint and a half). This probably isn't the problem you are experiencing, but it does help to control the smell a bit.
Good luck!
Steve Alarcon
CD30 Temerity
Seattle
alarcon@internetmci.com
We had a small crack at the vent line from the holding tank. The vent line had become clogged due to overfilling of the holding tank, and each time the head was flushed fumes from the holding tank were pumped into the v-berth.
Also, I have discovered that using sea water to flush will result in some residual odor when the boat is sealed up. To limit this problem, I "rinse" the inside of the bowel with fresh water, (about a pint and a half). This probably isn't the problem you are experiencing, but it does help to control the smell a bit.
Good luck!
Steve Alarcon
CD30 Temerity
Seattle
alarcon@internetmci.com
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Head
Mike,
When I purchased Hanalei(CD-30) this spring, she had been out of the water for two years. No head odor at all! Once in the water and with a little use, stink! There were a number of things contributing to the problem. 1st. The holding take vent line output thru hull(small vent on transom) was corroded shut. 2nd. The vent line itself was glogged with paper(?) for about 3 inches inboard of the thru hull(probably caused by overfill of the holding tank). 3rd. Because the vent was plugged, each time the head was pumped it overpressured the holding tank and caused the inch and one half line from the head to blow off the holding tank(the hydralic advantage must be large, your pumping into a large area with a small pump). Another source that can cause the smell, is the inlet sea water line from the thru hull to the head pump. Believe it or not, a lot of smell can come from this 12 -14 inch piece of hose. Sea water gets smelly fast! If you have any question, replace it! The 3/4 inch piece from the pump to the head is not usually a problem, but if you decide to replace that, be careful! The fitting where the hose connects to the bowl is a tappered, rubber gasketed fitting and it can be pulled out of the bowl very easily. If that happens, you will play #&*%% getting it back in. I know, the Pearson 30 next to us tried it and we had to remove the bowl from the boat to get it back in and it was still difficult. Once everything is vented properly, new hoses installed etc., pump a cup of regular bleach into the tank, take the boat for a ride to shake(not stir) the mixture, and pump it out(either at sea if legal distance or at P.O. station. Oh, also, clean the head bowl itself, try some On and Off hull cleaner if really dirty. O&O is acid, so read the label, drain the bowl and use a small paint brush to apply acid to dirty areas, flush it out with sea water, and it should be pristine! Hope this helps,
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
Hanalei
When I purchased Hanalei(CD-30) this spring, she had been out of the water for two years. No head odor at all! Once in the water and with a little use, stink! There were a number of things contributing to the problem. 1st. The holding take vent line output thru hull(small vent on transom) was corroded shut. 2nd. The vent line itself was glogged with paper(?) for about 3 inches inboard of the thru hull(probably caused by overfill of the holding tank). 3rd. Because the vent was plugged, each time the head was pumped it overpressured the holding tank and caused the inch and one half line from the head to blow off the holding tank(the hydralic advantage must be large, your pumping into a large area with a small pump). Another source that can cause the smell, is the inlet sea water line from the thru hull to the head pump. Believe it or not, a lot of smell can come from this 12 -14 inch piece of hose. Sea water gets smelly fast! If you have any question, replace it! The 3/4 inch piece from the pump to the head is not usually a problem, but if you decide to replace that, be careful! The fitting where the hose connects to the bowl is a tappered, rubber gasketed fitting and it can be pulled out of the bowl very easily. If that happens, you will play #&*%% getting it back in. I know, the Pearson 30 next to us tried it and we had to remove the bowl from the boat to get it back in and it was still difficult. Once everything is vented properly, new hoses installed etc., pump a cup of regular bleach into the tank, take the boat for a ride to shake(not stir) the mixture, and pump it out(either at sea if legal distance or at P.O. station. Oh, also, clean the head bowl itself, try some On and Off hull cleaner if really dirty. O&O is acid, so read the label, drain the bowl and use a small paint brush to apply acid to dirty areas, flush it out with sea water, and it should be pristine! Hope this helps,
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
Hanalei
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Paul Grecay
Re: Head
Here's a hint that will help with removing and replacing the hoses. You can sweat them on using a hot hair drier or even better, one of those heat guns that you use to remove paint (be careful with the latter!). In any case, the hoses get very pliable for a few minutes and will slide right on. Makes a big difference and prevents alot of skinned knuckles (not cool when working with the holding tank).
rfurman@dmv.com
rfurman@dmv.com
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Ed Haley
Re: Head
After a thorough check of the head system, I found my anti-siphon valve was faulty. It was allowing gas to enter the cabin. Not finding a replacement valve, I resorted to venting the antisiphon valve into the holding tank vent in the anchor locker. That solved the problem, almost. I then noticed that while we were heeled over while sailing on a starboard tack, any liquid on the floor under the head could leak into the seam between the floor and the wall just aft of the port settee. After sealing the crack up, all seems to be well.
eghaley@dreamscape.com
eghaley@dreamscape.com