smelly loo

[deep denial]

Any suggestions for best treatment for smelly heads - on an infrequently used boat, which has a holding tank? thanks

 

[pbirrell]

We put a cupful of vingar down the heads last this before we leave. Not foolproof but usually helps a lot.

 

[ccscott49]

The smell is probaly coming from the inlet pipe, when sea water is left in there in the dark, the critters in the water, die, producing H2S gas, (rotten eggs/stink bomb) this is what you smell, theres a unit you can buy which fits in the inlet hose and puts a measured amount of something in the inlet water, and stops it smelling. If it's a smell from the holding tank, then there are anti smelly compounds for it as well, check your chandlers.

Where's Headmistress, she is the guru on all things sanitary or un-sanitary!

 

[FullCircle]

Well tried and tested this one.

Simple answer is to replace the sea water in the inlet pipe,bowl and outlet pipe with fresh WATER.
Do this simply by:

1. Insert a plastic T piece in the SINK outlet pipe.
2. Insert a plastic T piece in the HEADS inlet pipe.
3. Add a Gate valve between the sink and the heads inlet.

Each time you leave the boat do this:

1. Close the Sink outlet seacock
2. Close the Heads Inlet seacock
3. 1/2 fill the sink with fresh water.
4. Open the installed new gate valve, allowing the fresh water into the Heads inlet pipe.
5. Pump the heads until the sink is empty.
6. Close the new gate valve.
7. Your system now has fresh water in it.

Advantage: you can put nice smelly stuff in the fresh water in the sink before allowing it into the system.
You can also put coca cola in the system to eat the limescale.
You can also add a bit of olive oil to lubricate the pump seals.

I have this on my boat, and installed it on a fellow forumites boat last weekend.

No need to use very expensive marine fittings either - go to the plumbers merchant to save dosh, and get the 12 required stainless jubilee clips from A2A4 or similar.

PS, Vinegar is good, but make sure it is White Vinegar, not non brewed condiment....

 

[deep denial]

thanks

 

[Amari]

[ QUOTE ]
You can also put coca cola in the system to eat the limescale

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow, sounds like a good idea. How does it work? I took off inlet and outlet hoses a few months ago and was amazed that limescale was nearly blocking lumen completely - after only 2 years. Have now inserted gadget on input hose which contains blue tablet. At least the loo water looksa pretty colour

 

[Hardley]

2 Posts of mine from earlier this year, still no smells.

Post 1
I have heard of some device that allows an additive to be added to the inlet near the seacock to sterilise the water but do not know from where such a device hails,
I fitted one of these 2 years ago, made no difference to the smell.

Post 2.
Had the same problem until I was given this tip;
Close inlet valve, pump as much water out as possible, put some fresh water in bowl (I use 2 kettle fulls) put one Milton tablet in bowl or one teaspoon full (the stuff used to clean baby's feeding bottles) leave for a few minutes, pump out until bowl is nearly empty and then close outlet valve, end of smells.

 

[dickh]

I did exactly as FullCircle on my previous boat and can guarantee that adding fresh water to the inlet pipe works. Don't bother with the 'in-line' deodorants, they don't work, just make the water a nice blue colour!

 

[Dragonfly]

adding denture tablets sometimes helps too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[FAITIRA]

Try pumping dry and leaving the system full of CHEAP vinigar, close the seacocks when you think system is full. But it is a common prob with boats that are left unused. Another thing may be, install sanitary grade hose on inlet and outlet, (if it isn,t already), it does make a big difference.

 

[FAITIRA]

The vinigar by the way helps to clear the lime scale.