Washing Powder In The Holding Tank

paultallett

paultallett

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Foloowing on from the recent thread about smelly holding tank vents (again), somebody mentioned they had been using washing powder for years....... So I thought I'd give it a try!!

Armed with the cheapest (79p) Wilkinsons bio powder we gave it a try..... Arrived at the boat Saturday to the normal performance, flushed the water from the pipes through then put a sprinkling down on the next flush......... Then within 3 hours no more smell from the vent when the toilet was further used!!

So..... it works...... BUT will it do any longer term damage to the system if used more often??

Regards Paul.
 
paultallett said:
Foloowing on from the recent thread about smelly holding tank vents (again), somebody mentioned they had been using washing powder for years....... So I thought I'd give it a try!!

Armed with the cheapest (79p) Wilkinsons bio powder we gave it a try..... Arrived at the boat Saturday to the normal performance, flushed the water from the pipes through then put a sprinkling down on the next flush......... Then within 3 hours no more smell from the vent when the toilet was further used!!

So..... it works...... BUT will it do any longer term damage to the system if used more often??

Regards Paul.
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It is possible the right bugs are in the Bio powder .... I don t know the answer but I know a lady who probably does??????? I shall drop her a note and stand clear of her cane :D:D
 
paultallett said:
Foloowing on from the recent thread about smelly holding tank vents (again), somebody mentioned they had been using washing powder for years....... So I thought I'd give it a try!!

Armed with the cheapest (79p) Wilkinsons bio powder we gave it a try..... Arrived at the boat Saturday to the normal performance, flushed the water from the pipes through then put a sprinkling down on the next flush......... Then within 3 hours no more smell from the vent when the toilet was further used!!

So..... it works...... BUT will it do any longer term damage to the system if used more often??

Regards Paul.
Click to expand...

I've done this for years and agree it works very well. Doesn't do any harm to system. I fill the tank via the deck outlet using a hosepipe, and pour the Persil down there too, rather than by flushing the loos. I fill the tank about 50% then take it to sea to slosh it around, then pump out
 
The advantage of washing powder is it is low foaming!

Not like someone who shall be nameless, who poured the best part of a full bottle of shampoo down the the loo.... The holding tank almost exploded with foam and the trail when emptying had to be seen to be believed! :-)
 
tico said:
The advantage of washing powder is it is low foaming!

Not like someone who shall be nameless, who poured the best part of a full bottle of shampoo down the the loo.... The holding tank almost exploded with foam and the trail when emptying had to be seen to be believed! :-)
Click to expand...

Name them, name and fame, anyone leaving a foamy poo trail miles long ought to be famous.

Britain's got Talent?
 
LittleShip said:
Ooohh Miss Halls cane..... It can smart a bit. :)

Tom
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It is Mrs Hall Please.....but her bark is much much much worse than her bite:D:D

Her comment on this is that if it works go for you then go for it but it is a new one for her. It sounds like Bio detergents are not something well known in the southern states .


The Headmistress is in fine fettle and enjoying a political lifestyle .
 
M Farter is quite famed for bogs. We get a smell if she's not been used for a while. This is down to bugs in the water inlet pipe, that have died. It took years for me to be convinced that smells can get through pipes, though nothing else can. We keep a pet odour spray in the forward bilge, which sorts that out in about three seconds. Also deals with diesel spills, on carpets, might take a bit longer.
 
jfm said:
I've done this for years and agree it works very well. Doesn't do any harm to system. I fill the tank via the deck outlet using a hosepipe, and pour the Persil down there too, rather than by flushing the loos. I fill the tank about 50% then take it to sea to slosh it around, then pump out
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware this discussion had previously taken place. This has been a significant problem with the companies Princess for years now. The words horrendous and gut-churning spring to mind...:(

We discovered, after much investigation, including new toilets, hoses, pumps and charcoal filters that the smell was not going away. Then dicovered the holding tank vent and deck mounted discharge pipes had been switched over during factory fit-up, but even when sorted still made little difference.

Keen to try your idea...why down the deck outlet and not the toilets? how much quantity of product do you use?

Thanks..
 
Fresh water flush, with camping shop pink stuff in the flush water, elsan blue in the holding tank and not had even a trace of a whiff for years. SWMBO even had me sat in the tender with my face close enough to the vent outlet to feel the breeze coming out as she flushed, and still no nasty niff. (Long story attached to that one, don't ask...)
 
AndieMac said:
dicovered the holding tank vent and deck mounted discharge pipes had been switched over during factory fit-up.
Click to expand...

?? Shouldn't make any difference AndieMac

AndieMac said:
why down the deck outlet and not the toilets? how much quantity of product do you use?
Click to expand...

Because I reckon you want to 1/2 fill the tank with water and washing powder, and unless your tank is tiny that will take ages if you do it by flushing the WCs. Much quicker by hosepipe. I use a lot of biological washing powder, say at least a pint of the powder per holding tank. That's just a guess though. And leave it 30mins to work

I also recommend fitting charcoal filter to the holding tank vent. That recommendation is NOT shared by Headmistress/Peggy Hall, whose view is that filters throttle the airflow through the vent so reducing the amount of fresh air that gets into the tank, hence increasing anaerobic bacteria smell. I disagree with her, because in my view even with no filter you will never get enough airflow to prevent the anaerobic smell, so you might as well just kil the smell with charcoal - job done
 
AndieMac said:
We discovered, after much investigation, including new toilets, hoses, pumps and charcoal filters that the smell was not going away.
Click to expand...

Check that the filter has sufficient internal volume to hold the amount of air that will be displaced during a flush, so that the charcoal is removing odours from the expelled air between flushes, rather than during the flush.

On the subject of toilet troubles, I spent one of the worst days of my life last week clearing two completely blocked up toilet pipes on the Princess. Over time, apparently, the pipes get lined with calcified shiit, and when I had the seacocks changed, which involved manipulating the pipes, this lining broke away and the sytem then blocks as soon as other solids are added, if you get my drift :-( I've since found out it's good practice to flush with white vinegar from time to time, and let it stand in the pipes, to dissolve the "lining".
 
Nick_H said:
Check that the filter has sufficient internal volume to hold the amount of air that will be displaced during a flush, so that the charcoal is removing odours from the expelled air between flushes, rather than during the flush.

On the subject of toilet troubles, I spent one of the worst days of my life last week clearing two completely blocked up toilet pipes on the Princess. Over time, apparently, the pipes get lined with calcified shiit, and when I had the seacocks changed, which involved manipulating the pipes, this lining broke away and the sytem then blocks as soon as other solids are added, if you get my drift :-( I've since found out it's good practice to flush with white vinegar from time to time, and let it stand in the pipes, to dissolve the "lining".
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Yuk! Nick, the water in Antibes is very calcium rich as you know. Eg if you change the immersion heater element it's covered in white stuff, and the kettle goes that way too. I think (just a guess) the solution is to use a water softener ion-exchange resin filter system in your dockwater hose. Then you only ever fill the boat tank with softened water. This stops the problem you had, and protects the immersion, washing machine and dishwasher too. I've been doing this since delivery of new boat though it is too early to know if it is working, but I suspect it must help.
 
jfm said:
Yuk! Nick, the water in Antibes is very calcium rich as you know. Eg if you change the immersion heater element it's covered in white stuff, and the kettle goes that way too. I think (just a guess) the solution is to use a water softener ion-exchange resin filter system in your dockwater hose. Then you only ever fill the boat tank with softened water. This stops the problem you had, and protects the immersion, washing machine and dishwasher too. I've been doing this since delivery of new boat though it is too early to know if it is working, but I suspect it must help.
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Yep absolute agreement.

The water in Cala d'Or is highly Calcium charged and in the first season both immersions have blown, the dishwasher filter needs cleaning every week (even with light use) and the water tastes awful. (Ruined the first kettle by using tap water)

Have had Sunseeker Estrella install a Water Maker and three stage Water Filter System, which as you suggest could be a solution.

Am going to the boat this Friday so will be seeing the installation for the first time.

Jfm, very sorry to hear about your misfortune and I hope your recovery is swift and successful.
 
Interesting thread, must try the washing power method. As the tank is about 1/3 full atm it will have to wait until next pumpout. I did wonder about dropping one of those washing powder tablets down the pipe with a gallon of water to wash it down in the interim. The tank is holding the morning after a curry night! Good/bad?
 
DougH said:
Yep absolute agreement.

The water in Cala d'Or is highly Calcium charged and in the first season both immersions have blown, the dishwasher filter needs cleaning every week (even with light use) and the water tastes awful. (Ruined the first kettle by using tap water)

Have had Sunseeker Estrella install a Water Maker and three stage Water Filter System, which as you suggest could be a solution.

Am going to the boat this Friday so will be seeing the installation for the first time.

Jfm, very sorry to hear about your misfortune and I hope your recovery is swift and successful.
Click to expand...

Doug, I gotta say the water in Cala D'Or last summer was the worst I've come across. It seemed to be salty. nightmare trying to wash the boat down and get it shiny. So your mods seem like a great idea to me. Running the appliances etc off watermaker water will be loads better for them than using the street supply water.

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm 1.5 weeks into 7 weeks of plaster/crutches, so time is flying by (not!). All fine though, very much on the mend and at least it has stopped hurting. Take care when jumping off passerelles etc etc all you 40+ guys out there!

Best wishes for your upcoming trip to Cala D'Or
 
When we met Gary (Gskip or whatever he is called since the forum upgrade), he said that he fits a descaling device to the outlet of the water on the quayside.
I think he said it came from the US at about 700 dollars.
About 3 feet long - I think he said.
I dont think we suffer with calcium build up as much as they do on the islands but do many people use these devices?
 
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