Smelly Heads?

Have you ever noticed that musty sulphurous smell when you enter your boat after leaving it for a week or two? If you have it is more than likely coming from the toilet. The water left in the inlet pipe and toilet bowl contain micro-organisms and when they die they give off this smell. The cure for this particular problem is to introduce fresh water into the inlet line before leaving the boat. This can be done by fitting a small tank containing fresh water that is teed into the inlet line with a ¾” two way valve. Tek-Tanks can supply this equipment either as a kit or we can supply the parts individually.

Other odour problems can be put down to sanitation hose that has come to the end of its useful life. Normally good quality sanitation hose will last between 2 and five years. If pipe runs do not have a natural fall then waste can collect in sagging areas and then over time odours will permeate the hose causing smells. A simple method of testing whether your pipe has had it or not, is to take a damp cloth and wipe the surface of the hose and then smell it. If the cloth smells at all then your sanitation hose will need replacing. It is important to fit a good quality hose and expect to pay at least £10.00 per metre, anything cheaper than this will probably be an inferior spa hose that really is not up to the job. Good sanitation hose has a certain amount of nitrile compound to combat any odours.

Another source of smell can be the tank itself. Thin walled tanks (3-5mm) that are sold as waste tanks are really not up to the job. Waste odour can permeate through the tank wall over time and cause the boat to smell. Tek-Tanks waste holding tanks are all manufactured with at least a 10mm wall thickness.