Smelly grey water hose

reglynn · Guru

Smelly grey water hose

KFT · Guru

we always flush some water through our drain hose and empty it completely before stowing it.

If the smell is from your hose you could pour in a cup of bleach and fill with water by holding both ends up. Leave for an hour or so and flush again.

it is important to always make sure the hose is empty before you put it away.

let us know how you get on

frank

Cloak · Guru

Sounds like some alge is growing in the piping or tank - probably both.

Simply flush with Napisan (Sodium Percarbonate) or Sards Oxy Plus. A chlorine based liquid would do also. Just be sure to leave it 1/2 hr then flush with clean water.

There are a few psudo science remedies around so beware of folk remedies and use something that is proven to KILL alge not just cover up the odour.

Cheers

Cupie · Guru

I periodically back flush the pipes. Put a cloth over the plug hole in the sink/shower etc & connect the hose to the outlet pipe. Turn on the hose full bore for a half minute or so to dislodge any solids in the pipes. Have found the odd plastic fork & assorted vegetable skins (onion in particular).

My Karscha has a water powered snake for this purpose that I have used when at home.

I then run clean water through the pipes for a few minutes.

If there has been a smell, I then block the outlet pipe & fill the pipe with nappy san & eucalyptus impregnated water. Leaving it there overnight. Then flush it out again.

I always flush out the drainage hoses & clean the exterior before storing them in conduits under the van.

We always leave the pipes open at both ends when the van is not in use. All clear water & sullage pipes in & under the van are painted black.

neilnruth · Guru

I realise you are talking about a smell coming up the pipe but we never have a problem and I think it may be that my husband always makes the last flush of the pipes when we're about to move on a very hot water flush. So our routine is, wash up, let that water go down with suds, then flush with plain near boiling water. He then puts the grey water hose away clean. If the smell is in the pipes you don't take off maybe the slope of the pipe is not enough to drain the water out properly when you empty the sink. Oh, and the other thing he has done which may help is having his grey water hose in two sections joined together (sometimes you don't need a long one on a site) this means he is dealing with shorter lengths for cleaning purposes.

herbie · Guru

To add my two bob's worth here, i have found that Nappisan or any sorts does not really work on grey water tank water ,which usually is a higher pH.

A few months ago i found a product in Woolies called Drain Liquid Enzynes, it is Enviromentally friendly , it leaves the draines and hoses with out any smell sells for around $7 ,1 bottle should last around 1 year'.If for some reason you have to store grey water for several days just add 1 teaspoon full to a 180 litre tank and it will also stop that yuk smell.

This product dosn't mask the smell it eliminates the fat and oil build up.

HOPE THIS MAYBE SOME HELP TO YOU.

Regards Herbie.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Thanks for that one Herbie - will look for that when we go shopping next. Not that our drains smell, but feel we should clean the grey water tank out occasionally - have used the nappy soaker, but it this works better will use this.

littledick · Senior Member

The wife always pours hot water down the drain to clear anything that may be in there. Hoses disconnected.

I always flush the disconnected hoses prior rolling in bag.

Re flush the hoses when home. Never had a problem with smell.

Dick.

B-T · Veteran Member

Flush the hose and then store outside for travel, mine are usually wrapped around the twin gas bottles and secured with an occy strap.

John

leevin · Senior Member

Drano.

justcruisin01 · Guru

I have heard of this when in a van park & drain hose fitted into their sullage pits, the smell comming their pit.

JC

spida · Guru

If you always leave a bump in the hose so there is always a bit of water left then it will work like a U bend in the toilet - should stop smells coming back up????? I always pour hot soapy water down them before i pack up.
I flushed mine with baking soda and vinegar recently.

herbie · Guru

spida wrote:
If you always leave a bump in the hose so there is always a bit of water left then it will work like a U bend in the toilet - should stop smells coming back up????? I always pour hot soapy water down them before i pack up.
I flushed mine with baking soda and vinegar recently.

Baking Soda and Vinigar are ok for a quick fix,but for a long turm effect ,you need more than these produts to kill the bacteria that lurks in any thing made of man made products that takes or holds water.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I put carb soda, aka baking soda in the drain with a teaspoon to get in as much as I can down the drain. Then I add neat vinegar which then volcanoes its way down the hose. I then add more carb soda and vinegar, followed by some dish detergent and the hottest possible water, bearing in mind that most of the fittings are plastic.
The wrinkly drain hoses tend to grab bits of everything poured down them, including dish wash water etc. I use a smooth hose of the clear plastic variety, with a bump between the drain and the van outlet, as a "U" pipe.
Too much stuff down the tubes is counter-productive. The point about the site drain stinking is a good one. Just do what you can to keep everything as clean as possible.

B-T · Veteran Member

Sodium Percabonate active ingredent in the Woolies/Coles el cheapo version of Nappisan will kill the bateria which causes the smells

John

Two Strays · Senior Member

Hello All

Herbie, your solution works.

Storing your hose wet is the problem. To overcome the problem may I offer a solution that has worked for me.

Buy sufficient lengths of plastic tubing (Plumbers Pipe, white stuff) big enough so that your sullage hose will go up it with an obstruction Secure it under your van, front to rear. Must be over the axle if you have beam axles. Secure it to the chassis or van floor, making sure it does not shake, rattle or roll. Put a vent cap on the pipe at the rear of the van. Push your sullage hose up into the tube and secure it from the front.

As you travel along the road air is forced through the hose and it drys out. No more smells.

When you are travelling along make sure that you have NO plugs in the sink, basin etc. This helps to allow air to be forced through the pipes within the van plumbing system. Keeping them smell free as well.

Happy Caravanning biggrin

neilnruth · Guru

That last bit is interesting Two Strays. We always put the plug in and have never had smell problems but I can see your logic behind leaving them out. Just remember to put them somewhere safe so they don't get lost in transit. Haha.

herbie · Guru

Two Strays wrote:
Hello All
Herbie, your solution works.
Storing your hose wet is the problem. To overcome the problem may I offer a solution that has worked for me.
Buy sufficient lengths of plastic tubing (Plumbers Pipe, white stuff) big enough so that your sullage hose will go up it with an obstruction   Secure it under your van, front to rear.   Must be over the axle if you have beam axles.     Secure it to the chassis or van floor, making sure it does not shake, rattle or roll.   Put a vent cap on the pipe at the rear of the van.   Push your sullage hose up into the tube and secure it from the front.
As you travel along the road air is forced through the hose and it drys out.   No more smells.
When you are travelling along make sure that you have NO plugs in the sink, basin etc. This helps to allow air to be forced through the pipes within the van plumbing system.   Keeping them smell free as well.
Happy Caravanning

I never put the plug in b/ room basin or kitchen sink while travelling on the balck stuff,but I do if I am on unmade roads,

Dunmowin · Guru

We replaced all our sullage hose with "washing machine" hose (including all the 'unde rvan plumbing', if required. Sullage hose is corrugated inside, so particles of food can catch inside, causing the smells your are concerned about. Washing machine hose, while corrugated on the outside is smooth on the inside, therefore the food scraps do not get caught up.

Washing machine hose is available in 20 or 30 metre rolls from Bunnings. We no longer have an issue with smells in the van - no chemicals.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

herbie wrote:
To add my two bob's worth here, i have found that Nappisan or any sorts does not really work on grey water tank water ,which usually is a higher pH.
A few months ago i found a product in Woolies called Drain Liquid Enzynes, it is Enviromentally friendly , it leaves the draines and hoses with out any smell sells for around $7 ,1 bottle should last around 1 year'.If for some reason you have to store grey water for several days just add 1 teaspoon full to a 180 litre tank and it will also stop that yuk smell.
This product dosn't mask the smell it eliminates the fat and oil build up.
HOPE THIS MAYBE SOME HELP TO YOU.
Regards Herbie.

Herbie - thanks for tht - got the product the other day at Woolies - going to give it a try, maybe today. We don't have smells, but pretty sure the grey watr tank needs a good clean out - but we got it in a plastic tub - cost $19!!!!!!!! should last a while though not liquid, more granules - same principal though. Enviro friendly etc.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.