We blogged earlier about dealing with holding tank odors through better tank management. Here's another trick the nose knows works: Those fancy wind-driven rooftop tank vents. Here's the deal: The standard OEM vents are not much more than tricky caps to keep the birds out. The don't allow a great deal of air flow to allow the essence of holding tank to escape; at times pressure actually puffs it back down into the tank, and finding any other escape route--sometimes into the coach.
The model we tested, an RV 360, puts a fin atop a rotating vent cap. As the wind blows, the "emitter" side of the vent cap is on the downwind side, causing the wind pressure to suck those narsty gasses out of the holding tank. Does it work? We found our stink situation really alleviated, as have many other RVers.
These systems are not difficult to install, although they can be a bit messy, depending on the type of sealant you use on install. Be sure to wear grungy work clothes. The instructions included with the system are clear enough, but on one install, the instructions left us high and dry. The existing vent pipe was located right next to the rooftop air conditioner unit--and if the 360 vent were placed at rooftop level, it would have bumped right into the a/c unit. Not only would the wind be cut, in some cases the vent unit would simply not turn freely.
We worked around this simply: Using PVC pipe the same diameter as the existing vent pipe, we glued the "bell" end of the new pipe over the top of the existing vent pipe. With this "extension" in place, we attached the 360 vent to the top of our extension. No obstruction problems, no holding tank stink. Total time? About an hour and a half, including the time it took to figure out the "work around." Tools are easy: Putty knife, screwdriver, and a hacksaw if you need to rig an extension.
You can find the 360 at most RV suppliers, including Camping World.
6 comments:
Walmart sells the rotating tank vent for about $20.00
I installed 2 of these vents last spring. They seem to work much better than the old style standard vent cap. The only problem I have noticed is the lack of a proper bearing for the rotating cap to spin on. I am working on a noise problem at the moment caused by the plastic pivot wearing and allowing the cap to wobble as it spins.
Best vent is a PCV "T" pushed over the top of the stack on the roof. Be sure the "T" is sideways, that is the air should NOT be able to whistle thru the "T" but pull the bad air out by going by the sides of the 2 openings. Not expensive.
If these work so well why don't the RV manufacturers put them on at the factory?
I installed one of these and they do keep the tank vented,especially when driving in heavy crosswinds. The only problem I have found so far is I have to place a bucket over the vent when I cover the RV or it will punch a hole in the cover with the hard wind vane.
Put one on our toyhauler about 5 months ago & have seen a great improvement. Used to get a little stinky in there. Gonna install one on the grey tank vent too.
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