Waste tank smells like sewage gas
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Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Truck Mount Carpet Steam Cleaning Machines & Equipment
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URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6523
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Topic: Waste tank smells like sewage gas
Posted By: CarpetproKC
Subject: Waste tank smells like sewage gas
Date Posted: 05/April/2010 at 6:10pm
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Hi Folks, My waste tank smells like a sewer. How can I clean this thing out in a way that will kill anything that is alive inside of it (organic sh*t)? You cant smell it until I turn the van on and then you can smell up to 40 feet behind the van- I feel bad for anyone driving behind me on the highway. I use an inline filter that catches most matter that would smell in the tank I think but this is really horrible. I popped the top off the 240 Gallon waste tank today and you could see the gas vapor rising out of this thing. HELP!
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Replies:
Posted By: RIP IT
Date Posted: 05/April/2010 at 10:57pm
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Wear eye protection and thick gloves.
Vacuum some antimicrobial like Hydrocide through your hoses and half fill your waste tank. Get scrubbing and give it a good rinse out. I clean my waste tank every week. No smell.
Asset maintenance. ------------- Dont treat people like customers. Treat them like friends. |
Posted By: LArugcleaning
Date Posted: 14/April/2010 at 9:00am
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oh my..I suggest you wear a protection such as face mask and hand gloves.. It is dangerous to inhale it..It might damage your lungs.. |
Posted By: jaymark1
Date Posted: 16/April/2010 at 4:58pm
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Did you leave the water in the tank for a few days? ------------- I dont predict the future or sell glides, am I allowed on this site? |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 17/April/2010 at 11:51am
HoneyWagon!  Also add some degreaser, after scrub high pressure
wash as its dumping in the proper location or dump in a 5gal. and do
the bucket brigade until clear water comes out.
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Posted By: kevenlee
Date Posted: 13/July/2010 at 3:18am
| Hi This is very important when you are going to clean yoor tank. you may need gloves for your hand foot and you need amask which can keep you away from the gases. By using this you can clean your tank more easily. Most preferable thing is that you need to call a professional tank cleaner because they have all equiments which will used in cleaning. |
Posted By: Ken Harris
Date Posted: 13/July/2010 at 9:26am
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There is enough bacteria in these tanks when left to ferment to make you very sick. I was once sick for 6 months in the 1990s from it. I would wear a respirator cleaning it out now knowing what I now know. ------------- Inventor of Teflon Carpet Wand Glides.Free Glides for all Cleaners in June! |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 13/July/2010 at 12:10pm
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There are times i cleaned the lint basket with my bare hands pressure washed out the tank with no eye protection or respirator..
 Never again............
 DON'T DO IT.!!!!! |
Posted By: Lanakila
Date Posted: 15/July/2010 at 1:41am
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I have made the mistake of leaving my H20 in the waste tank and, I too had the same problem. I found cleaning it as best as I could, along with a generous coat of Colorox, she passes. I try to keep a close eye on my exhaust and *Not allow ANY water to spray out. I have a smaller van, and waste tank so it is a standard habit now for me. But it is my understanding that the smell is caused by some of your (my) wastewater being backed up (overfull tank) and causing it to spray out the exhaust. the smell hasn't gone 100% away, but i have noticed a HUGE improvement simply by cleaning box daily and not allowing to overfill.
FYI.- I do alot of rural area homes (in the vineyards and redwoods) so sometimes a sewer line is not availible. thus overfill is and can be an issue, VRs city sewer areas. lol things we take for granted! lol ------------- "A'ohe hana nui ka alu'ia." Translation: No task is too big when done together. |
Posted By: Ken Harris
Date Posted: 15/July/2010 at 9:50am
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Clorex bleach is the way to go. A cup or 2 in the tank and rinse. No smell. ------------- Inventor of Teflon Carpet Wand Glides.Free Glides for all Cleaners in June! |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 16/July/2010 at 7:40am
 ------------- Just My opinion |
Ken Harris wrote:Posted By: Ken Harris
Date Posted: 16/July/2010 at 5:15pm
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Your face near it is all it takes. ------------- Inventor of Teflon Carpet Wand Glides.Free Glides for all Cleaners in June! |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 16/July/2010 at 11:51pm
My unit shuts down when the WT is full.
 Your should also. whats the deal?
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Posted By: Lanakila
Date Posted: 24/July/2010 at 1:33am
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running a older, spitfire 4.0. probbally needs to be on list of "to-do's" lol, gawd doesnt maintanance make you cringe. anyhow duly noted, thanks will point out next time in serv. for got about that :D :D lol ------------- "A'ohe hana nui ka alu'ia." Translation: No task is too big when done together. |
Posted By: Lanakila
Date Posted: 24/July/2010 at 1:35am
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just had to deal with my APO being electrostatically stuck in bottom of waste tank. LMAO now waiting for the day to come where i either upgrade to a new van or swith to a EPO. *sigh* but first to pay off this round of Adv. lol ------------- "A'ohe hana nui ka alu'ia." Translation: No task is too big when done together. |