every source i find adds so much info for me. still in the planning stage, but i kinda want to do a lot of these upgrades before i even start going full time (booster, solar, and vent covers, for example. things I KNOW i want )
Hi! We've been watching your videos for several months now. We plan to get a big fifth wheel and hit the road within six months - your videos are a great help (since we've never owned an RV!). This looks like one of the first modifications we'll make. Thanks!
Hi Brad! Thanks so much. Hearing that we've been helpful means a lot. It's great to hear you're planning to join the ranks, not only of RVers, but full-timers as well?! We hope you love the life as much as we have for over 13 years now. Happy RV shopping!
You guys are the best! I have found so many useful ideas from you that when it comes time for me to buy my RV next year, I will have an abundance of valuable information. (Yes, I will be a newbie hopefully next year.) Between your tips and those of Chris and Cherie of Technomadia and Jason and Nikki of Gone with the Wynns, I had to start a new board on Pinterest to save all the items that I want to purchase and I still haven't watched all your videos yet! Thanks Peter and John!
Excellent! Best of luck in the contest. And if you haven't already done it, be sure to subscribe to our video blog so you'll hear about any new contest as soon as it's announced. howtorvgeeks.com/subscribe/
I thought that if I ever got an RV this would be one of the first upgrades. I purchased a Rockwood GeoPro and this vent cap comes standard on all GeoPro's now. It must be good.
Thanks you guys, we recently bought a 2018 Coleman 263BHE and no matter how long I take at cleaning our tanks the sewer odor is something I can't get out. I noticed Coleman did not include a separate hose connection to the black tank as our 2008 KZ trailer had which was so much easier to clean our black tank. I will be investing in this product and hope it helps. Your installation and review was very detailed, thank you.
It appears that Lippert is now making these vents and the design is different. It would be great if you know someone that has installed this new design and to hear how they are working compared to the originals that you installed.
Installed 2 today and it took a few more minutes as the installer,( me) was trying to save mileage on the knees by laying down. I happened to push the tool bucket off the side of the roof with my foot and into the gutter with lotsa stinky water. So add 20 minutes to dry out the Dewalt drill bit-driver kit. The pipe will cut easy with a hand hack saw. Just for kicks I was going to use the battery sawzall, it could not go down to 5/8th without an angle. My rubber roof is not as clean as Norman the Newmar so I used lots of simple green cleaner and a medium brush. My 10 year old Pacific Coachworks trailer has EPDM( rubber)roof. It appears that the roofer was blind or in a hurry as there was a 3 inch triangle cut out near the original vent. If it does not say "Airstream" on the side your trailer is possibly junk like mine. Rolling junk that is fun to fix!!!!! To fill this gap I used Dicor self sealing Lap and I cut out a triangle from the package the 360 vent came in. It had a raised and perfectly round package so I cut from this circle. It sealed nice. If you live in beautiful California you cannot purchase mineral spirits. Not legal because of federal laws. So when you head to the RV show in QZ, pick up your Mineral Spirits. I resisted the urge to flatten the lap seal with a putty knife as it was cold today, it still spread out perfectly on its own within about 20 minutes. Another factoid to consider if on the fence......these vents work awesome!!! And with the built in screen they keep out flies and Bees!!! Easy install following this vid!! Thank you!!! SW
Sounds like you have an installation like ours.... lots of little dramas on the way to a successful finish. Oh the outtakes we could share. LOL Nice work Scott. Hope you love your 360s as much as we do.
The panels are glass, and do not scratch easily, especially when setting things gently in place for a video shoot. ;-) I only did that to provide a dark, contrasting background for the tools. Our solar panels are pristine, even after 12+ years! :)
Hi guys, my wife Julie and I just purchased the siphon 360 because we desperately need to get rid of "that smell." The product is a bit different now (no screws required) but install still looks fairly straightforward. I really hope they work...... Thanks for the idea and video. We always look forward to new posts. Can you recommend the best black and grey tank maintenance product (what you use). Thanks in advance. We hope to see you on the road sometime soon. We're prepping to go full time and hope to hit the road by March/April 2017. Thank you for all of your channel content. Sincerely, Glenn n Julie
Hi Glenn & Julie! Hope the 360 siphon works for your odor issue. If you have real problems with the black tank (pyramiding for example), you may need to take other steps, which leads directly into your question about holding tank treatments. Based on great reviews we'd read, we switched to Happy Campers brand this past year, and are very pleased with it. This is the one we use: amzn.to/29B653s But Happy Campers also makes an EXTREME version for problem tanks and excessive buildup. If you're still having odor issues, we'd suggest trying that: amzn.to/29Itj2Z We have never needed the Extreme version ourselves, but have also read good things about it. If you've purchased a used RV and don't know how the tank was cared for, this is the best course of action to clean it out. The 360 siphons are needed on every RV anyway, so they won't go to... ahem... waste. ;-) Congrats on your plan to go full-time! Hope you love it as much as we do. Our "2 to 3 years" is now over 13, and counting. ;-) Hope this helps. Please let us know how you make out.
Great video, thanks! Perhaps a video on the maintenance and issues you have had with your diesel engine. I hear a lot of problems with some of the newer diesel engines. Thanks
Ray J Hi Ray. Other than dealing with DEF (which, with a 2005 engine, we don't have), we haven't heard about any issues with newer diesel engines. We have a lot of experience with diesels (2 RVs, and one of us is a former MCI driver), and they have a reputation (well deserved in our experience) for durability and reliability.
RVgeeks Thanks for your opinion, I have a gas coach and in the process of researching diesel coaches and may move to diesel in the future. I enjoy your videos keep them coming!
We installed these on our motorhome last January 1917 and have no problem with blank take odor in the RV while traveling down the road, until this trip when on two occasions when flushing while going dow the road we got a strong black tank odor, even though we had no windows open in the RV. I am going to check for blockage on the roof, otherwise, I dont why we got the odor this time and not before.
That's what we though too, and there's no clearance issue to worry about like with the rotating type, which would have been a problem with our solar panel mounted so close to the vent stack.
Ok this looks great the ones I have measure six inches. So how would I repair the holes on the outside if I put this four inch in. Sorry just a lady repairing camper. Please help. Thanks
now that you've had these installed for awhile is your opinion the same as in the beginning? Thanks for all the great training. I just bought my first MH and it needs a few things that you've covered. I may need to pick your brain on a few.
RVgeeksPrior to installing the 360's A friend and I went for a ride in the rig for about an hour on different roads. The smell wasn't good. I installed the 360's (which was quick and easy) and went for a drive again......no smell!! Thanks for the info. vin
Hey Danny! Sure thing. It's so close to the same install job as a regular roof vent, that it should be a snap. The only difference is the sleeve that goes into the pipe, but a new replacement 360 vent would of course come with that.
Noticed that the base on some 360 siphons are Taller and some are flush. what is the difference saw this on Ebay while shopping and on video (Siphon 360 RV vent installation on LTV unity) Just got mine from Ebay the short one like you Installed on your unit
+1995dresser From what we can tell, it appears that 360 makes a model that's available to manufacturers called the "Hi-Stack" that allows the vent to meet an RVIA standard of having the stack at least 2" above the roof line. We're not seeing that model available for retail, but available to manufacturers for OEM use. Not sure we care about that 2" RVIA rule, since ours work fine the way they are. :)
+RVgeeks Thanks again if anyone would know it would be you . that's why I thought I would ask you about it. I had seen them but no information about them and nothing on the 360 site was just wondering what the difference was . Thanks for the Info
I was debating on those ones with the wind tail that "sucks" the air out but this would work better in the winter etc. and like it says, no moving parts!
We're guessing that if you could, then manufacturers would do it, since it would mean one less roof vent cap and one less roof penetration. We're thinking that there is likely some RVIA code requirement to prevent an over-filled black tank spilling over into the gray tank, or something like that. Other than that possibility or regulation, we can't think of any reason why you couldn't do it.
where can I get more screws for inside the rv? like the ones that hold the vent frames and lights and vent fan frame (these are super tiny and hard to find)?
Take one of them out and head to the hardware department of your nearest home improvement store. There will surely be someone there who can help you come up with an acceptable match.
my black water tank vent is located about 5 inches from the vent in the bathroom. it faces the opening to the vent. What can I do to re-route the vent, or am I just screwed.
rick adam Hi Rick. That does sound like poor placement by the manufacturer. I suppose if you're having an odor problem, you could "re-route the sewer vent" by connecting a short length of PVC pipe to move the opening away from your vent fan. I wouldn't do that unless you have no other choice. You should still be able to install a 360 vent, since the diameter of it isn't that large (about 5 inches I think). That would take care of pulling the odors out of the black tank, then all you need to do is run your vent fan on low whenever it's open (assuming you have a Fantastic or other brand of fan in the roof vent... if not you can install one). We almost always keep our vent fan running on low whenever it's open, and it draws hardly any power at all. Hope this helps.
RVgeeks thank you very much for the info. I never had a problem with odor until last month when I replaced the stock fan in the bathroom with a larger heavy duty one. That's when the odors arrived. Since my sewer vent is so close to the vent, and I install a 360, the fan won't draw in outside air, right?
rick adam Ahhhhhh. We were initially thinking that the proximity of the roof vent to the black tank vent was the problem. But if you never had a problem before replacing the fan, then the proximity alone can't be the issue. It does seem counter-intuitive to us that a stronger fan would cause the problem, since it blows up and out of the bathroom. A stronger airflow from the fan should theoretically prevent smell from the sewer vent from coming down through the roof vent, no matter how close the black tank vent is. I'd suggest trying this: try testing the roof vent in four different configurations: 1) Lid closed, 2) Lid open but without the fan not running, 3) Lid open, but fan on the slowest setting and 4) Lid open with the fan on a higher or highest setting. If you don't have any odor problem with the roof vent open but the fan off, I can't imagine that the proximity is the issue. If it only happens when you're running the fan on high, try sniffing around under the sinks. There are special valves on RV plumbing drains that are designed to prevent the odor from the gray tank from coming back up through the drains. If you turn the fan on high (especially with most or all of the windows in the RV closed) there may not be enough places for air to come from to feed air to the fan, and it can cause it to pull air past the plumbing vents under the sinks and bring gray tank odor into the RV. Again, you'll smell it in the cabinets under the sinks, especially when the fan is on high. The solution to that is either to replace the worn out plumbing valve under the culprit sink (the valve rubber can stiffen over time and/or the spring can get weak) or don't turn the fan on too high without at least a couple of windows open, so that the fan can draw air from somewhere other than the gray tank. All that said, 360 vents are not especially expensive or difficult to install, and they work great. So before doing anything radical (like adding PVC pipe to the roof), we'd try the 360s if the plumbing drain vents aren't the problem. Hope this helps. Let us know how you make out!
Going to try one on my travel trailer. it sits at a campground year round and both of my tanks share the same vent stack. I get mostly gray water smell sometimes. and Black tank smell if it has been closed for a while. but if anyone knows how it works its got to be you. can't go wrong with that . Great Channel also tried White Vinegar down the sink and bath traps it does kill the smell for a while
+1995dresser Our 360 vents do work great. Since your RV sits in one place, are you leaving it empty for periods of time? Or do you stay in it all the time? The reason I ask is because you mentioned having had some success, even if temporary, pouring vinegar down the traps. If you leave the RV sitting for any length of time, the evaporation of water from the traps can be a cause of odors getting back up into the living space. If so, then pouring plain water down the traps would help too, since of course it's the water in the trap that blocks the smells. If you are indeed leaving your RV unattended for extended periods, and the traps are drying out, we've heard that adding a half cup of mineral oil down each trap immediately before departing for a while can prevent, or slow, evaporation. We haven't tried it (we're always on board full-time), but if you're away for a while, you might try giving that a try and letting us know how it works!
+RVgeeks We only use it for weekends or just to get away its 45 minutes from home . but sometimes it will not be open for a month . but the water seal in the toilet always has water . also to contribute to the smell is the fresh water I have a filter but I has a faint smell to it . but outside the trailer when I use the garden hose it does not have a smell . I have been told that its the mineral deposits in the water heater . 12yr old trailer might try some CLR in the tank and flush the lines . It sits from the end of October to April with no water just antifreeze both gray and black tanks cleaned and flushed
+1995dresser A month is plenty of time for the traps to dry out. Maybe try the mineral oil in them before leaving it closed up next time. Water in the toilet is good... means the seal is holding water, which is essential for keeping odor down where it belongs. We'd suggest that CLR might not be the best thing to put into your water heater. If you're getting water heater tank odor, check out our videos about flushing the tank, which you can find here: thervgeeks.com/water-and-sewer . There's one about flushing an Atwood brand heater (no anode rod) and one about flushing a Suburban brand heater (has an anode rod). If you have a Suburban heater, be sure to watch this follow-up about anode rod replacement: thervgeeks.com/plumbing/update-rv-water-heater-anode-rods We'd also try replacing the fresh water filter, especially if you can smell it. Hope this all helps. Best of luck.
the bathroom sink does not have an air valve, I don't know about the shower. the galley sink does have one and its own tank. We are in our RV full time and I have the gray water tank wide open all the time. I did flush the toilet with the fan off and got no odors. So I think by installing a 360 will improve the problem since it is windy everyday her in BullheadCity AZ. I'll try that and let you know how it comes out. I also drain my black tank every 3 days since we had this problem and flush out the tank with the built in sprayer. that seems to help. But once we boondock, that will change. Thanks again for your help.
I installed two of these on my class c and they didn't help at all. The smell might even be worse now. I was all excited to drive and not have that smell but was very disappointed when I found they didn't work as advertised. Are you guys just trying to make money by telling people they work?
+Sean K Hi Sean. So sorry that this didn’t solve your oder problem, but I will tell you, without exaggeration this is the first time I have ever heard anyone say one bad word about 360 vents. We pride ourselves on only talking about things that we use ourselves and really believe in. We are thinking there must be some other factor happening with your RV besides just the vent stacks
+Sean K Hmmm. What kind of RV do you have Sean, and how old is it? And does it happen with the windows and roof vents open, or closed, or both? And most importantly, does it happen regardless of whether the black and/or gray tanks are mostly or completely empty as well as when mostly full?
It's a 2008 22 foot Class C. I keep the roof vents open most of the time. The smell is really bad when I roll the front windows down while driving. I'm not a big fan of AC so I like to have my windows open, thats why I bought the the 360 Siphon vents. I've only had one trip in the RV so far with the vents installed, it was a 4 hour drive there, a 1 hour drive to another location, then 4 hours back. The black tank was less than quarter full. I'll be moving into the RV in 3 weeks.
If we're understanding correctly, you're driving with the roof vents open, right? Try making sure that your roof vents are tightly closed while driving. The way the 360 vents work is by the venturi effect as air passes over them, creating positive airflow up and out the vent pipes. The extreme airflow at highway speeds means that a LOT of air is being drawn up and out the vent pipes. If you have a roof vents open, the air that's coming OUT of the vent pipes could easily be being drawn INTO the open roof vents. That is probably being made worse by having the windows down. If you can try driving with the vents closed, that may be enough to stop the additional flow from the open windows from causing the problem. Give that a try and let us know how you make out. And congratulations on your move in 3 weeks!
I know you both are down under, so I hope this question isn't a bother. I was just wondering if you ever had an issue with this roof vent getting brittle? Its design seems kind of flimsy with way the cap attaches to the base. I just discovered a broken cap on my Fifth Wheel today so Ill be replacing it soon. Just wanted to see if you all still think highly of this product. Thanks and good luck down under.
+windersranger1 Thanks! And G'Day from down under! No bother at all! 360s are made of polycarbonate, which is very strong, not like plastic at all... even though they look like it. Ours are still like brand new.
I bought a 1998 Winnie Minnie from a second owner. Had water line leaks that finally just recently repaired. After a third shower, the odor coming from it is horrid. I'm sure it's an air trap problem as no odors from any other water source (kitchen or toilet). Maybe this would fix it. Thoughts?
Hi LuAnn. Is the odor coming up out of the shower drain? If so, the trap under the shower may not be holding water in it. Are you fully hooked up with the gray tank valve open, or are you dry camping (and therefore filling the gray tank as you use water)? If your gray valve is closed, and the tank is nearly full, it's possible that the vent opening inside the tank that goes to the roof is under the level of the water, so blocking the air from escaping. The 360s are well worth the effort to try to get rid of all odors, as we found them to work better than we ever expected.
1. It only smells when the water is turned on in shower. I hadn't used water from the shower as I had leaks that had to be fixed. So I had been bathing with a bucket(s) of water in the shower stall and didn't notice any odors. 2. I am in an RV park full time and hooked up to the sewer line with tanks closed; emptying once a week or so. I also noticed the smell when I went outside of the RV where the shower is located. It costs a $100 just to get the RV guy here to look at it. I'm on a very limited income & getting a new toilet, sink faucet and shower head installed set me back about $500. Thanks for your input! I'll post again when I get it straightened out, with the solution.
LuAnn Patterson Hmmm. Not sure what it might be, but we suggest before spending any more to have a technician come out, that you post a detailed question on the iRV2 forums. It's free to join and post, and there are a TON of knowledgeable RVers (and some RV techs) ready, willing and able to help out. Go to: www.irv2.com/forums and sign up, and be sure to let us know how you make out. Best of luck, LuAnn!
The RV mechanic guy was working on the rig next to me so I asked if when he was done to come see me. He turned on the hot water faucet at the sink and said 'Is that the same odor?". Yep, it was. He said it was probably caused by the water heater not being emptied by previous owner. I realized that my daughter probably turned on the hot water faucet in the shower out of habit. It's been so hot here that even the 'cold' water is rather warm and I hadn't turned on the hot water when I took a shower so that explains why it didn't smell for me. In this process learned my levels meter isn't accurate as it shows I have a full tank of propane but they checked the unit and it shows empty. My next step is to get propane and give the water heater a thorough flushing. And if that doesn't work he said to fill the water holding tank with a bleach solution and flush again. It's not been officially dewinterized. I hope that is all it will take.
LuAnn Patterson I see. So it's the "clean" water coming out of the water heater that smells. Definitely watch our videos about flushing the water heater and sanitizing the fresh water tank to get your water system all cleaned up.
Now that you have endorsed this product, everyone will buy them. Well done.
every source i find adds so much info for me. still in the planning stage, but i kinda want to do a lot of these upgrades before i even start going full time (booster, solar, and vent covers, for example. things I KNOW i want )
Thank you for posting this video. We are brand spanking new RV owners and glad I came across this video. Placing an order now for two siphon RV vents.
+Eleanor Parr-DiLeo Congratulations on your new RV, Eleanor! We think you'll appreciate the upgrade to 360 Siphon vents. We sure do. 😊
Thank you. I'm sure we will too.
I installed one so that I could install a solar panel over it. Worked great!
Thanks for sharing! Not sure why these would not be standard on all RV's. Genius.
They sure should be, and they're actually beginning to show up on more units!
$$$$$$$$$$ that's why're
Hi! We've been watching your videos for several months now. We plan to get a big fifth wheel and hit the road within six months - your videos are a great help (since we've never owned an RV!). This looks like one of the first modifications we'll make. Thanks!
Hi Brad! Thanks so much. Hearing that we've been helpful means a lot. It's great to hear you're planning to join the ranks, not only of RVers, but full-timers as well?! We hope you love the life as much as we have for over 13 years now. Happy RV shopping!
You guys are the best! I have found so many useful ideas from you that when it comes time for me to buy my RV next year, I will have an abundance of valuable information. (Yes, I will be a newbie hopefully next year.) Between your tips and those of Chris and Cherie of Technomadia and Jason and Nikki of Gone with the Wynns, I had to start a new board on Pinterest to save all the items that I want to purchase and I still haven't watched all your videos yet! Thanks Peter and John!
Barbara Floyd Thanks Barabara! We can tell how excited you are about joining the fun out here! Good for you. Happy RV shopping!
Great product.Thanks for the tips & keep them coming.
Finally spotted one of your contests in time to enter.
Excellent! Best of luck in the contest. And if you haven't already done it, be sure to subscribe to our video blog so you'll hear about any new contest as soon as it's announced. howtorvgeeks.com/subscribe/
I thought that if I ever got an RV this would be one of the first upgrades. I purchased a Rockwood GeoPro and this vent cap comes standard on all GeoPro's now. It must be good.
Thanks you guys, we recently bought a 2018 Coleman 263BHE and no matter how long I take at cleaning our tanks the sewer odor is something I can't get out. I noticed Coleman did not include a separate hose connection to the black tank as our 2008 KZ trailer had which was so much easier to clean our black tank. I will be investing in this product and hope it helps. Your installation and review was very detailed, thank you.
Congratulations on your new RV, Jose! Hope the 360 vents do the job.
Awesome. We will check clearance as our solar installer put a panel over one vent
Thank you for the video! Excellent information. Nice to hear the complimentary "shout-out" to Chuck Woodbury, too. Thanks again! :-)
Great stuff. Thanks for all the good advice and insights.
Really enjoy hearing your version of the Maple Leaf Rag, too. Kind of miss it from the newer videos, but time marches on, eh? :-)
It appears that Lippert is now making these vents and the design is different. It would be great if you know someone that has installed this new design and to hear how they are working compared to the originals that you installed.
Installed 2 today and it took a few more minutes as the installer,( me) was trying to save mileage on the knees by laying down. I happened to push the tool bucket off the side of the roof with my foot and into the gutter with lotsa stinky water. So add 20 minutes to dry out the Dewalt drill bit-driver kit.
The pipe will cut easy with a hand hack saw. Just for kicks I was going to use the battery sawzall, it could not go down to 5/8th without an angle. My rubber roof is not as clean as Norman the Newmar so I used lots of simple green cleaner and a medium brush. My 10 year old Pacific Coachworks trailer has EPDM( rubber)roof. It appears that the roofer was blind or in a hurry as there was a 3 inch triangle cut out near the original vent. If it does not say "Airstream" on the side your trailer is possibly junk like mine. Rolling junk that is fun to fix!!!!! To fill this gap I used Dicor self sealing Lap and I cut out a triangle from the package the 360 vent came in. It had a raised and perfectly round package so I cut from this circle. It sealed nice.
If you live in beautiful California you cannot purchase mineral spirits. Not legal because of federal laws. So when you head to the RV show in QZ, pick up your Mineral Spirits.
I resisted the urge to flatten the lap seal with a putty knife as it was cold today, it still spread out perfectly on its own within about 20 minutes.
Another factoid to consider if on the fence......these vents work awesome!!! And with the built in screen they keep out flies and Bees!!!
Easy install following this vid!!
Thank you!!! SW
Sounds like you have an installation like ours.... lots of little dramas on the way to a successful finish. Oh the outtakes we could share. LOL Nice work Scott. Hope you love your 360s as much as we do.
Excellent info..as always!
Thanks Danny!
Great video! But seeing all the tools on the solar panel at 2:30 made me cringe! LOL
The panels are glass, and do not scratch easily, especially when setting things gently in place for a video shoot. ;-) I only did that to provide a dark, contrasting background for the tools. Our solar panels are pristine, even after 12+ years! :)
Hi guys, my wife Julie and I just purchased the siphon 360 because we desperately need to get rid of "that smell." The product is a bit different now (no screws required) but install still looks fairly straightforward. I really hope they work...... Thanks for the idea and video. We always look forward to new posts. Can you recommend the best black and grey tank maintenance product (what you use). Thanks in advance. We hope to see you on the road sometime soon. We're prepping to go full time and hope to hit the road by March/April 2017. Thank you for all of your channel content.
Sincerely,
Glenn n Julie
Hi Glenn & Julie!
Hope the 360 siphon works for your odor issue. If you have real problems with the black tank (pyramiding for example), you may need to take other steps, which leads directly into your question about holding tank treatments. Based on great reviews we'd read, we switched to Happy Campers brand this past year, and are very pleased with it. This is the one we use: amzn.to/29B653s
But Happy Campers also makes an EXTREME version for problem tanks and excessive buildup. If you're still having odor issues, we'd suggest trying that: amzn.to/29Itj2Z
We have never needed the Extreme version ourselves, but have also read good things about it. If you've purchased a used RV and don't know how the tank was cared for, this is the best course of action to clean it out. The 360 siphons are needed on every RV anyway, so they won't go to... ahem... waste. ;-)
Congrats on your plan to go full-time! Hope you love it as much as we do. Our "2 to 3 years" is now over 13, and counting. ;-)
Hope this helps. Please let us know how you make out.
Great video, thanks! Perhaps a video on the maintenance and issues you have had with your diesel engine. I hear a lot of problems with some of the newer diesel engines. Thanks
Ray J Hi Ray. Other than dealing with DEF (which, with a 2005 engine, we don't have), we haven't heard about any issues with newer diesel engines. We have a lot of experience with diesels (2 RVs, and one of us is a former MCI driver), and they have a reputation (well deserved in our experience) for durability and reliability.
RVgeeks Thanks for your opinion, I have a gas coach and in the process of researching diesel coaches and may move to diesel in the future. I enjoy your videos keep them coming!
We installed these on our motorhome last January 1917 and have no problem with blank take odor in the RV while traveling down the road, until this trip when on two occasions when flushing while going dow the road we got a strong black tank odor, even though we had no windows open in the RV. I am going to check for blockage on the roof, otherwise, I dont why we got the odor this time and not before.
Sounds like something’s blocked all right... or a small window open.
As always great info. Thank You
Easy for you! Lol! We enjoy your videos!
Awesome solution
I'd been thinking for awhile about picking up one of the campco models but that lack of moving parts does seem like a better feature.
That's what we though too, and there's no clearance issue to worry about like with the rotating type, which would have been a problem with our solar panel mounted so close to the vent stack.
Sprinkle baking soda all around, including bedding and laundry, and garbage containers.
Great video. Thanks.
awesome video
Ok this looks great the ones I have measure six inches. So how would I repair the holes on the outside if I put this four inch in. Sorry just a lady repairing camper. Please help. Thanks
Here’s our video on how to cover holes in an RV roof: ua-cam.com/video/BSQP-FsyngU/v-deo.html That should be what you need!
Super video! Thank you!! :))
now that you've had these installed for awhile is your opinion the same as in the beginning?
Thanks for all the great training. I just bought my first MH and it needs a few things that you've covered. I may need to pick your brain on a few.
william lugg We absolutely love our 360 vents more than ever! Seriously, they are fantastic. Congrats on your new RV!
RVgeeksPrior to installing the 360's A friend and I went for a ride in the rig for about an hour on different roads. The smell wasn't good. I installed the 360's (which was quick and easy) and went for a drive again......no smell!! Thanks for the info.
vin
william lugg Great to hear! Thanks for sharing. :)
I wonder if the top of this 360-Siphon vent can be replaced easily if ,for example ,a branch breaks it?
Hey Danny! Sure thing. It's so close to the same install job as a regular roof vent, that it should be a snap. The only difference is the sleeve that goes into the pipe, but a new replacement 360 vent would of course come with that.
White vinegar in a spay bottle is great or odors in van, dirty clothing, and for bodies, until the next shower.
Thanks for the excellent tip!
Noticed that the base on some 360 siphons are Taller and some are flush. what is the difference saw this on Ebay while shopping and on video (Siphon 360 RV vent installation on LTV unity) Just got mine from Ebay the short one like you Installed on your unit
+1995dresser From what we can tell, it appears that 360 makes a model that's available to manufacturers called the "Hi-Stack" that allows the vent to meet an RVIA standard of having the stack at least 2" above the roof line. We're not seeing that model available for retail, but available to manufacturers for OEM use. Not sure we care about that 2" RVIA rule, since ours work fine the way they are. :)
+RVgeeks Thanks again if anyone would know it would be you . that's why I thought I would ask you about it. I had seen them but no information about them and nothing on the 360 site was just wondering what the difference was . Thanks for the Info
I know it's only a matter of time until I need to replace mine! i still have the stock vents!
Enter the contest and win 'em! lol We had stock vents for 11 years. I have no idea what we were waiting for!
I was debating on those ones with the wind tail that "sucks" the air out but this would work better in the winter etc. and like it says, no moving parts!
can you join the gray tank vent pipe with the black tank vent pipe and have only one roof top vent?
We're guessing that if you could, then manufacturers would do it, since it would mean one less roof vent cap and one less roof penetration. We're thinking that there is likely some RVIA code requirement to prevent an over-filled black tank spilling over into the gray tank, or something like that. Other than that possibility or regulation, we can't think of any reason why you couldn't do it.
What about full-time winter living
impressive
If it's such a better vent, it makes you wonder why the RV manufacturers don't install them on their motorhomes to begin with.
+Open-minded Skeptic Cost, plain and simple. Although there are some manufacturers that have started to make them standard.
Where can I purchase 2 of these 360 Siphon odor eliminator vent covers? I have tried every way I can think of to find tem on the internet.
S Stone I found it , finally, on Amazon.
S Stone That's where I was going to suggest! Glad you found it. :)
White vinegar hands down.
where can I get more screws for inside the rv? like the ones that hold the vent frames and lights and vent fan frame (these are super tiny and hard to find)?
Take one of them out and head to the hardware department of your nearest home improvement store. There will surely be someone there who can help you come up with an acceptable match.
my black water tank vent is located about 5 inches from the vent in the bathroom. it faces the opening to the vent. What can I do to re-route the vent, or am I just screwed.
I mean to re-route the sewer vent.
rick adam Hi Rick. That does sound like poor placement by the manufacturer. I suppose if you're having an odor problem, you could "re-route the sewer vent" by connecting a short length of PVC pipe to move the opening away from your vent fan. I wouldn't do that unless you have no other choice. You should still be able to install a 360 vent, since the diameter of it isn't that large (about 5 inches I think). That would take care of pulling the odors out of the black tank, then all you need to do is run your vent fan on low whenever it's open (assuming you have a Fantastic or other brand of fan in the roof vent... if not you can install one). We almost always keep our vent fan running on low whenever it's open, and it draws hardly any power at all. Hope this helps.
RVgeeks thank you very much for the info. I never had a problem with odor until last month when I replaced the stock fan in the bathroom with a larger heavy duty one. That's when the odors arrived. Since my sewer vent is so close to the vent, and I install a 360, the fan won't draw in outside air, right?
rick adam Ahhhhhh. We were initially thinking that the proximity of the roof vent to the black tank vent was the problem. But if you never had a problem before replacing the fan, then the proximity alone can't be the issue. It does seem counter-intuitive to us that a stronger fan would cause the problem, since it blows up and out of the bathroom. A stronger airflow from the fan should theoretically prevent smell from the sewer vent from coming down through the roof vent, no matter how close the black tank vent is. I'd suggest trying this: try testing the roof vent in four different configurations: 1) Lid closed, 2) Lid open but without the fan not running, 3) Lid open, but fan on the slowest setting and 4) Lid open with the fan on a higher or highest setting. If you don't have any odor problem with the roof vent open but the fan off, I can't imagine that the proximity is the issue. If it only happens when you're running the fan on high, try sniffing around under the sinks. There are special valves on RV plumbing drains that are designed to prevent the odor from the gray tank from coming back up through the drains. If you turn the fan on high (especially with most or all of the windows in the RV closed) there may not be enough places for air to come from to feed air to the fan, and it can cause it to pull air past the plumbing vents under the sinks and bring gray tank odor into the RV. Again, you'll smell it in the cabinets under the sinks, especially when the fan is on high. The solution to that is either to replace the worn out plumbing valve under the culprit sink (the valve rubber can stiffen over time and/or the spring can get weak) or don't turn the fan on too high without at least a couple of windows open, so that the fan can draw air from somewhere other than the gray tank. All that said, 360 vents are not especially expensive or difficult to install, and they work great. So before doing anything radical (like adding PVC pipe to the roof), we'd try the 360s if the plumbing drain vents aren't the problem. Hope this helps. Let us know how you make out!
Cool
Don’t you guys mean negative pressure around the vents? If it’s positive it would have blowed air into the pipes.
Got us there, Kevin! LOL Thanks. :)
Going to try one on my travel trailer. it sits at a campground year round and both of my tanks share the same vent stack. I get mostly gray water smell sometimes. and Black tank smell if it has been closed for a while. but if anyone knows how it works its got to be you. can't go wrong with that . Great Channel also tried White Vinegar down the sink and bath traps it does kill the smell for a while
+1995dresser Our 360 vents do work great. Since your RV sits in one place, are you leaving it empty for periods of time? Or do you stay in it all the time? The reason I ask is because you mentioned having had some success, even if temporary, pouring vinegar down the traps. If you leave the RV sitting for any length of time, the evaporation of water from the traps can be a cause of odors getting back up into the living space. If so, then pouring plain water down the traps would help too, since of course it's the water in the trap that blocks the smells. If you are indeed leaving your RV unattended for extended periods, and the traps are drying out, we've heard that adding a half cup of mineral oil down each trap immediately before departing for a while can prevent, or slow, evaporation. We haven't tried it (we're always on board full-time), but if you're away for a while, you might try giving that a try and letting us know how it works!
+RVgeeks We only use it for weekends or just to get away its 45 minutes from home . but sometimes it will not be open for a month . but the water seal in the toilet always has water . also to contribute to the smell is the fresh water I have a filter but I has a faint smell to it . but outside the trailer when I use the garden hose it does not have a smell . I have been told that its the mineral deposits in the water heater . 12yr old trailer might try some CLR in the tank and flush the lines . It sits from the end of October to April with no water just antifreeze both gray and black tanks cleaned and flushed
+1995dresser A month is plenty of time for the traps to dry out. Maybe try the mineral oil in them before leaving it closed up next time. Water in the toilet is good... means the seal is holding water, which is essential for keeping odor down where it belongs. We'd suggest that CLR might not be the best thing to put into your water heater. If you're getting water heater tank odor, check out our videos about flushing the tank, which you can find here: thervgeeks.com/water-and-sewer . There's one about flushing an Atwood brand heater (no anode rod) and one about flushing a Suburban brand heater (has an anode rod). If you have a Suburban heater, be sure to watch this follow-up about anode rod replacement: thervgeeks.com/plumbing/update-rv-water-heater-anode-rods
We'd also try replacing the fresh water filter, especially if you can smell it.
Hope this all helps. Best of luck.
the bathroom sink does not have an air valve, I don't know about the shower. the galley sink does have one and its own tank. We are in our RV full time and I have the gray water tank wide open all the time. I did flush the toilet with the fan off and got no odors. So I think by installing a 360 will improve the problem since it is windy everyday her in BullheadCity AZ. I'll try that and let you know how it comes out. I also drain my black tank every 3 days since we had this problem and flush out the tank with the built in sprayer. that seems to help. But once we boondock, that will change. Thanks again for your help.
I installed two of these on my class c and they didn't help at all. The smell might even be worse now. I was all excited to drive and not have that smell but was very disappointed when I found they didn't work as advertised. Are you guys just trying to make money by telling people they work?
+Sean K Hi Sean. So sorry that this didn’t solve your oder problem, but I will tell you, without exaggeration this is the first time I have ever heard anyone say one bad word about 360 vents. We pride ourselves on only talking about things that we use ourselves and really believe in. We are thinking there must be some other factor happening with your RV besides just the vent stacks
I can't think of what else it could be. Everything works perfect in my RV. I don't smell anything when parked, it's only when driving.
+Sean K Hmmm. What kind of RV do you have Sean, and how old is it? And does it happen with the windows and roof vents open, or closed, or both? And most importantly, does it happen regardless of whether the black and/or gray tanks are mostly or completely empty as well as when mostly full?
It's a 2008 22 foot Class C. I keep the roof vents open most of the time. The smell is really bad when I roll the front windows down while driving. I'm not a big fan of AC so I like to have my windows open, thats why I bought the the 360 Siphon vents. I've only had one trip in the RV so far with the vents installed, it was a 4 hour drive there, a 1 hour drive to another location, then 4 hours back. The black tank was less than quarter full. I'll be moving into the RV in 3 weeks.
If we're understanding correctly, you're driving with the roof vents open, right? Try making sure that your roof vents are tightly closed while driving. The way the 360 vents work is by the venturi effect as air passes over them, creating positive airflow up and out the vent pipes. The extreme airflow at highway speeds means that a LOT of air is being drawn up and out the vent pipes. If you have a roof vents open, the air that's coming OUT of the vent pipes could easily be being drawn INTO the open roof vents. That is probably being made worse by having the windows down. If you can try driving with the vents closed, that may be enough to stop the additional flow from the open windows from causing the problem. Give that a try and let us know how you make out. And congratulations on your move in 3 weeks!
I know you both are down under, so I hope this question isn't a bother. I was just wondering if you ever had an issue with this roof vent getting brittle? Its design seems kind of flimsy with way the cap attaches to the base. I just discovered a broken cap on my Fifth Wheel today so Ill be replacing it soon. Just wanted to see if you all still think highly of this product. Thanks and good luck down under.
+windersranger1 Thanks! And G'Day from down under! No bother at all! 360s are made of polycarbonate, which is very strong, not like plastic at all... even though they look like it. Ours are still like brand new.
+RVgeeks thankyou for the prompt reply. Have fun down there!
Learn how to keep your RV smelling fresh, and enter for a chance to win a share of $300 in prizes in our latest RVgeeks contest!
I bought a 1998 Winnie Minnie from a second owner. Had water line leaks that finally just recently repaired. After a third shower, the odor coming from it is horrid. I'm sure it's an air trap problem as no odors from any other water source (kitchen or toilet). Maybe this would fix it. Thoughts?
Hi LuAnn. Is the odor coming up out of the shower drain? If so, the trap under the shower may not be holding water in it. Are you fully hooked up with the gray tank valve open, or are you dry camping (and therefore filling the gray tank as you use water)? If your gray valve is closed, and the tank is nearly full, it's possible that the vent opening inside the tank that goes to the roof is under the level of the water, so blocking the air from escaping. The 360s are well worth the effort to try to get rid of all odors, as we found them to work better than we ever expected.
1. It only smells when the water is turned on in shower. I hadn't used water from the shower as I had leaks that had to be fixed. So I had been bathing with a bucket(s) of water in the shower stall and didn't notice any odors.
2. I am in an RV park full time and hooked up to the sewer line with tanks closed; emptying once a week or so.
I also noticed the smell when I went outside of the RV where the shower is located. It costs a $100 just to get the RV guy here to look at it. I'm on a very limited income & getting a new toilet, sink faucet and shower head installed set me back about $500.
Thanks for your input! I'll post again when I get it straightened out, with the solution.
LuAnn Patterson Hmmm. Not sure what it might be, but we suggest before spending any more to have a technician come out, that you post a detailed question on the iRV2 forums. It's free to join and post, and there are a TON of knowledgeable RVers (and some RV techs) ready, willing and able to help out. Go to: www.irv2.com/forums and sign up, and be sure to let us know how you make out. Best of luck, LuAnn!
The RV mechanic guy was working on the rig next to me so I asked if when he was done to come see me. He turned on the hot water faucet at the sink and said 'Is that the same odor?". Yep, it was. He said it was probably caused by the water heater not being emptied by previous owner. I realized that my daughter probably turned on the hot water faucet in the shower out of habit. It's been so hot here that even the 'cold' water is rather warm and I hadn't turned on the hot water when I took a shower so that explains why it didn't smell for me. In this process learned my levels meter isn't accurate as it shows I have a full tank of propane but they checked the unit and it shows empty. My next step is to get propane and give the water heater a thorough flushing. And if that doesn't work he said to fill the water holding tank with a bleach solution and flush again. It's not been officially dewinterized. I hope that is all it will take.
LuAnn Patterson I see. So it's the "clean" water coming out of the water heater that smells. Definitely watch our videos about flushing the water heater and sanitizing the fresh water tank to get your water system all cleaned up.
Gosh, does the guy driving behind you pass out?
+Steve Blanck He might have during that test! LOL
People did not vote for her
be sure to lay all of your heavy tooling on the solar panels
Laying things on a solar panel is harmless. Did you think I threw everything down onto it or something?