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Why does our porta potty smell like ammonia after weekend use?

Deb K.asked 0 viewsOdor, Cleaning & ChemicalsDeodorizerService frequencyStandard unitOdorHolding tank

We have a standard portable toilet on our construction site for a crew of about 15 people. It's placed on level gravel, and the vacuum truck can pull right up to it every Monday morning. The unit gets serviced weekly, but by the time we start work on Monday, it reeks of ammonia. It's a strong, eye-watering smell that hangs around all morning. The deodorizer is usually still blue, so it's not like the tank is full. We don't have any food or alcohol on site. What causes that ammonia smell specifically, and is there something we should ask the rental company to do differently?

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Tyler R.Columbus, OH

That ammonia smell is old urine breaking down, and the fix is moving your service day from Monday morning to Friday afternoon.

Urine is mostly water and urea. Fresh, it barely smells. Give it a couple of days sitting in a closed box and the urea breaks down into ammonia, which is that eye-watering sting. A 15 person crew that's mostly guys puts a lot of urine in the tank and on the urinal, so by Monday the whole unit has been cooking since Friday with the door shut. Blue color in the tank doesn't mean the chemical is still working. The dye hangs on long after the deodorizer is spent.

What fixed it on our sites:

  • Ask for the service visit on Friday so the tank sits fresh over the weekend.
  • Have the tech wipe the urinal and the floor, not just pump. Dried splash on the floor is half the smell.
  • Check the vent stack isn't cracked or capped, and turn the door away from afternoon sun if you can.

First guy in Monday props the door for ten minutes. Helps a lot.

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