Holding Tank Above Water Line

[Lee Hadjiosif]

On my Beneteau 381, the head pumps directly to the tank. My question is, what holds the contents from backing into the head? If the answer is the joker valve, then does that mean that when the joker valve goes bad, everything can backflow on the head floor? And what do you do when you have to change the joker valve. Thanks.
S/V Adagio

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

All heads pump directly into the tank. What is the relative height of them?

 

[heritage]

The pipe from the head enters the top of the holding tank, so a joker valve leak should only allow whats left in the pipe to enter the head.

 

[Lee Hadjiosif]

All heads pump directly into the tank. What is the relative height of them?

The bottom of the tank is at least 2' above the toilet.

 

[Lee Hadjiosif]

The pipe from the head enters the top of the holding tank, so a joker valve leak should only allow whats left in the pipe to enter the head.

This makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Mike B]

Yes the joker valve is what holds things back. Yes when, not if, it begins to leak it will allow whatever is in the hose between the toilet and the tank to backflow into the bowl. Two solutions will help keep things in order. Always flush enough water through after doing #2 and before leaving the boat for the week. Change the joker out on an annual, or if necessary more frequent basis.

 

[Benny17441]

Only if the rim of the head is below the holding tank. Keep the vent clear to avoid siphoning action and you should be fine. You are otherwise correct in your assesment of the workings of the joker valve. The valve gets normally replaced when a rebuild kit gets installed or when excessive backflow is noticed.

 

[skisil]

There is also a loop in the sanitation hose that brings the hose above the level of the holding tank, and functions like a trap in the sink. This prevents odors as well as waste from the tank from backing up. If the joker valve fails, only the waste in the hose BEFORE the trap can back up.

 

[Lee Hadjiosif]

Apparently Beneteau does not install the sanitation loop. My tank's inlet hose goes into the top of the tank via a 90 degree elbow. I'm contemplating installing a macerator pump once I figure out where to cut it into the system. I have a spare 1-1/2" female fitting at the top of the tank where I can screw the macerator into it vertically. Any thoughts on this will be appreciated. Thanks.
Lee

 

[Ron20324]

If the joker fails, it most likely will not be a major failure- it will allow some leakage back into the pot, but probably not enough to cause a flood. Mine is like that right now, and I get 2 or 3 inches of backflow. If you have the pump with the twist-lock handle, there is a second valve/flap that an extension on the piston rod pushes against to create a second back-flow seal. It is rubber, too, so can go bad just as the joker can.