Bubbles in bowl

[Bert]

Hello Peggy,I have a 1982 PAR head made by Brydon (model 59128-0000). I don't have an history of the maintenance that has been done on it in the past. We recently noticed that air is bubbling back in the bowl after the head has been flushed and there is also water leaking from the piston rod. There is no significant odour coming from the head. This is my first expefience as a marine toilet owner. My questions are the following:1) Do you believe that it is time to proceed to an overall job with the available repair kit?2) If so, what are the issues surronding such job?3) I will need another seat and cover. Who can supply a replacement?4) The discharge hose has been shut off at the valve to comply with Vermont's regulations. Is this sufficient or am I looking for a smelly hose down the road?ThanksBert.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

It's time for a new toilet

The Brydon hasn't been made for over 15 years...it's worn out. For the price of a new seat/lid and a rebuild kit, you can buy a whole new Jabsco toilet. As for whether you'll have smelly hoses down the road, cross that bridge when you get to it. If/when you do, replace your hoses. Till then, don't worry about it. Meanwhile, read the articles in the Head Mistress forum Reference Library (go to the HM forum, then click on the link to the library in the middle of the homepage) to learn how to properly operate and maintain your toilet and holding tank.

 

[fred miller]

Mine Bubbles Too

Hey , I've got the same question. My head bubbles too. Its a Jabsco head approx 4 years old. I replaced all of the hoses to the holding tank this season., cleaned the holding tank out, had the tank seams rewelded and have been religously using KO. The tank is pumped every week . .Still I see periodic bubbles. I can't understand that unless the KO is forming some type of gas as it works and it is that. The pump handle periodically spits a little too from the operating pump shaft. Its fresh water so I'll live with that. What are those bubbles?Fred MillerS/V M Squared

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

K.O. isn't forming any kind of gasses

When was the last time you checked your tank vent?When, if ever, was the toilet rebuilt? Or even lubricated properly? When was the joker valve last replaced? Neglect can create all kinds of problems, including leaking and bubbles. Without lubrication, seals and valves can wear out in just one season. Even with maintenance, the average lifespan of a Jabsco toilet is only about 5 years. Brydons lasted so much longer because they were MUCH better built by a Canadian company under a licensing agreement with Jabsco.What do you mean, "it's fresh water..."??? Please tell me you haven't connected a manual toilet to your fresh water system? That cannot be done without risk of polluting the fresh water or damage to the toilet...or both. ONLY toilets that are designed to use pressurized water can safely be connected to the potable water system. And btw, two years before a metal tank starts to leak at a seam or a fitting is about right...and isn't that about the age of your tank?

 

[fred miller]

No Peggy; I meant raw water supply.

Forgive me, I guess my terminology was incorrect. its raw water supply not fresh. By the way the vent is not only clean, but was replaced last year. Maybe the bubbles are coming from another source where air somehow can enter the flushing cycle and then bubble back. Just a thought . .As a psssing note, a friend with a 1979 Pearson claims his holding tank is entirely stainless and has had no problems with leaks or odors. If that is the case is stainless the way to go as a future tank replacement?Fred MillerS/V M Squared

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Whew! And as for your friend's '79 boat...

It's highly unlikely that his tank is original unless it was a water tank that's been converted to waste holding. Holding tanks weren't required by federal law until 1980...and it was another 6 or 7 years after that before the first states began to enact any laws enforcing federal law...a few STILL haven't. Therefore, the boat may be '79, but I'd bet $$ the tank was either added much later, or wasn't in use--at least not as a waste holding tank--till much later. Because you installed a stainless tank, you're determined to make a case for 'em, but urine is so corrosive--salt is benign in comparison--that not even 316 stainless is a good choice. Average time before rewelding is required: 2-5 years. Average life of the sheet metal rarely exceeds 10.