Peggie, I think the previous owner of my boat must have been one of your readers. His answer to providing a fresh water flush in the head was to put a "T" in the line from the aft water tank and run a line to the head intake above the through-hull. While I only use this tank when my other tanks run low, I have some concerns about the possibility that back flow from my Jabsco head will contaminate the fresh water in this tank. Is this a possibility and if so will a check valve in the line work to eliminate the potential problem? Thanks for your help.
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Not one of my readers!
No toilet that's designed to flush using raw water should ever be connected to the onboard potable water system...it cannot be done without risk of polluting the fresh water supply or damage to the toilet, or both...and every toilet mfr specifically warns against doing so in their installation instructions. ONLY toilets specifically designed by the mfr to use pressurized water can safely be connected to the onboard fresh water system. So the answer to your questions are: Yes--there's a good chance of polluting not only the water in that tank, but the whole supply...it doesn't require backflow for it to happen...bacteria can migrate under any conditions. No--installing a check valve will not protect the water fresh water system. So your only two choices are: 1. Disconnect all fresh water plumbing from that tank and use it only as a toilet flush water supply. Recommission the rest of the system to sanitize it. 2. Disconnect the toilet intake from the tank and recommission your whole fresh water system--both tanks and all the plumbing--to sanitize it. Directions for recommissioning are in my book...if you don't have it, search the archives...I've posted 'em at least a dozen times.
No toilet that's designed to flush using raw water should ever be connected to the onboard potable water system...it cannot be done without risk of polluting the fresh water supply or damage to the toilet, or both...and every toilet mfr specifically warns against doing so in their installation instructions. ONLY toilets specifically designed by the mfr to use pressurized water can safely be connected to the onboard fresh water system. So the answer to your questions are: Yes--there's a good chance of polluting not only the water in that tank, but the whole supply...it doesn't require backflow for it to happen...bacteria can migrate under any conditions. No--installing a check valve will not protect the water fresh water system. So your only two choices are: 1. Disconnect all fresh water plumbing from that tank and use it only as a toilet flush water supply. Recommission the rest of the system to sanitize it. 2. Disconnect the toilet intake from the tank and recommission your whole fresh water system--both tanks and all the plumbing--to sanitize it. Directions for recommissioning are in my book...if you don't have it, search the archives...I've posted 'em at least a dozen times.
peggy's idea
John - use an idea Peggy suggested - connect your head sink drain to the head inlet pipe with a t then when you want a fresh water rinse in the head just close the salt water intake to the head, fill the sink with fresh water and pump the head. I think that was what you suggested peggy, I have that set up and it works great so I can flush the head with fresh water at the end of the weekend.
John - use an idea Peggy suggested - connect your head sink drain to the head inlet pipe with a t then when you want a fresh water rinse in the head just close the salt water intake to the head, fill the sink with fresh water and pump the head. I think that was what you suggested peggy, I have that set up and it works great so I can flush the head with fresh water at the end of the weekend.
Fresh Water Flush
I had the same issue all Bay sailors face when using the intake to flush the head (std. jabsco hunter issue). The intake line and bowl always had residual odor on first flush after being gone all week. My simple solution was to close the tru hull and just use the shower head in hand to fresh water flush. Never any odor now. Before leaving boat i fill bowl with fresh water from shower head add Peggy's highly recommendeed CP and flush 2/3 thru system. i can be gone for two weeks and return to the first flush being odor free as the last one. No plumbing, no expense just using what the boat already had tony (2000 340)
I had the same issue all Bay sailors face when using the intake to flush the head (std. jabsco hunter issue). The intake line and bowl always had residual odor on first flush after being gone all week. My simple solution was to close the tru hull and just use the shower head in hand to fresh water flush. Never any odor now. Before leaving boat i fill bowl with fresh water from shower head add Peggy's highly recommendeed CP and flush 2/3 thru system. i can be gone for two weeks and return to the first flush being odor free as the last one. No plumbing, no expense just using what the boat already had tony (2000 340)
What am I missing....
...here? If the idea is how to flush your head with fresh water, why not just fill a bucket with fresh water, dump it in the head, and pump away?
...here? If the idea is how to flush your head with fresh water, why not just fill a bucket with fresh water, dump it in the head, and pump away?
Hey John
The showr head is just a bit "neater" than a bucket. But i agree with you. All our problems should be this easy to solve BTW we love to visit your marina Nice people great pool, Great palm trees and a good rest/bar tony
The showr head is just a bit "neater" than a bucket. But i agree with you. All our problems should be this easy to solve BTW we love to visit your marina Nice people great pool, Great palm trees and a good rest/bar tony
Shower doesn't do it for me
even with a some CP. Raw water is still in the line and bowl, so the first flush when I get back from a week away is alwys joy. What am I missing?
even with a some CP. Raw water is still in the line and bowl, so the first flush when I get back from a week away is alwys joy. What am I missing?
Warren. Intake line and bowl rim is what you are missing.
The point is to try to flush the raw water from the intake line and the inside channels in the rim of the bowl. If you just put a bucket of water in the bowl you still have raw water and all the dying and decaying organisms that come with it stuck in the intake and bowl rim. That can definitely cause quite an odor!
The point is to try to flush the raw water from the intake line and the inside channels in the rim of the bowl. If you just put a bucket of water in the bowl you still have raw water and all the dying and decaying organisms that come with it stuck in the intake and bowl rim. That can definitely cause quite an odor!
read my peggy's idea down the list in this post guys
it clears the entire intake line of salt water
it clears the entire intake line of salt water
Ya'll missed it
Note i said i CLOSED the head intake thru hull it is not used at all so there is no bay water in it. i use exclusively fresh water nothing to die and rot Naturally you use up your fresh water faster but on the Bay, frsh water supply is not a big issue whereas head stink is. showwer head in one hand pump in other works just fine. t
Note i said i CLOSED the head intake thru hull it is not used at all so there is no bay water in it. i use exclusively fresh water nothing to die and rot Naturally you use up your fresh water faster but on the Bay, frsh water supply is not a big issue whereas head stink is. showwer head in one hand pump in other works just fine. t
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