Jabsco electric 37010 toilet problem

[Brad Cavedo]

PeggyI was reading the discussion from long ago at this link:http://archive.sailboatowners.com/archive/archivepview.tpl?sku=2002241084405.41&forumabr=thm&fno=11&model=none&forum=none&andor=wo&keyword=37010&pr=p&ssite=HOW&srt=pdate&start=2&max=100&db=2002I have the same problem now that was described then. The forward toilet fills up with water and pumps out very slowly, if at all. I replaced the pump assembly in October 2003 and it worked fine then. Now, it won't pump out. [Aft toilet works fine and always has.]You made a comment in the above link about "calcuim carbonates" in the discharge line. What is that? I have found a grey, clay like substance in my discharge line. [boat is a 1997 Hunter P42.] It clogged the line last fall but I blew it out by hose-clamping a garden hose to the discharge line and running water at full pressure through it for about an hour. So water runs through the line fine, but the bowl will not drain. Should I replace the discharge hose? This will be a huge job and I don't think it will necessarily fix my draining problem.Any other thoughts on this probem? Many thanks.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Check your holding tank vent

A blocked holding tank vent causes the tank to become pressurized, which would create a backup in the head discharge line. If you have a manual toilet, you'd feel backpressure...if you have an electric toilet, you wouldn't be able to feel it, but it would become increasingly difficult to flush the toilet. The poster in the thread you referenced has an unvented bladder tank. I neglected to mention in that thread that unvented bladders should never be used for waste holding...for two reasons: 1. It violates CG regs, which because methane is flammable, require that ALL waste holding tanks be vented to the outside of the boat. 2. Both flushing a toilet and the gasses generated by the breakdown of waste causes an unvented tank to become pressurized, causing a backup into the toilet and quite often will blow out a tank fitting or even rupture the tank. So if your tank is an unvented bladder, you MUST install a vent line to a thru-hull in the hull.Whether yours is also an unvented bladder or a rigid tank, the first thing to do is find out whether the tank is pressurized. To do that, VERRRY carefully loosen the cap on the deck pumpout fitting...and have a hose at the ready...because if it is pressurized, waste will ooze out as soon as the cap is loose enough. A seriously pressurized tank will actually erupt...so hang on tight to the cap as you loosen it. Don't use the toilet again or attempt to pump out till you make sure the tank is vent clear....'cuz continuing to flush into a pressurized tank can result in anything from an eruption back through the toilet bowl to a ruptured tank...and a strong pumpout pulling a vacuum against a blocked vent can also rupture rigid tank. Sea water calcium carbonates are a combination of several elements in sea water that combine in an anerobic environment to create a mineral-like substance that can build up in hoses. Buildup can be prevented by flushing a cupful of white vinegar down the toilet all the way through the hose once a week. You'll find all kinds of detailed help in not only solving "head" problems, but how to prevent 99% of 'em if you check out the link below.

 

[Bradley Cavedo]

Airway is clear

PeggieThe holding tank airway is clear. Both electric toilets pump into the same tank and the aft toilet pumps out fine. I'm thinking the pump's chopper blade may be fouled or that some of the hard clay-like material from the waste hose may be blocking the exit from the pump to the joker valve. [When I replaced the joker valve, the old one was encrused with this substance, as was the short tube within which it is installed and onto which the waste hose attaches.]Have you heard about any problems with the newer Jabsco pumps that use the chopper blade as opposed to the older ones that used the three prongs in the triangle pattern?

 

[Brad Cavedo]

Fixed the problem

I bought one of those drill operated small pipe snakes that plumbers use. I ran it up the waste line from the holding tank connection to the head hose-bob. After alot of working back and forth, it broke out the hard clay-like clog and water flows out of the bowl very fast.