We're taking delivery of our new boat (B 473) tomorrow. My wife hates boat odors (one of the reasons we purchased a new boat). Do you have any recommendations to control odors from the beginning? I'm also considering using fresh water for the heads. I remember reading about this topic but can't find the topics in the archives. Should we dedicate one of our fresh tanks? Should we just tap into the existing system before the pressure pump using a "Y" valve and a check valve? Thanks.
new boat - head & holding tank recommendations?
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Head Odors
Our, new to us, 380 Hunter uses fresh water from our tank for the head. We have had no oders to date...
Our, new to us, 380 Hunter uses fresh water from our tank for the head. We have had no oders to date...
Only toilets designed to use pressurized water
Should ever be connected to the fresh water system. NEVER connect a raw water toilet to the fresh water system...it cannot be done without risk of e-coli pollution of your potable water, damage to the toilet, or both...and every toilet mfr specifically warns against it in their installation instructions. Even dedicating one of your water tanks to toilet flushing is a bad idea unless you completely isolate from your fresh water system...separate fill, no interface with fresh water plumbing, no valves that could accidentally be opened to allow water from that tank to get into the plumbing. A lot of people keep the seacock closed and flush by adding water to the bowl. That's safe, but not good for the toilet. It shortens the life of rubber parts in manual toilets and fries the intake impeller--and then destroys the intake pump--in eletric toilets. If you want to flush with fresh water, you have two choices: specify a toilet (electric) designed to use pressurized water...or add a separate 10-12 gal flush water tank.
Should ever be connected to the fresh water system. NEVER connect a raw water toilet to the fresh water system...it cannot be done without risk of e-coli pollution of your potable water, damage to the toilet, or both...and every toilet mfr specifically warns against it in their installation instructions. Even dedicating one of your water tanks to toilet flushing is a bad idea unless you completely isolate from your fresh water system...separate fill, no interface with fresh water plumbing, no valves that could accidentally be opened to allow water from that tank to get into the plumbing. A lot of people keep the seacock closed and flush by adding water to the bowl. That's safe, but not good for the toilet. It shortens the life of rubber parts in manual toilets and fries the intake impeller--and then destroys the intake pump--in eletric toilets. If you want to flush with fresh water, you have two choices: specify a toilet (electric) designed to use pressurized water...or add a separate 10-12 gal flush water tank.
Hey Peggie
I thought you gave a thumbs up to the system where the head intake comes off of the sink drain with a Y valve; close valve, fill sink, pump head.
I thought you gave a thumbs up to the system where the head intake comes off of the sink drain with a Y valve; close valve, fill sink, pump head.
That way is ok....
'Cuz the head intake is connected to the sink DRAIN, not the fresh water plumbing. Plan B: Stuff an unvented bladder into a convenient location. Using a garden hose y-valve, connect the fill line for the bladder to the sink drain, the head intake to the bladder. Doesn't require any other plumbing...when the bladder is empty, open the valve in the sink drain, run water down the sink. Update for my dad: He left the hospital Monday, went to a rehab center. Amazingly for a 91 yr old, he's fully recovered from pneumonia, but he's weak and confused a lot of the time now...so he can't go home yet. But he never had ANY dementia--the old buzzard was as sharp as a tack!--before he landed in the hospital, so hopefully medication and treatment will restore his mind completely so he can go home in another week or two. It's been a long HARD month...and it ain't over yet But so far, so good. And now that he's out of the hospital and getting full time custodial care, I have a little more time for my own life. Still remains to be seen how much I'll have when he does go home. I've really appreciated all your prayers and good wishes during all this!
'Cuz the head intake is connected to the sink DRAIN, not the fresh water plumbing. Plan B: Stuff an unvented bladder into a convenient location. Using a garden hose y-valve, connect the fill line for the bladder to the sink drain, the head intake to the bladder. Doesn't require any other plumbing...when the bladder is empty, open the valve in the sink drain, run water down the sink. Update for my dad: He left the hospital Monday, went to a rehab center. Amazingly for a 91 yr old, he's fully recovered from pneumonia, but he's weak and confused a lot of the time now...so he can't go home yet. But he never had ANY dementia--the old buzzard was as sharp as a tack!--before he landed in the hospital, so hopefully medication and treatment will restore his mind completely so he can go home in another week or two. It's been a long HARD month...and it ain't over yet But so far, so good. And now that he's out of the hospital and getting full time custodial care, I have a little more time for my own life. Still remains to be seen how much I'll have when he does go home. I've really appreciated all your prayers and good wishes during all this!
new toilet or fresh water tank bladder
Before I add a separate tank/bladder or replace the toilet to support pressurized fresh water - does this make a big difference? I see several holding tank additives advertized to kill growth and odors - are these as effective? I like the bladder idea - it seems relatively easy to install and effective. I would put a Y off the sink drain for the bladder intake and anohter Y for the toilet intake to support sea-water intake or fresh water intake. Is there a particular recommended bladder?
Before I add a separate tank/bladder or replace the toilet to support pressurized fresh water - does this make a big difference? I see several holding tank additives advertized to kill growth and odors - are these as effective? I like the bladder idea - it seems relatively easy to install and effective. I would put a Y off the sink drain for the bladder intake and anohter Y for the toilet intake to support sea-water intake or fresh water intake. Is there a particular recommended bladder?
Sea water/fresh water doesn't matter in the tank.
There's so much bacteria in waste that it doesn't even notice a little more in the flush water. Flushing with fresh water does eliminate odor from stagnant sea water trapped in the head intake. But that problem can be solved easily and inexpensively by rerouting the head intake line to tee it into the head sink drain...close the seacock, fill the sink with fresh water..flush the toilet. Because the seacock is closed the toilet will pull the water out of the sink, rinsing out the whole system. Just pouring water into the bowl only rinses out the head discharge line. You might want to check out the link below.
There's so much bacteria in waste that it doesn't even notice a little more in the flush water. Flushing with fresh water does eliminate odor from stagnant sea water trapped in the head intake. But that problem can be solved easily and inexpensively by rerouting the head intake line to tee it into the head sink drain...close the seacock, fill the sink with fresh water..flush the toilet. Because the seacock is closed the toilet will pull the water out of the sink, rinsing out the whole system. Just pouring water into the bowl only rinses out the head discharge line. You might want to check out the link below.
thanks - that's the plan
Thanks Peggy, That will be my plan. We have one electric head and one manual head. I'll be at the boat all week and I will look at the requirements for rerouting the intake lines. I'm also buying your book !!! Do you recommend adding one of the holding tank additives/treatments to help kill/breakdown waste?
Thanks Peggy, That will be my plan. We have one electric head and one manual head. I'll be at the boat all week and I will look at the requirements for rerouting the intake lines. I'm also buying your book !!! Do you recommend adding one of the holding tank additives/treatments to help kill/breakdown waste?
Good news, Peggy
on your dad. Hopefully he will be around to annoy you for many more years to come.
on your dad. Hopefully he will be around to annoy you for many more years to come.
Yes, you need something in the tank
Use Odorlos or Raritan K.O. according to directions. They're both non-chemical products that don't kill bacteria...they work with it as nature intended to prevent odor. You'll understand that better after you read the chapter in my book on holding tank odors. Stu, Patrick...thanks!
Use Odorlos or Raritan K.O. according to directions. They're both non-chemical products that don't kill bacteria...they work with it as nature intended to prevent odor. You'll understand that better after you read the chapter in my book on holding tank odors. Stu, Patrick...thanks!
My sympathys Peggie
My father in law ( 93) had his first fall this winter - broke a vertebra- it really set him back. He too was sharp as a tack- looked after his own investments, was very current on all that was going on, cooked and kept house and looked after my 84 year old Mother in law- who does have sever demementia. And drove is car ( that is another story) Hope your father gets back his old quality of life
My father in law ( 93) had his first fall this winter - broke a vertebra- it really set him back. He too was sharp as a tack- looked after his own investments, was very current on all that was going on, cooked and kept house and looked after my 84 year old Mother in law- who does have sever demementia. And drove is car ( that is another story) Hope your father gets back his old quality of life
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