Peggy - am I missing something?

[Ed]

Is there something diferent when pumping out a system with Vacuflush Heads? I have emptied the tank with the macerator (out past three miles) and have not had a problem - albeit the tank was only 20 perscent full. Have been at a mooring for a few days and the tank was 70 percent full. Called the pump out boat and had very little success empting the tank. It starts to empty then slows down which I guess is probably the vent line - but wasn't a problem with the macerator? Is there something else that needs to be done with Vacuflush heads? Does the vaccum system need to be down? Is there another item that needs to be open to release vacumn on the tank? When I look at the diagram it apears that the tank is still atmospheric with this system and that the pump out hose just runs to the bottom of the tank and the vent to the atmoshphere. But do I need to realease the vacumn on the heads - open the heads up or - anything I am missing?? Sorry to be so dim - but HELP - I have your book already!

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Type of toilet has nothing whatever do with tank

All toilets, including the VacuFlush, do nothing more than flush into the tank. As far as holding tanks are concerned, pumping out, dumping, maintaining the tank is the same no matter what kind of toilet you have.The VacuFlush toilet system actually ends at the vacuum pump. The accumulated vacuum pulls bowl contents to the vacuum pump...the vacuum pump pushes it the rest of the way to the tank, treatment device or out a thru-hull, same as any other toilet pump pushes waste to 'em. The only thing the vacuum pump does that's different is, it's also pulling all the air out of the system between the pump and the bowl at the same time it's pushing waste to the tank. So if you can't empty your HOLDING tank, the problem is confined to holding tank issues--most likely a blocked tank vent. That is, UNLESS your "VacuFlush" is the gawdawful nightmare SeaLand calls the VHT...in which the vacuum tank and holding tank are the same tank, and is hands down the WORST idea in the history of marine toilets. I doubt that it is...I've never seen one on a sailboat. If the holding tank on your boat is separate, it's not.