Peggy-understand you have a Lavac?

[Kathy Patrick]

My husband recently installed a brand new Lavac on our boat in preparation for "the cruise". I hate it! 3 main problems(forgive me if I don't know all the right terms)#1-the button you push to flush either sticks, stays running too long, or you have to fiddle with it, jiggling it back and forth to get it to shut off. #2-after the flush cycle is complete and you check the bowl all is ok, small amount of clean water left in the bowl and then a few minutes later you check it and it has filled up (to within about 2 inches from the top of the bowl with water (not so clean). It's insidious-it kind of just seeps back in. #3-absolutly nothing but liquid waste will flush out. Anything else stops it up and the vacumn will not seal to complete the flush cycle and what a mess. This is not a condusive situation for "good cruising" nor our marriage! Any ideas, suggestions, helpful hints- anything would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Don't own a Lavac, but...

I think you have two separate problems: a defective switch and at least one installation issue: If the toilet is below the boat's waterline, and if you didn't install a loop in the intake line that's at least a foot above the waterline, water will rise the in the line--and the bowl--to the waterline. Even if there IS a loop in the line, if you don't keep the seacock closed except when someone's actually using the toilet while you're underway, water can be forced over it and into the bowl--and can overflow it--by the pressure of the water against the thru-hull. And if the distance from the toilet to the holding tank or thru-hull is further than the mfr specifies, or there are are too many "up, over, around and through" in it, waste cannot make it all the way from the bowl to the tank or the thru-hull. Iow, I have a strong suspicion that all your problems except the sticking switch may be a case of "when all else fails, follow the directions"...and all else HAS failed!I'm gonna refer you to the one person I know who's a servicing dealer for Lavac and should be able to tell you exactly how to correct each of the problems. His website is at:http://www.lavac.com/You can e-mail him from there.