Raritan PHII - smell with each stroke/pump

[Guest]

Couple of questions:

I have a terrible smell, by the head, when pumping my Raritan PHII. I rebuilt the pump assembly last year which included a new joker valve. I did not replace the air check valve in the front of the pump assembly. I do notice a slight water leak from that valve. I assume they sell replacements for that valve. Is that valve just pressed in? Or is it screwed in?

When I pump, I get a horrible smell, and it seems to be coming from that air valve. It is significantly worse in the Dry pump mode. Wet doesn't seem as bad.

The tank vent is not plugged...so it doesn't seem to be a back pressure issue because of air buildup.

I have an Inline Treatment system that uses the water treatment tablets on the water intake side. makes the water nice and blue but I can also then seen the water droplets from that air valve.

Any ideas on what would be causing the backflow of smell on each pump?

 

[Guest]

Leak at air valve

I see there is a replacement part number 1203W for the air valve. But I can't tell from the parts diagram if its screwed in or just pressed in. If anyone knows, please let me know.

On the smell on each stroke you think its just a good thorough take cleaning that is needed? Or did I mess up on my rebuild last year

thx.

-J

 

[Guest]

I

On the smell on each stroke you think its just a good thorough take cleaning that is needed? Or did I mess up on my rebuild last year

thx.

-J

I meant tank not take. I guess the smell is getting to my brain...

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I suspect you just need a new air valve...

Or it may just need cleaning. It threads in...remove it, clean it...put it back. If that relieves the back pressure, you've solved that problem but you'll need to remove it again and wrap the threads in Teflon tape get a good seal.

If that doesn't cure it, you need a new air valve. To make sure you get the right one, you'll need to tell 'em whether your toilet was built before 6/92 or after.

Your odor is most likely a separate issue...animal or vegetable sea life trapped in the intake. Remove the intake hose from the thru-hull (prob'ly a good a idea to close the seacock first) and stick it into a bucket of water to which you've added a quart of white vinegar (WHITE, not cider!)...flush the whole bucketful through the toilet. This might be a good time to reroute your head intake line to tee it into your head sink drain line. For more details read the discussions on curing intake odor in the HM forum.

 

[thinwater]

Which in-line treatment system ...

... and does it kill the odor in the bowl or not?

That is a separate issue, as Peggy indicated, from the air valve stink.

 

[Guest]

I'll try removing the air valve and clean it and use Teflon tape.

On the other questions:

Its built after '92. and the waste hose from head to holding tank is running down hill.

Its in fresh water, not salt so the buildup I would imagine is less on the intake. But that's an assumption. I'll try the vinegar trick and see how it goes.

Thanks for the tips.

-J