Just curious how many haver smelly heads? Also why does not Catalina install a vented loop in the discharge hose to stop the smell. This would added water to the bowl and prevent a oder backup. Am I wrong by going to add a 1-1/2" vented loop in my discharge hose? What are others doing or thinking. I have checked and rebuilt the toilet and checked the vents in the tank and the toilet. All is ok! But We still get a smell.
Smelly heads
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have your tried...
Have you tried using fresh water to flush the head? I was getting an odor from using sea water from the intake. A cruiser told me to use fresh water instead and no more odor. I use the pull out hose from the sink to fill the bowl. It's worth a try.
Have you tried using fresh water to flush the head? I was getting an odor from using sea water from the intake. A cruiser told me to use fresh water instead and no more odor. I use the pull out hose from the sink to fill the bowl. It's worth a try.
Smelly head
If you are just filling the bowl with fresh water you may be missing the source of the smell. You probably have outside water stagnet in the supply hose that is growing things. Visit "Peggy the Head Mistress" I think there is a link on the home page. Lots of good information. To get rid of the supply hose odor I replumed my head supply hose to feed off the sink drain. When it is time to "flush" the hose, close the sea cock, fill the sink with water and pump away. By having "clean" water sit in the hose between weekends, nothing grows, when in use on weekends, I just flush with "outside" water. With 4 of us using it, doesn't have a chance to grow anything! After you replum, it also helps to pour some vinegar down the drain the first couple times to help kill any existing bacteria in the supply hose. Correction, the link the the Head Mistress is in the experts forum.
If you are just filling the bowl with fresh water you may be missing the source of the smell. You probably have outside water stagnet in the supply hose that is growing things. Visit "Peggy the Head Mistress" I think there is a link on the home page. Lots of good information. To get rid of the supply hose odor I replumed my head supply hose to feed off the sink drain. When it is time to "flush" the hose, close the sea cock, fill the sink with water and pump away. By having "clean" water sit in the hose between weekends, nothing grows, when in use on weekends, I just flush with "outside" water. With 4 of us using it, doesn't have a chance to grow anything! After you replum, it also helps to pour some vinegar down the drain the first couple times to help kill any existing bacteria in the supply hose. Correction, the link the the Head Mistress is in the experts forum.
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I replaced the discharge hose with the new white sanatation hose that will not permate smell, replaced the joker valve, replace the o-ring in the pump assembly, we never open the sea cock to use sea water, the only thing that has not been replace is the supply hose that the former owners used to pump lake water in with. But all I can see that stops any smell coming back is through the joker valve. As in a house toliet, there is a p-trap that holds water to elimate the smell coming back, as in here. There is none Tis why I am leaning towards a vented loop in the discharge hose.
I replaced the discharge hose with the new white sanatation hose that will not permate smell, replaced the joker valve, replace the o-ring in the pump assembly, we never open the sea cock to use sea water, the only thing that has not been replace is the supply hose that the former owners used to pump lake water in with. But all I can see that stops any smell coming back is through the joker valve. As in a house toliet, there is a p-trap that holds water to elimate the smell coming back, as in here. There is none Tis why I am leaning towards a vented loop in the discharge hose.
D
Dennis Thomas
Yes to vented loop
So, currently you have a downhill run from the head to the holding tank. If you try to leave water in the bowl to hold back the odor the water leaks past the joker valve. If that is the case then a vented loop would allow water to stand in the bowl Even if this doesn’t cure the odor problem, I think you need a vented loop between the head and the holding tank. Its’ purpose is to be sure that a siphon can’t form that would suck the contents of your holding tank back into the head. The vent in a vented loop allows air to enter the hose. It does not allow air to escape. The loop between the head and holding tank should go upward from the head then back down to the tank. It should go high enough so that liquids can’t get from the tank back to the head even when the boat is at maximum heal. If the hose is left mostly filled with water and the head is lower than the level of the liquid in the tank a siphon can form. The weight of the water in the head side of the loop might push past the joker valve. If there is no vent in the loop or if the vent is clogged, once the flow starts it will keep coming until the liquid level in the tank is equal to the level in the bowl (overflowing). S/V Anodyne Catalina 36’ #34
So, currently you have a downhill run from the head to the holding tank. If you try to leave water in the bowl to hold back the odor the water leaks past the joker valve. If that is the case then a vented loop would allow water to stand in the bowl Even if this doesn’t cure the odor problem, I think you need a vented loop between the head and the holding tank. Its’ purpose is to be sure that a siphon can’t form that would suck the contents of your holding tank back into the head. The vent in a vented loop allows air to enter the hose. It does not allow air to escape. The loop between the head and holding tank should go upward from the head then back down to the tank. It should go high enough so that liquids can’t get from the tank back to the head even when the boat is at maximum heal. If the hose is left mostly filled with water and the head is lower than the level of the liquid in the tank a siphon can form. The weight of the water in the head side of the loop might push past the joker valve. If there is no vent in the loop or if the vent is clogged, once the flow starts it will keep coming until the liquid level in the tank is equal to the level in the bowl (overflowing). S/V Anodyne Catalina 36’ #34
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