Hi Peggy, On the All-Sailors forum you suggested teeing the head intake into the sink drain so as to be able to fill the head intake lines with fresh water before leaving the boat for any duration. My head is slightly above water level, so the head intake line works by suction. If I tee into the sink drain, that will kill the suction. I guess a shut-off between the drain and the intake line would fix the problem, but I've never seen an in-line shut-off. Are they around, or have you a better suggestion. Thanks, Andy
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Simplest answer:
Just keep a plug in the sink except when the sink is in use. Since it's not likely that both the toilet and the sink will ever be in use at the same time, that should not cause a problem. However, inline shut-off valves aren't hard to find...in fact, you can prob'ly find one in the lawn sprinkler part of the plumbing department of most hardware stores. If the "orange box" doesn't have any, a real old fashioned hardware store (there are still a few of 'em left) will. Everyone should know where there's a real old fashioned hardware store anyway...'cuz they stock gaskets, odd size screws, nuts and bolts and all kinds of other weird and wonderful "widgets" that only result in a blank stare if you ask for 'em at any of the "boxes." And can even cobble something up for you...when I needed a little spacer in a size nobody had, my guy made one for me by cutting that tiny little bit off the end of the right diameter pipe. You may have to hunt to find a store like this...there are a few Ace and Tru-Value that are that kind of store, but most of 'em are obscure independents.
Just keep a plug in the sink except when the sink is in use. Since it's not likely that both the toilet and the sink will ever be in use at the same time, that should not cause a problem. However, inline shut-off valves aren't hard to find...in fact, you can prob'ly find one in the lawn sprinkler part of the plumbing department of most hardware stores. If the "orange box" doesn't have any, a real old fashioned hardware store (there are still a few of 'em left) will. Everyone should know where there's a real old fashioned hardware store anyway...'cuz they stock gaskets, odd size screws, nuts and bolts and all kinds of other weird and wonderful "widgets" that only result in a blank stare if you ask for 'em at any of the "boxes." And can even cobble something up for you...when I needed a little spacer in a size nobody had, my guy made one for me by cutting that tiny little bit off the end of the right diameter pipe. You may have to hunt to find a store like this...there are a few Ace and Tru-Value that are that kind of store, but most of 'em are obscure independents.
Hardware Stores
Peggie, you and I share a love of the Good Ol' Hardware Store! Maybe it's because my grandfather used to own one, and I spent hours in them when I was a kid, but you are correct that they are a dying breed. When you go to go to the "Orange Box" for help you usually get some bored teenager who doesn't know anything about what you are looking for, and if you do find it you have to buy a package of 12 when you only need one and the other 11 will be lost when you do need it. Thanks for letting me "vent" (sorry about the bad pun).
Peggie, you and I share a love of the Good Ol' Hardware Store! Maybe it's because my grandfather used to own one, and I spent hours in them when I was a kid, but you are correct that they are a dying breed. When you go to go to the "Orange Box" for help you usually get some bored teenager who doesn't know anything about what you are looking for, and if you do find it you have to buy a package of 12 when you only need one and the other 11 will be lost when you do need it. Thanks for letting me "vent" (sorry about the bad pun).
easiest way.
Why not just keep a gallon of fresh water aboard. It doesn't have to be the fancy grocery store stuff, from the house tap is good enough. I can come in handy during your daysails and when you finish after the day pour it down the head...how simple!
Why not just keep a gallon of fresh water aboard. It doesn't have to be the fancy grocery store stuff, from the house tap is good enough. I can come in handy during your daysails and when you finish after the day pour it down the head...how simple!
Won't solve the problem, Karl...
The odor people hate is mostly caused by stagnant sea water trapped in the INTAKE line, pump and channel in the rim of the bowl (it's a myth that sea water increases holding tank odor or fresh water reduces it). Water poured into the bowl just goes through the bottom of the pump and out of the toilet discharge, just rinsing out the head discharge line...it never makes it into any other part of the system--for which you should be thankful...'cuz if water poured into the bowl were recirculated through the intake, so would waste in the bowl. So the only way rinse out the entire system is to provide a source of water that can be pulled in through the intake line. The simplest source on most boats is the head sink drain...but a jug of a water, a y-valve in the head intake line and short piece of line to stick into the jug is a viable alternative. A separate 5-6 gal water tank dedicated exclusively to toilet flush water--and NOT connected in any way to the fresh water plumbing!--is another way to avoid sea water odor problems.
The odor people hate is mostly caused by stagnant sea water trapped in the INTAKE line, pump and channel in the rim of the bowl (it's a myth that sea water increases holding tank odor or fresh water reduces it). Water poured into the bowl just goes through the bottom of the pump and out of the toilet discharge, just rinsing out the head discharge line...it never makes it into any other part of the system--for which you should be thankful...'cuz if water poured into the bowl were recirculated through the intake, so would waste in the bowl. So the only way rinse out the entire system is to provide a source of water that can be pulled in through the intake line. The simplest source on most boats is the head sink drain...but a jug of a water, a y-valve in the head intake line and short piece of line to stick into the jug is a viable alternative. A separate 5-6 gal water tank dedicated exclusively to toilet flush water--and NOT connected in any way to the fresh water plumbing!--is another way to avoid sea water odor problems.
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