Toilet flushes but does not go up over the upside down U on the wall I have a C-30 with a 2 year old toilet. I am having a problem keeping water from entering the toilet. The scenario is I empty the waste tank and the head through whole is closed. I then turn on the water pressure and open the cold water facuitin the sink in the head. I then put in 8oz of blue tank treatment into the toilet and then flush using the water from the sink. After about a gallon of flushing water I then shut the faucit and continue flushing until there is no more water coming from the sink. I then switch the tab on the toilet to empty it. I flush until there is not any more water in the toilet and then flush some more to try to get it up over the upside down “U” that is on the head bulkhead. Now in about an hour I come back and the toilet has water in it with some blue and it is at the normal level for a toilet. I have tried many times to pump it completely dry but it always comes back. I do not want to leave water in the boat for days at a time. How can I pub it dry or can I? Thanks
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Only a couple of possibilities...
Are you SURE you're pumping long enough in the dry mode to push the bowl contents over the top of the vented loop...or just guessing that it's prob'ly enough? 'Cuz there are only 3 possibilities: 1. You aren't pumping long enough. Any toilet that's working to specs should be able to move waste up to 6' in the dry mode...but if your vented loop is in a location that puts it much further from the toilet than that, bowl contents can't make it over the top. If the runback is a new thing, the only reason it wasn't flowing back into the bowl beofre is because the joker valve (one-way valve in the toilet discharge) has blocked it...but after two years, the joke valve has worn enough to preven the slit in it from closing any more, allowing bowl contents to flow through it back into the bowl. Joker valves should be replaced at least every two years...once a year is better. 2. Your holding tank vent is blocked, creating backpressure that won't let bowl contents make it all the way into the tank. Are you sure when you pump out or dump the tank that it's really empty? 'Cuz a blocked vent would cause the pump or macerator to pull a vacuum that would prevent either one from pumping anything out. It has to be one or the other...or both. But something else that has nothing to do with your problem has me baffled... You said, "I then turn on the water pressure and open the cold water facuitin the sink in the head. I then put in 8oz of blue tank treatment into the toilet and then flush using the water from the sink. After about a gallon of flushing water I then shut the faucit and continue flushing until there is no more water coming from the sink." How is the water getting from your sink into your toilet? I'm not sure what you mean by this either: "The scenario is I empty the waste tank and the head through whole is closed." Are you dumping the tank (only at sea beyond the 3 mile limit, I hope)...or are you pumping out the tank at a pumpout?
Are you SURE you're pumping long enough in the dry mode to push the bowl contents over the top of the vented loop...or just guessing that it's prob'ly enough? 'Cuz there are only 3 possibilities: 1. You aren't pumping long enough. Any toilet that's working to specs should be able to move waste up to 6' in the dry mode...but if your vented loop is in a location that puts it much further from the toilet than that, bowl contents can't make it over the top. If the runback is a new thing, the only reason it wasn't flowing back into the bowl beofre is because the joker valve (one-way valve in the toilet discharge) has blocked it...but after two years, the joke valve has worn enough to preven the slit in it from closing any more, allowing bowl contents to flow through it back into the bowl. Joker valves should be replaced at least every two years...once a year is better. 2. Your holding tank vent is blocked, creating backpressure that won't let bowl contents make it all the way into the tank. Are you sure when you pump out or dump the tank that it's really empty? 'Cuz a blocked vent would cause the pump or macerator to pull a vacuum that would prevent either one from pumping anything out. It has to be one or the other...or both. But something else that has nothing to do with your problem has me baffled... You said, "I then turn on the water pressure and open the cold water facuitin the sink in the head. I then put in 8oz of blue tank treatment into the toilet and then flush using the water from the sink. After about a gallon of flushing water I then shut the faucit and continue flushing until there is no more water coming from the sink." How is the water getting from your sink into your toilet? I'm not sure what you mean by this either: "The scenario is I empty the waste tank and the head through whole is closed." Are you dumping the tank (only at sea beyond the 3 mile limit, I hope)...or are you pumping out the tank at a pumpout?
Here is how we use the fresh water flush
With the through whole valve in the head closed the toilet can not get salt water to fill or flush with. The sink very slowaly will drain into the toilet if filled with fresh water from the faucet. I keep the through hole closed and run the faucet, I change the tab on the toilet to flush and pump, the water flowing from the faucet goes into the toilet, I actually do not need to pump it will just slowly fill the toilet but if I pump it goes faster. When I get the water in the toilet to the desired height I shut the faucet and put the tab on the toilet to empty and I use the toilet. I Then put the tab on the toilet back to flush and turn on the faucet and flush it till I THINK all the waste is up over the U and into the tank. Then try to flush dry. I do this for my wife and I at the dock. Works great. We do not use this at knight as the water pressure makes noise, we use the through hole valve. We pump out at a pump out station, it is also good docking practice. Also we run the macerator for a brief minute when out of the harbor once in a while to keep the macerator impellor lubed. When we pump out at the pump out station there is a clear piece in the house so you can see the tank being emptied. Also I have filled the tank with fresh water and let it sit for a week or two to kind of clean it out. So no I am not sure I am pumping out long enough but will pump longer to make sure. My loop is not more than 6’ from the toilet. The vent is not clogged. I do think it is joker valve you mentioned and will replace it. Is the sink and toilet not supposed to work that way with the fresh water. I am guesing about how old the toilet is, we have had the boat a little over a year, the last owner had it for 6 months and he said the it was recentl replaced before he bought it. Thanks for your help
With the through whole valve in the head closed the toilet can not get salt water to fill or flush with. The sink very slowaly will drain into the toilet if filled with fresh water from the faucet. I keep the through hole closed and run the faucet, I change the tab on the toilet to flush and pump, the water flowing from the faucet goes into the toilet, I actually do not need to pump it will just slowly fill the toilet but if I pump it goes faster. When I get the water in the toilet to the desired height I shut the faucet and put the tab on the toilet to empty and I use the toilet. I Then put the tab on the toilet back to flush and turn on the faucet and flush it till I THINK all the waste is up over the U and into the tank. Then try to flush dry. I do this for my wife and I at the dock. Works great. We do not use this at knight as the water pressure makes noise, we use the through hole valve. We pump out at a pump out station, it is also good docking practice. Also we run the macerator for a brief minute when out of the harbor once in a while to keep the macerator impellor lubed. When we pump out at the pump out station there is a clear piece in the house so you can see the tank being emptied. Also I have filled the tank with fresh water and let it sit for a week or two to kind of clean it out. So no I am not sure I am pumping out long enough but will pump longer to make sure. My loop is not more than 6’ from the toilet. The vent is not clogged. I do think it is joker valve you mentioned and will replace it. Is the sink and toilet not supposed to work that way with the fresh water. I am guesing about how old the toilet is, we have had the boat a little over a year, the last owner had it for 6 months and he said the it was recentl replaced before he bought it. Thanks for your help
Aha...now I get it...
Your toilet intake and head sink drain share the same thru-hull...that's good--something I recommend. However, it's not necessary to use fresh water from the sink all the time to prevent sea water odors...just once a day and the last thing before the boat will sit to rinse out all the sea water is enough to do it. A cupful vinegar added to it will also prevent sea water mineral buildup. As for your problem...I think that if you just need to pump longer in the dry mode and replace the joker valve, you'll solve it.
Your toilet intake and head sink drain share the same thru-hull...that's good--something I recommend. However, it's not necessary to use fresh water from the sink all the time to prevent sea water odors...just once a day and the last thing before the boat will sit to rinse out all the sea water is enough to do it. A cupful vinegar added to it will also prevent sea water mineral buildup. As for your problem...I think that if you just need to pump longer in the dry mode and replace the joker valve, you'll solve it.
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