When we leave our 2006 Hunter 36 unattended for maybe a month, then when we return the toilet stinks on its first use or so. We believe it is because germs have developed in the input or exit lines in the salt water that remained there. When we began using one quart of fresh water in the last flush ("dry" setting) to clear the line of salt water and leave only fresh water. It still stinks after sitting. We figure the problem must be in the inlet line. However, we see no convenient way of getting fresh water in the inlet line. Does anybody have any suggestions.
Toilet stinks after sitting
- Thread starter jveatch
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it's the inlet line
You are correct in assuming it's sea water decaying in the inlet line. Simply pouring fresh water into the bowl won't displace the inlet line contents. If you don't want to or can't convert the toilet to fresh water flush, the other typical fix is to install a tee on the inlet line from the sink drain and before leaving the boat, fill the sink with fresh water and do the last flush with that water while the seacock is closed allowing fresh water to flush the inlet line.
You are correct in assuming it's sea water decaying in the inlet line. Simply pouring fresh water into the bowl won't displace the inlet line contents. If you don't want to or can't convert the toilet to fresh water flush, the other typical fix is to install a tee on the inlet line from the sink drain and before leaving the boat, fill the sink with fresh water and do the last flush with that water while the seacock is closed allowing fresh water to flush the inlet line.
No Salt Water
I don't use salt water to flush unless we are on a long extended cruise. What I did was hook up a hand kitchen sprayer from under the cabinet to fresh water and fill the toilet with fresh water and flush. I do get an odor from the stern vent when flushing and will try odorless this coming season. Nick
I don't use salt water to flush unless we are on a long extended cruise. What I did was hook up a hand kitchen sprayer from under the cabinet to fresh water and fill the toilet with fresh water and flush. I do get an odor from the stern vent when flushing and will try odorless this coming season. Nick
Our boat uses raw water for flushing and when we use...
the system for the first time after a month or so we get the same smell from the raw water left remaining between the through hull and the head. It quickly dissipates after the first flush, so no big deal, IMHO. I suppose if it were a big deal to me I would connect a fresh water hose to the inlet line where it connects to the head, open the through hull and eject any raw water left in the line. But all that would take away from my sailing time. Terry
the system for the first time after a month or so we get the same smell from the raw water left remaining between the through hull and the head. It quickly dissipates after the first flush, so no big deal, IMHO. I suppose if it were a big deal to me I would connect a fresh water hose to the inlet line where it connects to the head, open the through hull and eject any raw water left in the line. But all that would take away from my sailing time. Terry
Pipe in fresh water
I piped in a fresh water supply from the head sink to the head. It has a valve. We can use potable water to flush or sea water via its own separate valve. If we use sea water, we can clear the line with fresh water before closing up. If we are not rationing water 100%, we flush with fresh water. Since sea water is loaded with minerals, using fresh water is alleged to reduce scalling inside the line, which greatly aid in reducing the process of odor permeation to the outside of the hose. We have had great success with it. Basically, I put a tee in the sink drain. I ran a hose to the feed to the head, connecting with another tee. This line needs a valve. When we want to flugh with sea water the fresh water valve stays closed, the sea water valve is opened and the sink drains as designed. When we want to flush with fresh water the sink drain is closed and the fresh water valve is opened. If is sounds complicated it is not really that bad. Also, there is no direct connection between our potable water and the head, since it is tied in to the sink drain only. I ordered all of the fittings and valves online at a brass fitting site. It took about an hour to do the install, including a 1" hole in the side of the sink cabinet. Good luck, Mike D
I piped in a fresh water supply from the head sink to the head. It has a valve. We can use potable water to flush or sea water via its own separate valve. If we use sea water, we can clear the line with fresh water before closing up. If we are not rationing water 100%, we flush with fresh water. Since sea water is loaded with minerals, using fresh water is alleged to reduce scalling inside the line, which greatly aid in reducing the process of odor permeation to the outside of the hose. We have had great success with it. Basically, I put a tee in the sink drain. I ran a hose to the feed to the head, connecting with another tee. This line needs a valve. When we want to flugh with sea water the fresh water valve stays closed, the sea water valve is opened and the sink drains as designed. When we want to flush with fresh water the sink drain is closed and the fresh water valve is opened. If is sounds complicated it is not really that bad. Also, there is no direct connection between our potable water and the head, since it is tied in to the sink drain only. I ordered all of the fittings and valves online at a brass fitting site. It took about an hour to do the install, including a 1" hole in the side of the sink cabinet. Good luck, Mike D
As a foot note, during one of our extended...
two month cruises a few years ago some critter decided to crawl into our aft cabin head though hull and die. All we could get was a trickle of stench smelling water and critter fragments when we tried to flush. So, I did what I discussed in my previous post, connect a city water line to the head intake hose and blow the critter out. That did the trick. Terry
two month cruises a few years ago some critter decided to crawl into our aft cabin head though hull and die. All we could get was a trickle of stench smelling water and critter fragments when we tried to flush. So, I did what I discussed in my previous post, connect a city water line to the head intake hose and blow the critter out. That did the trick. Terry
Mike and Don have given you the best solution
In fact, you can eliminate a thru-hull (the head intake thru-hull) if you re-route your head intake to tee into the head sink drain line. You would have to keep a plug in the sink to prevent the toilet from sucking air when you pump it, but it gives you the option of flushing with sea water when you're offshore far enough for the sea water to be clean, then switch to fresh water by simply closing the seacock and filling the sink with clean fresh water.
In fact, you can eliminate a thru-hull (the head intake thru-hull) if you re-route your head intake to tee into the head sink drain line. You would have to keep a plug in the sink to prevent the toilet from sucking air when you pump it, but it gives you the option of flushing with sea water when you're offshore far enough for the sea water to be clean, then switch to fresh water by simply closing the seacock and filling the sink with clean fresh water.
Mike & Don
Sounds like great way to keep things from smelling. I am interested in your set up to improve my setup,I don't get any odor at the toilet it's only really at the vent when flushing to the holding tank. But any way just to understand your stup,did you tee in from the sink drain to the inlet at the back of the toilet with a valve. Maybe a little drawing if possible. Nick
Sounds like great way to keep things from smelling. I am interested in your set up to improve my setup,I don't get any odor at the toilet it's only really at the vent when flushing to the holding tank. But any way just to understand your stup,did you tee in from the sink drain to the inlet at the back of the toilet with a valve. Maybe a little drawing if possible. Nick
It's simple Nick...
Running a line from the sink drain line to the fitting on the back of the bowl won't work...'Cuz you need the toilet pump to pull the water out of the sink and push it into the bowl. All you need to do is remove the head intake hose from the intake thru-hull (close the seacock first) and tee that end of it into the head sink drain line. Keep the head sink drain thru-hull open--and a plug in the sink--to flush with sea water...close the thru-hull and put a quart or two of water in the sink (use the faucet) to flush with fresh water or rinse all the sea water out of the system before the boat will sit. Odor out the tank vent is an entirely different issue...that odor isn't coming from the toilet, but from the tank contents. Switching to Odorlos in the tank--and using it according to directions (I'm amazed at the number of people who don't and can't understand why it doesn't work) should improve that...if it doesn't, you'll have to increase the ventilation in the tank.
Running a line from the sink drain line to the fitting on the back of the bowl won't work...'Cuz you need the toilet pump to pull the water out of the sink and push it into the bowl. All you need to do is remove the head intake hose from the intake thru-hull (close the seacock first) and tee that end of it into the head sink drain line. Keep the head sink drain thru-hull open--and a plug in the sink--to flush with sea water...close the thru-hull and put a quart or two of water in the sink (use the faucet) to flush with fresh water or rinse all the sea water out of the system before the boat will sit. Odor out the tank vent is an entirely different issue...that odor isn't coming from the toilet, but from the tank contents. Switching to Odorlos in the tank--and using it according to directions (I'm amazed at the number of people who don't and can't understand why it doesn't work) should improve that...if it doesn't, you'll have to increase the ventilation in the tank.
Hey Peggie there's a picture of you!
...and the idea for tee-ing off the head sink drain is perfect! Actually it saves me a through-hull. Can I put a check valve on the sink drain and avoid having to use a plug in the sink? (or a t-valve in the drain line?) JC
...and the idea for tee-ing off the head sink drain is perfect! Actually it saves me a through-hull. Can I put a check valve on the sink drain and avoid having to use a plug in the sink? (or a t-valve in the drain line?) JC
Thank's Peggy
I sort of kinda meant to the toilet hose incoming from raw water through hull to the back and adding tee but you explained so much more how easy for me to do it how you said using the sink drain through hull. I am thinking of getting rid of my very new wilcox toilet for a sea era forget the name model but the one you mostly recommend,we don't like the wilcox even thouht it's very new but has been trouble from day and no sense keeping it waiting for more trouble as time go's by. Nick
I sort of kinda meant to the toilet hose incoming from raw water through hull to the back and adding tee but you explained so much more how easy for me to do it how you said using the sink drain through hull. I am thinking of getting rid of my very new wilcox toilet for a sea era forget the name model but the one you mostly recommend,we don't like the wilcox even thouht it's very new but has been trouble from day and no sense keeping it waiting for more trouble as time go's by. Nick
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