Vinegar in the holding tank?

[George H260]

Now I'm a bit confused as to whether flushing white vinegar through the intake line into the bowl and into the holding tank will affect the K.O. residing in the tank. (I thought not by a reply in a thread on the subject, but then I thought I recalled an article in the Sanitation reference library stating "... if you are not flushing into the holding tank")

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

I need to edit that article...

The one you're referring to is "Intake Odors" Too much vinegar in a holding tank IS a bad idea, 'cuz it lowers the pH level which inhibits bio-activity...which means things stop breaking down. I intended only to discourage anyone from using a sinkful of straight vinegar (the "if a little is good, a lot has to be better" mentality). However, just a cupful or two a week in a holding tank isn't enough to matter. Thanks for the heads up...I'll revise it.

 

[George H260]

Thanks Peggie, and while I'm here...

A few questions dictated by lack of space in my small boat...My raw water intake line to the head pump comes off a tee fixture above the galley sink drain through-hull and has an inline check valve for obvious reasons! My question - how efficient is a check valve at preventing siphoning vesus a vented loop. I have no space for a vented loop on the holding tank discharge line under the v-berth (Right now I just a plain loop in the hose as high as it can go above the water line - which is not much), will a check valve do? And will it also work between the head pump and bowl to effectively prevent siphoning if I leave the intake valve open at night while moored?Sorry, turned to be a long question...

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

I think you're ok, George...

It's hard to start a siphon while sitting...so your loop in the intake line should keep the water out of your bowl--as long as it's above the waterline. A shut-off valve won't break a siphon...but it doesn't need to, 'cuz it cuts off the water completely.There's a definite advantage to your plumbing btw...to rinse the sea water out of your entire head and discharge line, all you need to do is close the sink drain/head intake seacock...run some fresh water in the sink, and flush the head. Because the seacock is closed, the toilet will pull the water out of the sink, rinsing all the seawater out.

 

[George H260]

Thanks Peggie. Yeah, I thought of that also...

A simple inline shutoff valve at the top of the "loop" so someone can turn it on and off while in the head without having to get under the sink in the galley in the middle of the night. Yeah, I figured out that sink/freshwater flush business as soon as I saw the set up. I religiously rinse the system with freshwater from a full sink, and, even while moored in a harbour, I do a quick rinse with some freshwater (I installed a second water tank, so I can be a bit generous...) in the sink after someone has attended to their business. Hence, I have zero "smells" (btw, I do use K.O. in the tank of course!)