Vinegar

[Ken Juul]

Following your suggestions on keeping the smells clean from the head I have rearranged the inlet hose to allow flushing with ships water prior to leaving the boat unattended for a long period. I have also started adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar to that final fresh water flush. We had guests on board for a long weekend. When I did a hurried cleansing flush leaving the boat I noticed nothing wrong. Came back to the boat a couple weeks later and the toilet is now much harder to empty. Feels as if there is a restriction between the head and the holding tank. I didn't measure the vinegar, could a overdose hurt the pump seals or joker valve causing this restriction? Or should I start looking for restrictions in the lines. Also the tank was pumped upon return from the long weekend so that removes the possibility that it is full. Thanks for the help. Luna Loca C34 #1090

 

[Steve Dion]

Check your vent!

Ken:Check the vent. If you cannot pump there may be a partial blockage in the vent. I believe that your vent runs up inside a stanchion, so clearing it may not be too easy. This is a good place to start.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Two possibilities most likely...

A clogged tank vent, prob'ly at the thru-hull. And if it's clogged, be sure to check the tank to make sure it's really empty, 'cuz it the vent was clogged when you pumped out, the pumpout pulled a vacuum and stopped sucking anything out after about a gallon. Or, if your toilet is a Jabsco manual, the dry/flush valve may have failed...they've had a whole bunch of dry/flush valve failures in the last 2-3 years. When it fails, it hangs...creating what feels like backpressure. If it's not a Jabsco manual, tell me what it is, 'cuz there are things on other toilets that can cause the same symptoms.Vinegar cannot harm anything in your toilet or the rest of your system. In fact, you're being so skimpy with it and diluting what you are using that you're not accomplishing anything with it. To keep the line clear of sea water and urine crystals, you should be putting at least a cupful, even two, UNDILUTED, using the "dry" setting down the head AFTER the final rinse.

 

[Ken Juul]

Follow up

The vent is clear, I could hear the in rushing air when I pumped the tank. I will have at least one more pump out before winter layup, will flush the vent line before I do that. It is a Jabsco toilet, model 29090. I was hoping I would not have to rebuild the pump, but sounds like that is what is happening. Thanks for the help.