Water leaking into electric toilet and overflowing

[jveatch]

We have a 2005 Hunter 41DS that has two electric toilets. With no activity, one of them overflowed. The Head circuit breaker was on. We find that even after clearing the toilet of any water and the Head breaker off, that the bowl very slowly fills up anyway.

What should we be looking at as the source of the problem. I assume it is a seal somewhere.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

You could have a syphon if the head is below the waterline. This is usually prevented by a vented loop. The vented loops have a valve on the top that opens and breaks the syphon.
Often an electric head will need a solenoid on the vented loop that electrically closes this valve when the head is flushed. It can be taken apart and cleaned up or replaced if this is causing the problem.
Good luck, Bob

 

[Slipin Away]

If you have fresh water heads, check the water fill solenoid valve it may have some dirt on the diaphram

 

[Capt jgw]

The toilet may have two impellers with a partition between them, and the partition has rusted out. My boat was doing this when I got her, I replaced the electric head with a manual model. As I remember the old head was a Jabsco.

 

[OffDuty]

I have the same boat with an electric head in the aft washroom. I was having the same problems and suspect it is probably the solenoid. If yours are fresh water flush (like mine) easiest temporary fix when leaving the boat unattended for some time is to just close the outlet to the head at the manifold under the sink.

Dave

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

It's helpful to know whether the toilet uses raw water (sea, lake, river) or is designed to use onboard pressurized fresh water. It's also helpful to know the make/model/age of the toilet. 'Cuz advice about the wrong toilet doesn't help you much.

 

[jveatch]

It's helpful to know whether the toilet uses raw water (sea, lake, river) or is designed to use onboard pressurized fresh water. It's also helpful to know the make/model/age of the toilet. 'Cuz advice about the wrong toilet doesn't help you much.

The toilet is a Jabsco Model 37045-Series, using onboard pressurized fresh water. I'm sure it is the original toilet installed in the boat by Hunter ... the boat is a 2005 Hunter 41DS. From various comments as well as studying the current Operator's Manual, it appears that the problem is in the solenoid valve. Someone mentioned a gate valve to cutoff the fresh water from the valve. I see the bunch of stuff under the sink but I haven't figured out what is what yet.

 

[OffDuty]

Picture of my manifold

 

[jveatch]

That did it! Thank you. Now the water input to the toilet is off and we don't need to keeping turning off the water pump breaker. I don't know why I didn't think of that. Thanks again. Now we'll have to get it repaired.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Two important points for future reference (and btw, yards and even builders don't always get these right):

For those who've retrofitted fresh water toilets or plan to do so:
ALWAYS install an easily accessible shutoff valve in the flush water line, so you can turn off the water to that toilet to work on it without having to turn off the main water breaker. If you already have a toilet installed without one, it's neither difficult nor expensive to add one. And as this thread proves, definitely worth doing!

Whether the toilet uses raw water or pressurized flush water, all electric toilets need to be on their own separate dedicated electric circuit, with it's own separate breaker (which means TWO circuits and breakers if there are two toilets)...a circuit shared by nothing else--not even low voltage cabin lights--that can reduce power to the toilet...'cuz low voltage burns out electric motors.