How to Repair your Marine Toilet
Most problems with marine toilets stem from a lack of basic maintenance, or attempting to flush bulky foreign materials through the system. Keeping an eye on the common problems listed below will help keep the system running reliably.
Water Leak
Leaks next to the pump handle on popular Jabsco
and Raritan models are common in a unit that has not been maintained for some
time. .jpg "How to Repair your Marine Toilet")
Calcification
One of the most difficult problems to diagnose is the outlet
tubes becoming gradually clogged with calcium deposits. Because this problem
emerges slowly, it is very easy to fail to detect early signs of poor
performance - you tend to slowly adapt to the new standard, until the system
fails because the pipes are severely restricted.
Regular cleaning with a mild acid such as vinegar (which is
also a mild antiseptic) may help slow the buildup, although this will not
remove it by any means. The photo shows a five-year-old vertical port of a tank
(black) in which the cross-sectional area has been reduced by approximately 50
percent.
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Joker Valves
The valves at the pump outlet are also susceptible to
contamination with calcium deposits, which will eventually impair its operation
to the point where the pump will no longer function properly. The classic
symptom of this is that it seems difficult (or impossible) to rinse out the
contents of the bowl – if the joker valve fails to close, as well as sucking
clean seawater into the pump, it will also tend to leak. Draw in the contents
of the waste pipe.
In addition, as a pump ages, the rubber components become
more brittle. The photo above is a damaged joker valve from a little used (but
30 year old) pump. Service kits provided for all pumps contain replacement
parts for all of these components, including the joker valve.
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Smells
These may originate from one of two sources – the smell of
sewage may mean that the drain hoses are not of the proper sanitary grade. The
importance of this cannot be overstated – if a regular reinforced plastic hose
is used, the odors from inside will eventually travel outside and into the
cabin.
Of course, there's a second possible reason for sewage odors
in your boat: a leak from the outlet side of the system. It is a good idea to
check each plumbing connection with a dry cloth, as this will help identify
leaks that may be too small to detect with the naked eye.
The second type of smell that can be experienced is the
smell of hydrogen sulfide, which has a characteristic smell of rotten eggs. It
is the result of the bacterial decomposition of organic matter in a
(relatively) oxygen-free environment – exactly the conditions that can be found
in the inlet pipe of many ports. This water contains all the life causing
pollution at the bottom of the structure, which if left too long will grow and
multiply, until the water in the pipe runs out of oxygen and everything dies.
Blockages
This is one of every boat owner's worst nightmares, but if
the system is used properly and well maintained, this will not be a problem you
will ever need to face. If you have to address the clog, don't be tempted to
use unnecessary force to push the clog through the system - that's a recipe for
bigger problems. On the other hand, patience can be beneficial, as over time,
some obstacles will become more resilient and pass through the system more
easily.
If the clog doesn't move, the only solution is likely to be
to disassemble the pump. If you've already done this as part of a routine
service, you'll know the procedure and it should be a quick, if not very
enjoyable, job. However, clearing a blockage is not the best time to check the
inner workings of the pump.
If you are planning other repairs, take a look at the
comprehensive list of boat maintenance tips on boats.com. More specific tips
for winter boat maintenance jobs are also provided, as are diesel engine tips
for trouble-free power.
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