clean blackwater system

[trondhindenes]

Hi,
I have a ball valve between my Jabsco toilet and the blackwater tank. Since my toilet has always been a bit suspect (I suspect a worn pump rod or other parts of the pumping mechanism), water seeps from the blackwater tank back into the toilet, so I keep the valve closed when the toilet isn't being, um, actively used for discharge :-|.

Lately, I've had black water seep back into the toilet bowl even when the ball valve is closed. I guess there's something that keeps it from closing completely (although it feels completely closed on the lever). Is there anything I should attempt to do before starting the fun task of disassembling the piping to clean the ball valve mchanism? And if not, is there anything I can to to "pre-clean" the piping as much as possible before I start the disassembly? It's likely to be a gross job, so I'd like to do it as ungross as possible...

Thankful for any hints and comments.

Trond

 

[Stemar]

I'd start off by pumping lots of water through the toilet into the tank, allowing it to drain into the sea if practicable and legal. Add a bit of bleach to the last bit and let it sit for a while before pumping as dry as you can and donning the marigolds and a clothes peg for the nose

 

[davidej]

We have a similar problem with a holding tank well above the WC so a bit of backfilling can happen.

Usually a change of the joker (or is it choker?) valve in the Jabsco usually sorts it until the new valve get a layer of calcium on it.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

It shouldn't seep back through the Jabsco pump ... in the good 'ol days before holding tanks, the waste was pumped through a pipe that went up 'til well above the waterline before coming back down and discharging ... with holding tanks, (at least the one's located in the heads behind the toilet), it's the same - big uphill hose before discharging into the top of the tank. There is normally no ball valve in the pipe and waste does not normally leak back into a properly functioning toilet.

I would look at replacing or servicing the pump on the toilet as I suspect your Joker Valve is faulty. The Joker Valve is a cheap service item, but even a complete replacement pump with new joker valve doesn't cost that much.

Joker valve do I need one - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

Re: Joker valve do I need one

---

The joker valve is a non return valve that stops 'product' you have just ejected from the bowl from returning to the bowl.... it is there for a reason... replace it.

My only experience is with manual toilets.... jokers fail to seal properly over time... and if anyone puts bleach down the toilet it wont be a long time.... don't ask how I know this.

Part no. 33 in this diagram.


Piece of advice though - there will most likely be limescale deposits stuck to the insides of all the pipes and probably the holding tank too if they are more than a few years old Disturbing any of the pipework will loosen these deposits which will then crack off over time and block everything up.

I replaced my pump and afterwards I had to dismantle my waste pipework multiple times before I realised what was going on. I eventually took the waste pipe out of the boat and beat it on the pontoon until all the limescale was dislodged and flushed out. After that, no more blockages.

If it were me, I'd use the opportunity to thoroughly clean and overhaul the black water system and toilet. There is nothing worse than going for a nice day on the boat and ending up covered in sh!t because the waste system is clogged, leaking or otherwise misbehaving.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

This is the limescale that cost me a day and a half of my holiday this year .... and it wasn't even my boat ...

 

[wonkywinch]

I emptied a kg of soda crystals into the black water tank via the pump out plug on deck. The pipework does have a build up of calcium, I've managed to change the 1" from toilet pan (joker valve out) to another one way (joker) valve to a 1.5" pipe up to the top of the tank. The 1.5" pipe is proving to be a pig to remove as Beneteau tie wrapped it in 3 places to the back of the waste tank. I've managed to cut the top and bottom tie wraps but the middle one proving elusive even with a 12" hacksaw blade taped to a pole.