Jabsco Toilet Smells

[Dino]

Hi,
I have a boat with two heads, one is a Vacuflush connected to a holding tank and the other is a Jabsco electric toilet that is not connected to the holding tank. The boat is based on fresh water. The Jabsco is only used while under way and for number 1's. The issue is that it smells really bad when it is flushed. It was on salt water for a few weeks last year and perhaps there was a build-up of bacteria. I have read that fresh water flushing helps a lot but I am already using fresh lake water. . I was going to fit the toilet fresh system but it seems to be discontinued.
Should I just replace the inlet pipe from the seacock to the toilet?

 

[RupertW]

It could be a few things. The outlet pipe can allow faecal matter into the inlet pipe if the skin fittings are too close together so changing pipes to clean new ones every couple of years can help a lot. The flush valves do leak outlet into inlet too so take off the handle and ensure the rubber gasket and valves are all clean and working (or just clean the whole area and replace).

 

[jiris]

I have been dealing with this issue by poring a bit of chlorine bleach (a tablespoon or so) in the bowl after every flush for many years. Then operate the flush button for some 2 seconds again. The stuff works magic, costs peanuts and in contrary to popular belief it doesn't cause any damage to the toilet.

 

[Dino]

Thanks folks, I think I'm going to swap out the inlet pipe before I go on holidays. The smell is just for a few minutes after flushing so it seems a bit strange. Hopefully that might fix it. The other idea someone had was close the inlet pipe seacock, disconnect the pipe at the toilet end and pour some bleach into it.

 

[rogerthebodger]

It's quite common with heads flushed with sea water. I get it when I first flush my head's after left for a while.

IMHO its due to the decomposition of and algae or plankton in the inlet pipe the die then decompose producing the smell

 

[vyv_cox]

It's quite common with heads flushed with sea water. I get it when I first flush my head's after left for a while.

IMHO its due to the decomposition of and algae or plankton in the inlet pipe the die then decompose producing the smell

Yes, that is exactly the cause. The flap valves are poor things that are far from 100% efficient. Some poo will always get back into the inlet hose.

 

[RupertW]

It's quite common with heads flushed with sea water. I get it when I first flush my head's after left for a while.

IMHO its due to the decomposition of and algae or plankton in the inlet pipe the die then decompose producing the smell

Vyv Cox did a few tests on this and his conclusions were (I think) that the algae and plankton don’t cause any smells but the moment you mix in some faecal matter between outlet and inlet (which the Jabsco plunger does every flush) then the inlet gets smelly.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Vyv Cox did a few tests on this and his conclusions were (I think) that the algae and plankton don’t cause any smells but the moment you mix in some faecal matter between outlet and inlet (which the Jabsco plunger does every flush) then the inlet gets smelly.

I know of Vyv's tests but I have this happen with both my Lavac and my electric converted Jabsco with totally separate inlet and outlet pumps.

There is no connection between the inlet and outlet like the jabsco hand pump. Also my inlet seacock and outlet sea pump are on different sides of my keel so very little possibility of contamination that way.

I also have a pressure sea water tap at my galley sink and after a time away from the boat we get the same smell from that tap.

 

[vyv_cox]

Vyv Cox did a few tests on this and his conclusions were (I think) that the algae and plankton don’t cause any smells but the moment you mix in some faecal matter between outlet and inlet (which the Jabsco plunger does every flush) then the inlet gets smelly.

Yes, it's on the website. Seawater does not smell when left for up to a month in closed containers.

 

[johnalison]

Vyv Cox did a few tests on this and his conclusions were (I think) that the algae and plankton don’t cause any smells but the moment you mix in some faecal matter between outlet and inlet (which the Jabsco plunger does every flush) then the inlet gets smelly.

The OP says that it is only used for number 1s. Unless deflation has altered things, this should mean that it is only used for urine. I have only short-term experience in fresh water, a month or so in the Netherlands, and don't remember a problem, but I imagine that it is the result of stagnant water somewhere. A change to odour-free piping might be worthwhile, but it may be that more frequent use is the better option. I would make it a regular thing to flush it through each time the boat is attended.

 

[Dino]

I’m on freshwater and it’s only ever used for having a pee.