billmorrison
New Member
Anyone know of a chemical or cleaner to flush through the boat toilet pipes to breakup the salt encrusted gunge. Pipes are made of reinforced rubber and some very difficult remove for normal cleaning.
Toilet pipe unblocking
- Thread starter billmorrison
- Start date
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
welcome to the forums Bill.
We had this problem big time, and after several hours of removing pipes and trying to clean them, I wish I had just bought new stuff. Yes its a pain to change them, but would have saved me at least a day of work.
We did get them working eventually, however we were in Spain at the time and able to buy some diluted acid (cant remember which!) called Aquafuerte. They sell it in the supermarkets there in 5l containters.
not a lot of help if you are in the UK - but you may find changing the pipes is more cost and time effective in the long run.
We had this problem big time, and after several hours of removing pipes and trying to clean them, I wish I had just bought new stuff. Yes its a pain to change them, but would have saved me at least a day of work.
We did get them working eventually, however we were in Spain at the time and able to buy some diluted acid (cant remember which!) called Aquafuerte. They sell it in the supermarkets there in 5l containters.
not a lot of help if you are in the UK - but you may find changing the pipes is more cost and time effective in the long run.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Seen "White Vinegar" recommended on here before.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Hydrochloric acid bought as brick cleaner, but it is a stong acid so handle with care and avoid contact with metal bits and peices that might be affected.
I forget the concentration in brick acid (concentrated is only 30 something %) but try diluting 1: 5. make it more concentrated if thats too slow.
HCl is also known as muriatic acid.
I forget the concentration in brick acid (concentrated is only 30 something %) but try diluting 1: 5. make it more concentrated if thats too slow.
HCl is also known as muriatic acid.
scarlett
Well-Known Member
and waste cola last thing at night whenever possible, together with a complete pump out every time. You have to avoid a salt and urine mixture.
ToMo
Well-Known Member
Hello, sorry that your first post has to be something like this! many of us have had problems of this kind - it's the nature of the beast; but you are very lucky in one sense, as we have among us an expert on this very problem. One of his solutions was somwhat dramatic but our Haydn tamed the beast in the end.
I'm sure he will give you the benefit of his vast experience err long.
I'm sure he will give you the benefit of his vast experience err long.
Woodentop
Well-Known Member
I know of only two effective methods;
1. Remove the pipes, swing them around your head and smash them on the quay side. The hard deposits break up and fly out.
2. Remove the pipes and replace them with new ones.
Option one is actually easier since the old pipes will fit back onto the pump/seacock outlets with having to use a hairdryer to warm and stretch them.
There is of course option 3. Pay someone else to do it and go away until it is done.
1. Remove the pipes, swing them around your head and smash them on the quay side. The hard deposits break up and fly out.
2. Remove the pipes and replace them with new ones.
Option one is actually easier since the old pipes will fit back onto the pump/seacock outlets with having to use a hairdryer to warm and stretch them.
There is of course option 3. Pay someone else to do it and go away until it is done.
roger
Well-Known Member
Various acids will react with the Calcium carbonate deposits that are what block up toilet pipes. Hydrochloric acid, Acetic acid, citric acid will do the job if you use enough of them. You will need roughly as much of the concentrated acid as you have calcium carbonate deposited.
Obviously beware of the effects the acid might have on the seacocks, toilet pipes and toilet components. Maybe mechanical brutality may be easier.
The problem is endemic in sea water. Sea water tends to be saturated with calcium bicarbonate in solution. Urine, under the influence of bacteria, is tranformed into ammonia - hence the characteristic pong of stale urine. The ammonia reacts witht he calcium bicarbonate to produce solid calcium carbonate. If you immediately flush a large amount of water through the pipes there will be no urine and so no calcium carbonate build up. this is a counsel of perfection and long pumping episodes in the middle of the night are unpopular all round.
Obviously beware of the effects the acid might have on the seacocks, toilet pipes and toilet components. Maybe mechanical brutality may be easier.
The problem is endemic in sea water. Sea water tends to be saturated with calcium bicarbonate in solution. Urine, under the influence of bacteria, is tranformed into ammonia - hence the characteristic pong of stale urine. The ammonia reacts witht he calcium bicarbonate to produce solid calcium carbonate. If you immediately flush a large amount of water through the pipes there will be no urine and so no calcium carbonate build up. this is a counsel of perfection and long pumping episodes in the middle of the night are unpopular all round.
thurloo
Well-Known Member
hi bill heres what i do one cup of household bleach leave in till all gunk gone , when clear keep some in it when your not on boat, as this will keep it clean as a whistle at all times hope this helps dave
Danny Jo
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
. . . long pumping episodes in the middle of the night are unpopular all round.
[/ QUOTE ] The solution is simple. Impose a ban on the use of the heads at night (by males at least). It makes much more sense to pee over the side.
. . . long pumping episodes in the middle of the night are unpopular all round.
[/ QUOTE ] The solution is simple. Impose a ban on the use of the heads at night (by males at least). It makes much more sense to pee over the side.
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Hydrochloric acid, Acetic acid, citric acid will do the job if you use enough of them
[/ QUOTE ] But hydrochloric acid, being a strong acid, will do the job very much faster than acetic or citric of the same concentration. Acetic acid (white vinegar) flushed through periodicaly will prevent the build up of calcium carbonate and have a mild disinfecting action as well.
Hydrochloric acid, Acetic acid, citric acid will do the job if you use enough of them
[/ QUOTE ] But hydrochloric acid, being a strong acid, will do the job very much faster than acetic or citric of the same concentration. Acetic acid (white vinegar) flushed through periodicaly will prevent the build up of calcium carbonate and have a mild disinfecting action as well.
thurloo
Well-Known Member
many a dead man would disagree with that .
EdWingfield
Well-Known Member
I was successful with Woodentops Plan 1. Except I slammed the hose on to the deck of the pontoon. What came out was an amazing amount of salts.
When the hose is off clean out the salts from the fittings at either end with a screwdriver.
When the hose is off clean out the salts from the fittings at either end with a screwdriver.
Blue5
Well-Known Member
I guess you are looking for a miracle cure that involves minimum effort, from my own personal experience we tried a host of different acids and wonder cures the only one that truly worked was the hacksaw and a new legth of pipe.
dickh
Well-Known Member
Woodentops methods is best - I've tried (1) when I couldn't afford to replace, just removed and bashed onto the pontoon, but they were easy straightish lengths. If theay are long, convoluted and been in situ for a long time you'll have to cut them into short lengths, throw away and fit new. More expensive but much easier than trying to remove a hose that has 'fixed' itself into a strange shape.
benjenbav
Well-Known Member
Not being either a chemist or a plumber I offer this comment with some trepidation. But, on Saturday, we had a drainpipe from a handbasin block at home. I spent about an hour cleaning back as far as I could before calling in a chap with what appeared to be a flexible drill type of thing which cleaned the whole pipe in not much more time than it took him to plug the machine in.
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
some trepidation
[/ QUOTE ] A "Sanisnake" or similar!
Manual versions as well.
Cost upto about £11 for a days hire.
The calcium carbonate deposits in the toilet plumbing might be a bit hard for it.
some trepidation
[/ QUOTE ] A "Sanisnake" or similar!
Manual versions as well.
Cost upto about £11 for a days hire.
The calcium carbonate deposits in the toilet plumbing might be a bit hard for it.
PlanB
Well-Known Member
Try turning seacock off, disconnecting toilet end of pipe and pointing into bilge, open seacock and use flow of water plus rodding through. Works for us.
Questor
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
many a dead man would disagree with that .
[/ QUOTE ]
Seconded.
And how's Morton Bay today?
many a dead man would disagree with that .
[/ QUOTE ]
Seconded.
And how's Morton Bay today?
geoffatstanpit
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure if Australian bleach is the same as UK bleach (dilute sodium hypochlorite) but I would remind people that it is a bad thing to let it get together with sea water or urine (calcium deposits) and very bad to get it with any kind of acid (chlorine gas evolved).