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RV Newbie, RV tech tip, RV tech tips, RV Tips, RV toilet maintenance, rv toilet repair, rv toilets, tech tip
Part 1 in this series began a discussion about RV toilet repair and introduced possible solutions to two possible sources of water leaks. Part 2 will wrap up this article.
Seals
If you have a ceramic toilet, there is a set of seals separating the toilet bowl from the base. If this seal fails or gets debris stuck in it, it may result in either an external leak originating between the bowl and the base of the toilet, or else you may find that the bowl no longer holds water. This may manifest as either the water leaving the bowl immediately after the toilet is flushed, or the water draining out of the bowl over time.
If you find your toilet bowl does not hold water, the first task is to clean the flush ball. Be sure to inspect it while you are cleaning it, as it may have damage, causing the water to exit the bowl. In this case, you need to replace the ball.
After thoroughly wiping the ball, flush the toilet a few times and wait to see if the bowl holds water. If not, try tightening the band clamp holding the bowl to the base. If this does not resolve the issue, or you experience an external leak between the toilet base and bowl, you will need to replace the bowl seal. This requires loosening the band clamp holding the bowl to the base, removing the bowl, and replacing the seal. It is an easy task for anyone with simple DIY skills.
Water Does Not Properly Enter The Bowl
You may also find that water does not properly enter the bowl when you flush. This may be caused by insufficient water flow rate or a clogged screen filter at the water valve. Ensure your water flow rate is at least 2 gallons per minute (gpm). In the case of the screen filter, inspect the filter located at the inlet to the water valve. The other possible cause of this is clogged rim wash holes around the rim of the toilet. Use a toilet brush or cloth to clean under the toilet rim. If this does not alleviate the issue, you may need to replace the toilet bowl.
Leak From The Back of The Toilet
If you find water leaking from the rear of the toilet, the cause may be a worn or loose vacuum breaker. The vacuum breaker is located under the top rear of the toilet. Remove the white cap from the vacuum breaker and flush the toilet. If water escapes from the vacuum breaker, it will need to be replaced. If the breaker is loose, push it back into place.
While you are troubleshooting any of these symptoms, be sure to inspect the toilet components for cracks or other damage, as a cracked bowl or base can also result in leaks.
Cleaning The Bowl
Be sure to keep the bowl clean using your preferred bathroom or bowl cleanser. Do NOT use abrasives, caustic chemicals, or lubricants and cleaners containing alcohol or petroleum distillates to clean the porcelain bowl or components. Also, to avoid clogging, refrain from using standard household tissue. Use only single or double ply tissue specially designed for RV and marine toilets. Residential tissue contains adhesives used to bond the tissue layers together. These adhesives are hard for the low-flow toilets to break down and digest, which can result in clogs.
There are other failure modes that can occur with RV toilets, but the ones presented in this article series are the primary ones. Other failures may be alleviated based on knowledge acquired here, or refer to your owner’s manual or manufacturers website for more assistance.
About the Author:
Steve Froese, an avid RV owner, traveler, and Coach-Net member since 2013, is the principal of “A Word to the Wise Technical Communications”, a published RV author, certified RV technician, and licensed Professional Engineer. He frequently collaborates with the “RV Doctor”, Gary Bunzer, and has worked with the RVIA/RVDA as a technical and training writer and consultant. Professionally, he works as a quality engineer and musician. Watch for more of Steve’s work in upcoming Coach-Net publications.
Barney S. ~“Excellent service, genuine concern and great communication when the incident occurred, during the service and afterwards. The young man who came to change our tire made us feel that this was an every-day occurrence and not to worry. He handled it quickly and professionally, amazing!”
Among the many items in your RV, there is one that is often neglected due to the messy stigma attached to it. Fixing your toilet when it fails is an important part of RV do-it-yourself (DIY). In this two-part article, I will provide some simple tips for resolving more common toilet failures.
The water valve is responsible for controlling the flow of water into the bowl. From time-to-time, you may find this component springs a leak or fails to function properly. Fortunately, water valves are inexpensive and relatively easy to source. Just be sure to identify your make and model of toilet. A water valve is shown at left, but yours may look different. The valve is located near the flush mechanism at the inlet water line termination point. Before removing the valve, verify whether the leak is simply coming from a loose fitting between the valve and water line. In this case, tightening the hose clamp or threaded fitting may alleviate the issue. If not, you will need to replace the water valve. The attachment method of the water valve will depend on your toilet mode but is often two bolts, as shown in the picture. You will have to disconnect the supply line hose from the valve, which may be easier after the valve is removed. Note that if your commode is a porcelain model, it will have a spring cartridge mounted behind the water valve, so be careful during disassembly. Be sure to have rags handy to clean up the residual water spill.
Also check for damage to the toilet mounting surfaces, missing nuts, etc. After securing the toilet, check to see if the leak has been stopped by repeatedly flushing the toilet. If not, you will need to remove the toilet from the closet flange and replace the flange seal. Be sure to purchase a seal specifically for your toilet, and do not use the standard seal rings available for residential toilets, as they are different. The photo below shows the water valve at the lower left of the toilet, the closet flange on the floor, and the mounting bolts.
Stay tuned for the next segment where we will discuss other leaks that may occur on an RV toilet.