Toilet got Clogged up! How to unclog it.
Why did this happen? Clogged Toilet
SO WHAT HAPPENED THAT CLOGGED UP OUR TOILET ON JOY
Although seawater and urine do have a lot in common from a chemical perspective, if they come in contact their contents can be mixed up and come back in a different format even in the form of “scale” or insoluble salts. These are Salts that might have been soluble in slightly acidic urine, may be less so in slightly basic seawater. You can begin to notice some brownish marks on the toilet bowl that doesn’t respond too well to toilet cleaner or when you try to wipe it out. It is best removed using an acid based cleaner, such as vinegar (pH 3) and fresh water. In fact, it’s best to avoid alkaline-based domestic cleaning products (also bleach is not a good idea), in saltwater heads as they can just speed up the scale formation.
We really tough that Solids would be the real problem for those smells in the heads. In terms of saltwater heads its actually the URINE that create the issue. I was told that knowing a little bit of basic chemistry can help to understand how to manage saltwater heads, particularly when you are living aboard for long periods of time. There we go refresh our chemistry skills to try to make some sense out of this interesting reaction that blocked our toilet hose.
FOUND THE ISSUE IN TIME TO FIX IT
While you can see the scale in your toilet bowl, you can’t see it growing in your pipes, valves and holding tanks. Over time this build up can get as hard as concrete, making the heads progressively harder to flush. Although with an electric pump it may be difficult to detect the subtle changes in sounds that mean the pump working harder and harder. If left unchecked, eventually the scale will block the hose 80% or more, or block valves so that they can no longer function.
Of course there is always an option of choosing freshwater for the heads (toilets). There are pros and cons for either choice, you need to balance things out and understand what would be better for your plans! Fresh water could be great to avoid scale build up indeed, but don’t forget about the fact that there is an additional cost for freshwater flush, the ongoing costs of having enough fresh water for that added duty on board and the need to continually having to run your water maker to produce such a valuable asset while out in the ocean (yes to run the water maker you need to turn your genset on which makes noise and uses your precious fuel). Also the first thing that comes to every ones mind, salt water flush ? Doesn’t it make your boat stink up. The answer is a big NO! If they are used regularly and properly managed there are really no smells at all. So, don’t be afraid of going this route as you can save your money and energy and go for the saltwater flush option.
THE TREATMENT / HOW DO WE AVOID SCALE BUILD UP
With the holding tank empty and seacock open, first flush through with freshwater to remove all the saltwater from the pipes and tank. Then close the seacock or in our case the valve that leads to dumping it into the black water tank.
Pour a couple of litres / half a gallon of the acid solution into the bowl and empty the bowl into the holding tank in the usual way and DO NOT re-fill the bowl with saltwater ok? You will notice a fizzing and foaming as the acid starts working to dissolve the scale.
Once this reaction stops either all of the acid is “used up” or all of the scale has been dissolved. Repeat the process with more big glasses of acid solution ( white vinegar is a great and cheap option) and again until you have flushed it all through. Allow the solution to sit on the hose and tanks for as long as you can, although once the acid has done its purpose the chemical reaction is over and nothing more is going to happen, so there is no benefit to leaving it for more than a few hours.
It’s important to then empty the tank and flush though with a bucket or two of freshwater to ensure all of the dissolved or detached scale is washed away for good. Make sure it is coming out as expected though, as there is a possibility that a chunk or sheet could break off and block the outlet, particularly if there was a big build up. We take on this routine once a month and that should be sufficient for regular maintenance.
Watch it all here!