Waste vent lesson!

T

Toki

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2019
Messages
222
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Tartan 30, Columbia 26
Vessel Name
Toki
I was at the R27 today installing a waste vent filter. The reason I wanted this is we've had an ongoing issue with waste odors, and this is the obvious solution. However, the odors seemed to be emanating from inside the boat rather than outside, but still I assumed lack of filter was the culprit.

So, I cut the vent line, installed the filter fittings, and screwed in the bottom side of the filter. Before attaching the top side, I decided to blow into it to make sure all was well. Sure enough, completely blocked. Couldn't push even a puff down the line. So I took the filter back off and removed the vent line from the elbow fitting at the tank. Disgusting grey sludge came out of the line, and I saw that the elbow fitting was packed solid. With the line off, it was quite easy to get a piece of wire in there and completely clean out the elbow. I cut a new piece of line, reinstalled everything, and now the vent line is flowing free.

Another thing we noticed previously was that after flushing the head, it would partially back fill water from the waste outlet. Pretty obvious why that was happening now. I'm lucky we didn't cause major damage to the waste tank, as those heads have a pretty powerful flush and I'm guessing that was quite a bit of pressure.

Some of you old salts probably know all about this, and clear out your waste vent regularly, but this was new to me. Now that the filter's installed, checking and clearing the waste line at the tank will be easy peasy by just undoing the lower filter fitting.
 
Thanks for the heads up.
Since we have the same boat I'll have to check it and keep an eye on it.
 
As I was reading this I thought the REAL lesson was going to be never to put your lips on or blow into the waste line. Eeeeewwwww. :lol:

Glad you lived. Had the same problem on our 27 and it was pretty disgusting. Fortunately, the waste line and vent are easy access. Not so much on the 29CB.

Jeff
 
An easy test is to just put your nose to the vent outside.. If no smell chances are it is blocked.
Glad you found the problem.
 
last summer in the North Channel, Lake Huron. A sail boat tied in the slip next to us, the captain seemed to be having an issue with something coming up and going down into the cabin. He would lift hatches look over board. As I watched him I was going to ask if he needed some assistance. I'm glad I didn't! His next move was to remove the deck cap for the waste tank. it was a split second volcano of waste! The waste then continued to run down his deck and into his cockpit probably 30 seconds worth. His arms, shirt and face, sprayed with the _ _ _ _ ! I cringed at the thought of that being me.When we got back from the trip I inspected the hose and found it to be clear and clean, This winter when I replace the joker valve in the head I inspected the interior of the hose it also looked clean with no build up. So far so good! I don't ever want to be that guy in the sail boat!

Toki, that is good information, we usually don't inspect items until we have an issue. That is one issue I don't ever want to have. Head system inspections should be part of preventative maintenance.
 
Glad I waited until after lunch to read that story. Guess going forward I will do as they say on a radiator cap...open slowly.
Yuck!!
 
If a straight vent pipe will foul so easily, wouldn’t a vent filter system foul really fast? Like in under a season?
 
FWTMD":36f0up4v said:
If a straight vent pipe will foul so easily, wouldn’t a vent filter system foul really fast? Like in under a season?
Click to expand...

Valid point. In my case, I thought I needed to install a vent filter, and in the process of doing that I discovered the clogged elbow. Now that the clog is cleared, I may not even need the filter, and in fact the filter may be a liability. I'm learning here. At least now I know what to look for, and I've set up an easy way to inspect and unclog the vent line if needed. I can always get rid of the filter and go to a straight line again. Fortunately, the R27 has a very accessible tank and vent line. I'm reading horror stories on some other models where appliances or walls need to be removed for access.
 
If you suspect some blockage in the holding tank vent line or ever see a brown stain below the vent thruhull, remove the thruhull and check for blockage. It has a fine screen in it to keep the insects out. If any sewage goes up the vent line, it will be strained by the fine screen, dry and plug the vent hose exit.

Barry Thompson
TOUCAN, R-27 Classic
 
Thanks for the tip. I have a related problem on my R-29. There's an odor, and in the course of installing a filter, I found that there appears to be a blockage at/near the thruhull. It's hard to blow air through [yes, I blew air through 🙂], and tap water came through, but slowly. So my question is: How do you clean that out? There does not appear to be access to the thruhull from the inside. Can you clean the line and screen from the outside?
 
I wonder if people on this forum are familiar with Peggy The Head Mistress. She wrote the book on boat odors; literally. If you read her book, you’ll learn that the root cause for head odors is that vent lines aren’t big enough to supply enough oxygen to allow aerobic bacteria to grow. As a result, the anaerobic bacteria take over which produce methane gas. This gas sits on top of the tank until the tank fills enough for the gas to exit through the vent. Vent filters solve one problem while creating others... the need to replace them at great expense, block the flow of oxygen, and increase the chance of vent blockage. Tank additives like Odorloss help to slow the growth of anaerobic bacteria.
 
LeGeMar":20viejc1 said:
Thanks for the tip. I have a related problem on my R-29. There's an odor, and in the course of installing a filter, I found that there appears to be a blockage at/near the thruhull. It's hard to blow air through [yes, I blew air through 🙂], and tap water came through, but slowly. So my question is: How do you clean that out? There does not appear to be access to the thruhull from the inside. Can you clean the line and screen from the outside?
Click to expand...

Have same problem. Does anyone know how to remove thruhull holding tank vent from outside to clean?
Thanks
 
We used to use a device for supplying cooling water when running the inboard engine of a previous boat that we owned while it was on a trailer. It was a “toilet plunger” like device with a screw fitting for a garden hose in the rubber cup. I think you can buy them at boating supply stores.

I’ve wondered about using one of these on a fairly regular basis to backflush the vent line from the exterior of the boat (after removing the pumpout cap). Has anyone tried this?

John
 
Wee Venture":241sr0s8 said:
We used to use a device for supplying cooling water when running the inboard engine of a previous boat that we owned while it was on a trailer. It was a “toilet plunger” like device with a screw fitting for a garden hose in the rubber cup. I think you can buy them at boating supply stores.

I’ve wondered about using one of these on a fairly regular basis to backflush the vent line from the exterior of the boat (after removing the pumpout cap). Has anyone tried this?

John
Click to expand...

Thanks for post. I had been wondering about such flushing device. You have prompted me to search my old "ears" that I had for flushing the outboard off the dinghy. The half with the hose attachment might work great for this job. It doesn't have to be watertight, just tight enough.
 
Make sure to have the waste cap open to allow pressure a place to come out, with any of these procedures.
 
I’m wondering if I have an obstructed waste vent too. When I pump out all the water in the toilet bowl is sucked out. I would think a normally functioning vent would allow air in preventing the toilet bowl to empty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top