Small Toilet Leak

Weldon · 08-11-2023, 10:00 AM

We are currently at Jekyll Island. It's hot...stupid hot. Temp 93, real feel of 116. It's getting up to 99 today. Found a small puddle in bathroom. We've had this TT for 4 years now, so this is a new issue. I have a towel behind toilet right now until I can fix it. We are heading home tomorrow. Never worked on a camper toilet but have replaced a dozen or more in our homes over the years. I was able to take some pics. You can actually see the water droplet. From drying and feeling / looking, the leak seems to be coming from where the droplet is seen in photos. Any suggestions are appreciated. If there is a part I can buy, if possible please provide the name. Appreciate the help.

Looks like the pics with the droplet are upside down. It always does that when posted from my cell. My apologies. We have a Dometic 300.

**sourdough** · 08-11-2023, 10:25 AM

That's the toilet water valve isn't it? Hard to tell but that's what it appears to be to these eyes. The black ribbed connector is the water supply line?

Is that a Dometic or Thetford toilet? Thetford I'm thinking if OE. I assume you've checked those connections for tightness? There's also a little cone washer inside that connection that might be causing an issue.

Weldon · 08-11-2023, 10:39 AM

It's a domestic 300. The black connector is the supply line. I was able to tighten if a little bit but it didn't help the leak. I haven't tried to tighten the white one but I will. I don't want to make a small drip into a flood but I can try to apply a tiny bit of pressure.

Pic is still upside down. I rotated it 180 degrees, saved it, but when I attached the pic, it's still upside down.

bobbecky · 08-11-2023, 12:45 PM

Unless the valve has failed, you probably need a new cone washer in the fitting with the black nut. Most of the time, trying to get the nut tighter doesn't work, but a new washer does the trick.
https://www.amazon.com/Flair-16435-P...471648618&th=1

Weldon · 08-11-2023, 02:21 PM

Thanks. At $7.50, I don't mind trying that to see if that solves the problem.

wiredgeorge · 08-11-2023, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldon

Thanks. At $7.50, I don't mind trying that to see if that solves the problem.

I have used similar Dometic toilets in our campers for quite a few years and the toilet valve can leak. I have a spare somewhere in the passthrough mess. Water off. One screw, Pop out old (I think you have to squeeze the little ears that are in the recesses) and reverse procedure for install of the new one.

Dometic had a recall a few years back (probably 7-8) for this valve. I had a leaker in my 2012 Sunnybrook and I missed the recall and they would not send me a free one.
https://www.amazon.com/385311641-Wat...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

**JRTJH** · 08-11-2023, 05:02 PM

If you look at your first photo, the one that's upside down, it shows the black supply line connector, the threads on the valve, the drip on the opposite side of the valve flange. if it was the supply line leaking, the water would flow to that valve flange and leak from there. Water won't "flow uphill" to get from that flange to where the drop is formed....

So, I'd guess it's not the supply line leaking, rather it's the toilet valve body leaking. Sometimes they just "wear out", sometimes they get "freeze damage" (even if you used RV antifreeze) and after a couple of flushes in the spring, they start leaking.

I'd just replace the valve and call it a day. You can buy an aftermarket valve on Amazon for around $12-15, or you can buy a Dometic OEM valve for $45. Both, in my experience, are pretty much equal in reliability. Don't forget to replace BOTH screws when you install the new valve. Plus, it's easier to wrap Teflon tape on the valve threads BEFORE you install it "down low to the ground, behind the toilet where you can only get one hand"..... Put the Teflon tape on the threads before you install it !!!!!

Weldon · 08-12-2023, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

If you look at your first photo, the one that's upside down, it shows the black supply line connector, the threads on the valve, the drip on the opposite side of the valve flange. if it was the supply line leaking, the water would flow to that valve flange and leak from there. Water won't "flow uphill" to get from that flange to where the drop is formed....

So, I'd guess it's not the supply line leaking, rather it's the toilet valve body leaking. Sometimes they just "wear out", sometimes they get "freeze damage" (even if you used RV antifreeze) and after a couple of flushes in the spring, they start leaking.

I'd just replace the valve and call it a day. You can buy an aftermarket valve on Amazon for around $12-15, or you can buy a Dometic OEM valve for $45. Both, in my experience, are pretty much equal in reliability. Don't forget to replace BOTH screws when you install the new valve. Plus, it's easier to wrap Teflon tape on the valve threads BEFORE you install it "down low to the ground, behind the toilet where you can only get one hand"..... Put the Teflon tape on the threads before you install it !!!!!

Thanks George and John. I went ahead and purchased the replacement body valve from Amazon. Will arrive tomorrow. I'll be sure to put Teflon on the threads before installing.

On another topic, we were in bed last night and the Mrs. popped up and turned on the light. I asked what was wrong and she said there was dampness on her side of the bed. It wasn't a lot but it came from the closet on her side. In the past 2 days, we've had severe storms here and had to endure 14 hrs at night without power, which was rough with the real feel over 100. I'm not complaining; a 5er 2 spots away had to remove a 20' limb from their roof. When we get back home later today I'll have to find out where the leak is on the roof. My guess is the seam where the roof meets the front.

wiredgeorge · 08-12-2023, 08:23 AM

Not sure about your leak; only thing to do is to get up on top and look... the Amazon link I provided had a toilet seal as well as the valve. We sometimes don't use the toilet for a few weeks (not camping weather this time of year) and that seal can dry out and cause the water in the toilet to slowly drain out. Sometimes just using the toilet will get it back to holding water but sometimes not.

bobbecky · 08-12-2023, 09:39 AM

When replacing the valve, you will also need a hose clamp to attach the white hose. Replacing the cone washer should also be done at the same time.

Weldon · 08-12-2023, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbecky

When replacing the valve, you will also need a hose clamp to attach the white hose. Replacing the cone washer should also be done at the same time.

The valve and cone washer I bought also come with a new clamp. If they accidentally omit it, I keep a bin full of different size clamps from when I tinkered on vehicles before they were merely rolling computers. My Papaw gave me his '76 El Camino when he died, which hadn't been cranked in 7 years. I tought myself fixing it up before cell phones or the internet. I wish vehicles were as easy to work on now as they were back then. I named it the 'Mean'ol Camino' and loved that car/truck. Wish I hadn't sold it, but live and learn

jasin1 · 08-13-2023, 03:40 AM

If you crop your photos down to just what is needed to get your point across it will post correctly..don’t try and flip them first….just crop them and hit preview post to see if it worked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7xPbw0Cf80

Weldon · 08-13-2023, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

If you crop your photos down to just what is needed to get your point across it will post correctly..don’t try and flip them first….just crop them and hit preview post to see if it worked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7xPbw0Cf80

Thx for suggestion. I'm an android guy. I tried for 20 mins and nothing worked, so gave up and posted anyway. I don't like an unsolved puzzle so I will keep trying. Again, thx for the help.

wiredgeorge · 08-13-2023, 06:59 PM

Here you go...

TXiceman · 08-14-2023, 06:59 AM

My gosh, fussing about 93 degF as HOT. I'd love ONLY 93 degF. We have been over 100 for 30 plus days now and most days are 103 to 105. Give me a break. Some places are seeing over 110 degF.

Ken

Weldon · 08-16-2023, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

My gosh, fussing about 93 degF as HOT. I'd love ONLY 93 degF. We have been over 100 for 30 plus days now and most days are 103 to 105. Give me a break. Some places are seeing over 110 degF.

Ken

I'm not in TX on vacation. I'm in GA. Real feel of 115 is not normal here. Ever. And its surely not why i came to the coast on vacation with my family after an 8 hr drive. Although I appreciate your super helpful comments about my toilet problem, if you're just complaining about your weather, I'm sure there are weather-related forums you can post on.

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