Leaking toilets

[johnc3211]

I have a 2017 38FQTS that we bought last October. It sat unused in a campground last year. Was told it wasn't dewinterized from the previous winter. When we looked at it there was no water or propane to check anything out. Just now hooked the city water up with a regulator. Bled all the air out and turned on hot water tank. This camper has 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. Both toilets have cracks in the ceramic bowls and are leaking. I am thinking there is a cavity between the inner bowl and the outer bowl that holds water. The leaking eventually stops. I also noticed there was no pink antifreeze that came out of any faucet. I'm guessing they didn't pump antifreeze through anything and the toilets froze and cracked? Seem reasonable?

 

[NH_Bulldog]

Yes, that sounds correct. The ceramic toilets are especially prone to freezing if not properly and thoroughly winterized. The foot pedal valves are plastic and can also easily freeze and leak. It might be worth pressure testing the entire system with air to identify any other possible water leaks.

 

[JRTJH]

They "could have" (but might not have) just used compressed air to blow out the lines. If so, then they may have only used antifreeze in the traps in the drains. As for the toilets, the foot flush valves are the most "delicate" and the first to be damaged. The toilet bowls are "hollow and have water passages in them" and they can freeze and crack, but as you're seeing, usually the water "leaks out into the toilet bowl" after flushing. That's normal operation and when you flush, as the "ball flapper" closes to seal the toilet bowl, the water in the ceramic bowl continues to seep out to partially fill the toilet bowl with about 1-3" of water so the "ball flapper" is covered with water to prevent sewer gasses from seeping up through any potential "air gap" around that rubber seal. As you said, "the leaking eventually stops"... There are "weep ports" along the rim of the toilet bowl. If the leaking is from the rim, the ceramic bowls may not be damaged and the "leaking" could be normal operation or it could be a result of the foot flush valves. I'd do some close checking before buying new toilets, they may be perfectly fine and it may be that only those "freeze fragile valves" need to be replaced. I assume the toilets are Dometic 310 models. Here's the owner's manual for them, note the "freeze damage indicator" on the flush valve (Figure 6).

 

[wiredgeorge]

Yes, that sounds correct. The ceramic toilets are especially prone to freezing if not properly and thoroughly winterized. The foot pedal valves are plastic and can also easily freeze and leak. It might be worth pressure testing the entire system with air to identify any other possible water leaks.

How would one properly and thoroughly winterize the insides of a Dometic 3xx toilet? If the water is turned off and the pedal is depressed to make sure all remaining water is out, what could be done to do this properly? I understand the plastic inlet valves popping from freezing but what else could be done?

 

[NH_Bulldog]

How would one properly and thoroughly winterize the insides of a Dometic 3xx toilet? If the water is turned off and the pedal is depressed to make sure all remaining water is out, what could be done to do this properly? I understand the plastic inlet valves popping from freezing but what else could be done?

I have had both plastic and ceramic toilets, but my process is the same and I have never had freeze damage. Compressed air, followed by RV antifreeze being pumped through the system. It works for me in the virtually subarctic area where I live, but may not be necessary or appropriate to go to those lengths in other areas where the winters are milder, or non-existent and/or shorter in duration like where you are located.

Dometic recommends 1 of 3 options to winterize. Mine is based in part on the preferred (and simplest) method they suggest.

9.1 Storage options
Non-toxic Antifreeze Winterization (recommended method)
1. Pour antifreeze in potable water tank according to instructions from antifreeze manufacturer.
2. Flush toilet several times until antifreeze has flowed completely through toilet. For toilets with hand sprayer, the hand sprayer must be turned on to assure antifreeze is cycled through the sprayer.

Drain Water from Toilet
1. Turn off water supply to toilet.
2. Remove water supply line from water valve.
3. Place a small container under water valve inlet to catch draining water.
4. Press flush pedal and allow water to completely drain from water valve and vacuum breaker.

Remove Water Valve and Vacuum Breaker
1. Remove water valve (fig. 1 I, page 2) by disconnecting water supply hose and hose from vacuum breaker, pressing on top and bottom latches, and pulling it from water valve housing.
2. Remove vacuum breaker (fig. 1 H, page 2) by disconnecting hose from water valve and pulling it out of sealing grommet in back of toilet.
3. Store water valve and vacuum breaker in heated area.

 

[johnc3211]

Thanks guys. For sure one of the toilets were leaking on outside of bowl in the vicinity of the inside swirl outlets. The other seemed to be leaking more from the joint where the bowl attaches to the base. Yes they were Dometic 310s. The local Camping World store had them in stock and on sale, plus a rebate. Done deal. Now if I can get the rotten floor in the front bedroom fixed I'll be good to go.

 

[sourdough]

Glad you got that lined up. I figure replacing the toilets is going to be easy vs replacing the rotten floor - good luck.