- Excerpts taken from Bill's Hints -

The marine-style toilet installed in your trailer is designed to conserve fresh water. A foot pedal or handle opens the bottom drain to let waste drop into the black water tank, which is located directly beneath the toilet. Pressurized water is used to rinse the toilet bowl. The most common toilets have two valves. One opens the drain AND rinses the bowl; the other valve only adds water to the bowl.

When either valve is released, water flow stops. By design, and unlike your toilet at home, a minimum of water is used in the flushing process. If you hold the valve open, thinking you are getting a better flush, all you accomplish is filling your black water tank. Kids are great at this.

If the bowl is still soiled after flushing, there may be a hand-held spray similar to the spray found in your kitchen at home, which is connected to the fresh water supply for the stool. It is pressurized only when the water valve is held open.  Use this spray, together with a toilet bowl brush, to quickly clean the bowl.

Read the sections on Holding Tanks, Waste Treatment and Odors, and Sewer Hook-up and Dumping so you understand the complete waste system.

Bill’s Hints on RV Toilets

• Most toilets are made from some form of plastic, and have a highly polished finish. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Once the finish has been dulled, waste will be hard to clean off without hard scrubbing.

• Minimize paper products and other solids flushed down the stool.

• The holding tanks have limited capacity. Don't flush excessive amounts of water into them.

• Keep the lid closed to prevent foreign objects from falling into the toilet. It is a major job to retrieve anything from the holding tank.

• If a water leak develops behind the toilet it’s most likely the fresh water ball valve. Improper winterization of the toilet is one of the main causes of ball valve leaks. Although easy to replace it will usually entail the removal of the toilet because of the tight work space.

• Most mechanical seal toilets have a paddle that creates the gas seal between the inside of the RV and the tank. Odors can infiltrate the RV if this seal is leaking so periodically check for any build up on the paddle seals. The other toilet seal is at the floor which is seldom a problem.