Serious Plumbing Considerations
Lew made mention of a flush valve problem we had on the trip to FL, but once we get past the toilet jokes we get to the serious core of the issue.
The following applies to Head Hunter toilets and flush valves but may also apply to other products.
In the plumbing industry the cardinal sin is cross contamination. Every single plumbing code in the country has extensive regulations to prevent the possibility of waste water entering the fresh water supply system. Our coaches with the aforementioned toilet and flush valve would likely never be accepted by any of the building codes relating to plumbing. I am sorry for the length of this, but it is important for all coach owners to completely understand the following otherwise they might as well brush their teeth with water from the toilet, unless they already have.
The HeadHunter toilet operates by having a very high volume flow of water create a low pressure to evacuate the toilet bowl. A diaphragm valve is caused to open, the flow of water is actuated and in a short period of time the valve closes and the water stops flowing. The problem begins if the flush valve fails to turn off the water flow. The response is to turn off the pump or municipal water supply. Here is where every owner needs to look at his or her coach. If the water supply to the toilet can be isolated and shut off while maintaining pressure in all other water systems in the coach (such as the sinks and shower) there is a potential for cross contamination but it is slight.
If the only way to turn off the flow to the toilet is to shut down water flow to the entire coach you may have a serious problem. When the house water pressure drops to zero with a flush valve that will not shut off the flow to the toilet, the valve is open. With zero house water pressure and a ball type check valve in the water system it is probable the toilet contents will backflow, through the flush valve, and into the fresh water tank. It is less likely if the coach is equipped with a spring type check valve. All chack valves are more efficient if the water pressure on the downstream side is much higher than that on the upstream (pump) side.
If you store your coach with the pump turned off and the water pressure bled off the potential to create this contamination condition exists. The only sure way to prevent cross contamination is if there is an air gap between the water flow source and the soiled water, and with the toilet design that is not possible.
I never studied my system when it was working but when it failed to shut down on the trip to FL I studied it to determine how it worked and I now have a fresh water supply to sanitize. The toilet and valve are elegantly simple and as such should prove very reliable, and are very easy to service, but since the toilet will backflow into the fresh water tank under certain conditions it would be wise for everyone to at the very least understand their own coach system and determine if they can assure themselves of a means of prevention.
Exactly What I have been Saying
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jon Wehrenberg
Either way you are going to spend money. You will shorten the life of the transmission fluid or you will wear out and heat up your brakes.
That guys is exactly what I have been saying :D Spend money on brakes and all that come with them, or spend money on twice the number of trans. fluid changes. I'll bet the brakes overhaul cost is more than transmission fluid and filter replacements ? :confused:
Thanks Jon, for clearing that up, even though the Thread Police should revoke your typing license, you too Jeff ? :eek:
No Trick Questions Allowed!
Peter vS
94 Marathon XLV
My GPS says it went 88 mph at one point down a long straight hill, not towing anything. How fast will it go on a flat straight road?[/quote]
OK Peter, I'll be you Old Geezer straight man.
How fast will it go?
As an aside. Your post showed up on my screne as being entered at 11:57AM. If you recal what time did you enter it (your local time)? What time is shown on your computer as the time of entry. Is it the same time you recal for the actual entry?
JIM
3 Attachment(s)
Plumbing Problem Solved Ii
The second part of my frustration with the failed flush valve was the lack of access. As originally installed the valve was sandwiched between the coach floor and the underside of a shelf supporting one of the center Cruise Air evaporators. To say that access was difficult would be an example of understatement.
This is where the valve was originally located, and in the following pictures is its new location with easy access and plenty of room to service it.