Clogged Head

sailing320 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

I think I have a clog somewhere in my hose between my head and my holding tank. What is the best way to fix this issue? When I pump my head the pump arm has pressure and will not remove any water in the bowl and springs up. Marina did a pump out so I know my tank is empty. I have a Jabsco head and replaced the pump with their service kit. What should I do?

mitiempo · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

Several possibilities. Could be the holding tank vent is clogged. Or the hose from head to holding tank is clogged.
Has the head worked after you rebuilt it? If not maybe you assembled it incorrectly.
If the hose to the holding tank is the problem the only solution is to remove the hose to clear it.

sailing320 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

I installed the repair kit as a fix. It did not work. Could this be a vent issue?

mitiempo · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

Yes, if the tank isn't able to vent you would have trouble pumping. Or the hose to the tank is clogged.

sailing320 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

How do you check the vent? I have never done this? Is their something I can put done the head to clean the hose?

mitiempo · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

To clear the vent hose remove it from the holding tank and blow through it (not with your mouth!) to see if it is clear. Or remove it from the vent end as well and flush it out on the dock. Also check the vent fitting on the boat to see if bugs have built a nest in it or something else is clogging it. Nothing put in the head will clear it. It goes from the top of the holding tank to the vent fitting which is usually on the side of the boat just under the deck edge.

deniseO30 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

Silly question, did you see the marina do the pump out? just sayin..

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

Did you replace the entire pump on the Jabsco? Or just the parts in the service kit?

As the previous posters said...it could be a holding tank vent line issue or a full holding tank issue....which can easily lead to a holding tank vent line issue.

You should rinse/flush the holding tank vent line at least once a month IMHO, especially if you're the type that leaves pumping out the holding tank until it is nearly full.

Also, which Jabsco head do you have???

sailing320 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

Yes, I saw the pump-out. The marina pumps out my waste and flushes my holding tank 3 times every other week. Would this clean the vent? I only replaced the head with the Jabsco service kit. Also, when it happened I turned on my marcerator but nothing come out the side of the boat. It appears to be working but I only use it once a year at best.

TQA · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

It is not the vent.

With an empty tank you would be able to flush the contents of the loo into the tank slightly pressurising the tank even if the vent is blocked..

Keep doing it and the phrase "She's gonna blow" will enter your life.

Time for the rubber gloves, a couple of buckets and the courage to disconnect the hose from the toilet to the tank.