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Contents: 1.
Algae
in the Thetford Toilet Fresh Tank.
2.
Algae
Build up Solution
3. Thetford
Toilet Cassette Level indicator
4.
Vehicle
Odours.
5.
Thetford
Toilet Fault
6.
Toilet Seal Fault, replacing the seal.
Letter received from Thetford:
Good Morning Mr Walters,
Please find information which we hope will help to resolve the problem you have been experiencing.
Kind Regards,
Karen Bliss
Customer Services.
Algae in the Thetford Toilet Fresh Tank.
Removal of Water Tank Algae Build Up.
If water is left in a sealed tank or container, soon bacteria and/or algae will develop. Light and temperature will speed up the growth. To protect themselves from being flushed away, these micro-organisms will form a slimy film (often grey or brown) on the walls. The active ingredients in our fresh water tank additive Aqua Rinse will prevent adherence to the walls.
Prior to using your unit again, may we therefore recommend the following course of action.
Fill the waste tank with a solution of fresh warm water and ‘Milton’, (the sterilizing agent made up to the recommended dosage specified on the bottle), leave overnight then rinse out thoroughly. If the problem persists, try filling the tank with water and charging with a triple dose of Aqua Rinse. Leave for 48 hours and flush through. Repeat until the residue build up subsides.
N.B. Normally used to remove limescale build up or hard water stains, please find attached a citric acid treatment which may be used as a final alternative should you find it necessary.
Since receiving this advice I have found 4 'Milton' tablets once a week has cured the problem long term.
Citric
Acid Treatment
Fresh
Water Tank - Algae Build Up Solution
Algae build up can be reduced by cleaning with 10% Citric Acid solution.
Citric Acid is a white granulate that can be obtained from any chemist.
Preparation Of the Solution:
Measure out 100 Grams of the Citric Acid to 900 Grams of Water and stir until dissolved. Add a few drops of washing up liquid and stir again.
Make up enough solution to submerge the affected areas.Treatment:
Pour the solution into the Fresh Water Tank and let it stand at least overnight or a full day.
Depending on the affected area it might be necessary to make up more liquid and repeat the treatment.A recent letter to a motorhome magazine suggest pouring Half a bottle of orange juice into the tank, leave overnight, drive the vehicle to move the liquid about, and all is OK!
As I did not have the materials on our recent trip to France, I found that Milton Fluid, in tablet form, cured the problem. 4 tablets place after every waste water drain down eliminated all smells during a hot month in the South of France.
A common fault with the level indicator is; It stops indicating. This is due to the float loosing it's float insert, which is made from a light plastic material.
This drops into the cassette and is disposed of when you next empty the tank.
If you are aware of it, are able to retrieve it, then you can replace it inside the cassette, and glue it position.
This is a much better option. If you are not able to do this then a replacement is necessary. It took me 4 hours to do this job, because of my inexperience.
I would recommend a Caravan repair dealer to the work.
The missing float insert can be seen in the gap of the white mechanism, in the photo
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Click for larger image |
To replace the float mechanism is simply:
1. Take of the blade mechanism by unscrewing the top face screws.
2. Place your hand inside the cassette and wrench off the old float. Making a mental note how it is fitted by feeling it before removal.
3. Refit the new float mechanism.
No 3. is the hard part, as it's difficult to feel the location. That's my reason for the 4 hour job.
Information on the Thetford Toilet, and handbook in PDF format, can be found at their web site:
www.thetford-europe.com/
Previous letters have touched on the problem of smells in the Motorhome. None that I can recall have mentioned toilet/washroom smells. Perhaps others have not had our problems, which we experienced in Spain this year.
We are first timers to Motorhome ownership. We have never done any caravaning or owned a Motorhome before.
Toilet smell was becoming an embarrassment, causing me to change the cassette and chemicals every other day. The usual shaking of the cassette with fresh water, after draining was not a solution. Until I noticed some continentals and their methods used.
The solution was to add fresh water, then the fresh chemicals, slush from side to side. It's not advised being too vigorous while slushing, as you can loose the internal tank capacity float. Turn the cassette upside down, flap closed, and leave for a short time upside down. Any leakage when upside down is minimal, a few drops only, any thing larger then your seals need changing. By turning it upside down you are disinfecting the moving parts in the lid.
This was our solution, no matter how hot the weather, our toilet always smelt fresh.
For those who might be getting their Motorhome out of storage, as we are, you may find that the Thetford Toilet gives trouble. Intermittent or not flushing.
Turn off the toilet 12 Volt electrics before carrying out any repairs.
The solution is to remove the toilet holder in the toilet body, This container is a push fit and can be removed by easing the rim by small amounts around it's perimeter. This then exposes the inside of the Thetford bench and the water immersed pump.
Remove the pump and check for any dirt obstacles which has stopped the pump impellers. Rotate the the impellers by hand to ensure they are free. They can be found at the base of the pump body.
Turn on the electrics and start the flush while holding the pump in your hand. It's OK to do this for short bursts, but not recommended for long periods without it being immersed in water. The water keeps it lubricated.
If after this the pump does not rotate, check the cables back to the fuse. Check the fuse and ensure you have 12Volts at this point. If you have, then you must consider the pump as being faulty.
Notes:
Cassette C2
Permanent, fixed bowl toilet for caravans and Motorhomes. This Cassette toilet has an integrated freshwater tank and features a powerful touch button electric flush.Information on the Thetford Toilet, and handbook in PDF format, can be found at their web site:
www.thetford-europe.com/Features:
Finish: white
Flush: electric (12V)
Integrated pour-out-spout: yes
Separate toilet tissue storage compartment: yes [C4,NO]
Waste tank capacity: 20LFreshwater tank capacity: 15L
After a winter in storage, a few checks brought up this image as I prepared the cassette for use. The seal had taken on a ribbed effect.
This was replaced immediately.
This is easily done by removing the slide cover, then the eight screws, lift out the seal and replace with a new one in the same way the old one came out. Note the cut away rims on the top of the seal, they should be facing the longest sides of the cassette.
The ribbed effect would have meant toilet odours escaping around the ribs, and possibly allow splashing while the vehicle was travelling.
I have read that toilets should be left open during idle periods of the Motorhome, to stop the moveable place sticking! If the plate does stick in the open position then the cassette cannot be removed from the side door for maintenance. If it does stick in the closed position then maintenance can be carried out as shown below.
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Additions to Motorhome pages 2010:-
