Winterize your boat while there's still time

As the winter approaches, it's easy to think 'out of sight, out of mind' when it comes to winterizing the systems on board your boat. While few owners rejoice at the end of boating season, properly winterizing on-board systems will enable you to get back on the water as soon as the summer returns. By performing some simple maintenance tasks on your toilet and holding tank, you can avoid returning to a smelly boat and lengthy pre-season preparation.

The good news is that modern toilets require minimal maintenance, especially those using fresh water for flushing, as they eliminate the problems associated with raw-water systems. One of the most popular ranges of vacuum toilets currently on the market is the Dometic SeaLand® VacuFlush® series, which uses minimal fresh water, and is designed to require next to no preventive maintenance – in fact, just a two-step process is needed for successful winterization.

CLEAN

To maximize operational efficiency when in use, a deep clean at the end of the season is always a must. There may, for example, be a build-up of mineral deposits from hard water under the edge of the rubber bowl seal. To clean, shut off both the electrical power and the water supply, add cleaner and open the flush ball by pressing on flush lever, and scrub under the seal and then use a brush and water to rinse away loosened deposits. One important thing to remember here is not to use caustic chemicals as they may damage the seals.

If your toilet is going to be out of use for an extended period of time, sanitation hoses should also be cleared. To do this, fill the toilet bowl with water and add 4 oz. (120 ml) of biodegradable bleach-free laundry detergent and flush the toilet by holding the pedal down for about two minutes. Close flush ball and then turn off water supply to toilet and flush without water, allowing the vacuum pump to shut off after the flush and repeat three times. This procedure will minimize any remaining water in the sanitation hoses.

Your next step will depend on where your boat will be kept during the winter. If the system will be subjected to freezing temperatures, then you must protect it, and if not, you must drain the toilet and holding tank.

DRAIN

First things first – empty the holding tank! It may be obvious but it is also easily forgotten and no one likes the thought of coming back to their boat after a long winter to be met by foul odors coming from the holding tank. Then, thoroughly flush the system with fresh water and then ensure all water is drained from the toilet before shutting off the water supply and removing the inlet waterline. Take care not to remove the plastic cap on the bottom of the valve because if it is put back on incorrectly, it may be prone to leaks.

PROTECT

If you choose to use antifreeze in your sanitation system rather than drain it during the winterization process, still be sure to empty the holding tank first. Then you should first drain the potable water tank and add freshwater antifreeze to it. Following that, flush potable water antifreeze and water mixture through the toilet and into the waste holding tank. Each installation is different, so amounts may vary. User discretion is required to assure adequate protection.

During winterization, you could also check that all clamps including the base clamp ring are tightened to avoid any possible leakages and make sure that all wire connections are secure to ensure smooth running of the vacuum pump during operation.

For Dometic customers, we have a network of trained service dealers throughout the world if for some reason you do require additional support when winterizing your boat or when it comes to putting it back in the water, but there is no need to contact them unless the sanitation system has a problem. Our goal is to produce a quality and reliable product that does not need regular service, but a little tender loving care goes a long way in ensuring your toilet is working when it should.