Toilet water inlet point
I need to remove the Dometic toilet from inside my caravan to replace the anti-siphon valve. To do this I need to first remove the water inlet point from the outside of the caravan wall. To re-fit the inlet requires a small amount of sealant around the edge. Is domestic sanitary silicone sealant suitable for this or should I use something else?
Thanks in advance.
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When ever I’ve carried out similar repairs or modifications on our caravan or motorhome I’ve used Sikaflex marine sealant on the basis its designed to allow for slight movement in the joints. A couple of years ago I had to remove the anti-siphon valve from a Dometic loo but I was able to do it via the cassette aperture. I’ve recently replaced the Dometic loo with one from the Thetford range. The Dometic loo was the only thing that spoilt what is a perfect motorhome.
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Hi Dave
It is interesting that you were able to access the valve from the cassette aperture. I'd never thought of that route. Is it a bit of a fiddle and were you able to get the pipe clips on and tightened up OK? We may, of course, be talking of a different model. Mine is CTW4050.
I agree with you completely about the Dometic loo spoiling the caravan / motorhome. I'm forever having to clean and lubricate the main slide mechanism with silicone and now this valve failure. Thetford loos are far better having experienced both makes.
Sikaflex Marine seems to be the sealant to use (if I can't do it the same way that as you did). Pity I need such a tiny amount especially as it won't keep once opened according to Sika's website.
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Cheaper than water ingress , keep the tube though ,ive cut tube in middle and found some usable stuff after a year or so . they dont call me scrooge for no reason !!
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John. It is a bit of a fiddle to access the valve, especially with the factory fitted clips. I decided to remove the valve and move it nearer to the cassette aperture door (there was space for it on the LHS of the cassette enclosure). This not only made the valve more accessible but it improved the effectiveness of the bowl flush (which was pathetic at best). I was unable to use the factory fitted clips so I used fuel pipe clips, not jubilee clips - they are too bulky and not ideal on small pipes.
If its any help, changing the Dometic unit for a Thetford one was relatively easy although the electrical connections took some working out (even for an electrical engineer!)
Good luck with the task.
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Hi All
Just an update. I have now changed the anti-siphon valve. It did need the toilet removing unlike Dave N. when he replaced his valve. I'm guessing that yours, Dave, is a different model number. Mine has the built in water tank with the valve fitted in the top immediately below the operating button.
Probably the longest job was breaking through the seal on the inlet point, having to be careful not to damage anything, especially the surrounding paintwork. The Dometic installation manual was of little help especially in trying to determine which of the screws I needed to take out to be able to lift the loo up and away from the wall. There was only one clip that needed to be removed and refitted and this was a bit of a job to do. Dometic must have purpose made tools for the job but as there is no pressure in the pipe are clips actually necessary?
All in all, about an hour to remove the toilet, half an hour to change the valve and reassemble the tank and check for leaks and a further half hour putting the toilet back in place. What I did notice was that the plastic from which the original valve was made was very brittle. I hope the new one is better made.
That's another job off my list. Pity I still can't use the caravan.
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