Magic potion for cleaning out head plumbing?

[Captned]

Greetings all,

I seem to remember something that was written about putting in my heads toilet to get rid of the calcium build up in my head plumbing. I searched but nothing popped up so can someone help me? I don't feel like pulling my pipes apart and banging them on the dock like last time! Never a fun afternoon. Any body got the magic potion and how do I apply it?

Thanks in advance...

Captned
78 46' CONV

 

[Angela]

Was it phosphoric acid? If so, is that stuff OK to use on head hoses and then run it through the macerator pump?

 

[Beckytek]

Calcium build-up must come from the water you are using. I have never heard of it as a problem. I just changed all my sanitation hoses and after 20 years they were clean as could be. No build-up of anything. We have well water and it is very soft. Ron

 

[Passages]

It was white vinegar.

I agree though, I've never seen scale in the sanitary system become a problem.

 

[Angela]

It's quite common in salt water flushing heads. When I rebuilt my heads last December, I found that one of my 2" hoses and the 2" PVC was almost completely packed with the calcium build up that is similar to dried concrete. There was a mere 3/4" passage remaining. And a testament to the strength of a GM macerator, it was still sucking everything through that small opening...before it reached the "blender" blade.

I replaced all of those hoses/pipes. I had never seen anything like it before. As I continued to move through the boat replacing hoses, I found that stuff everywhere.

 

[Captned]

Ummm, ok, maybe not calcium build up, but whatever it is, last time I cleaned them (soon after I bought her, six years ago) It had restricted the 2" pipe down to maybe 1/2 inch. It appeared to be a hard type of build up that you could break loose by smacking it on the dock. I use salt water for flushing. My faithful galley maid has been acting like the pipes are getting clogged.

Thanks for the help!



Captned

 

[Captned]

Hey Ang, you beat me to my post! Thats the stuff!

Captned

 

[Brian Degulis]

It's crystaline not calcium I think it's caused from Peeing in the head (that's why I always pee over the side) Just kidding. Muriatic Acid if I rember right about 25% acid 75% water pour it in flush a few times then let it sit it's suposed to break it down. I had it like Ang almost closing the hoses I'm told if you double flush if it's not going to used for a while that helps?

Brian

 

[Bob Bradley]

I'm doing my '79 43C right now. So far my magic potion has included a sawzall, a circular saw, a large knife and a prybar to help me rip those damn hoses out and replace them altogether. Once that's done, it's a new Atlantes Freedom head, and a nice new teak and holly sole. 30 years from now the SO (subsequent owner) can worry about it again.

 

[Captned]

Yooowwwweeee! My VERY careful about how much Muratic acid you add. 1/2 gallon at once was a little too much! And stand by ready to flush it away. Almost had a mini volcano in the head! Seems to have worked. Time will tell. Thanks all...

Captned
78 46 CONV

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

White vinegar will go a long way in removing odors to your system if you flush a pint of so with fresh water and let it sit an hour or so.

Sealand offers a product at some $20.00 per gallon for cleaning out their systems. They claim (of course) that it will remove crystalization which likes to build up at the duck bills (which are aleged to last only 3 years). It contains formaldehyde, among other things.

Don't ask me how I know all this.

www.sealandtechnology.com

Ang, hope to drop by this Sat. Will be in touch.

 

[BUSTER]

On and off hull cleaner is the acid solution of choice here in the northeast as a quick-fix for this problem,"I never travel without a gallon" waterline cleaning,heat-exchanger cleaning etc.However it is a poor substitute for removing the hoses and beating them against a piling or just plain replacing them if they are not of the best quality and or condition.

 

[REBrueckner]

A convenient method for cleaning partially clogged waste hoses is to remove a hose end, say from the seacock, and ram in a piece of 1 inch diamater hose inside the two inch....it just fits nicely to break out the crystalline build up. I find the build up seems to occur nearer the seacocks.

No need to remove the entire hose from the boat unless its convenient to do so.

Several years ago I reamed the end hose of my forward toilet when it was clogged with the crystalline build up ...this summer it got a bit sluggish...so I removed the hose at the interior valve end...rammed a one inch hose from that end...I encountered just a short distance of clog...subsequent flushing has been normal...

Also when the seacock hose end is removed, open the seacock and make sure a LOT of water rushes in...clogs in the seacock, mussels/barnacles,etc can be a pain there...

 

[krush]

What is the crystalline? Is it salt or is it mineral build up?

 

[Angela]

Just the opposite from what REBrueckner found, my build up occurred closest to the head, between the head and the macerator, not anywhere near the seacock. I have the Galley Maid heads and pumps which have 2" PVC coming out of the head, going through a loop for anti-siphoning, and eventually to a large hose that connects to the "blender" end of the macerator. The thickest part of the buildup was in the 2" PVC as it left the bottom of the bowl...all the way to the macerator. It was clean from the macerator discharge and beyond. No idea for the differences in our findings...just passing along info from my experiences.

 

[BUSTER]

What is the crystalline? Is it salt or is it mineral build up?

I think it is calcium carbonate from the saltwater.I usually flush my heads with fresh water Stateside and with saltwater in the Bahamas.Guess what? There is never any build up in the hoses using freshwater.After 7 to 9 months in Abaco,using saltwater the build up is substantial. Even in New England when flushing with saltwater it builds up,but much slower.BTW/when exposed to any type of acid,the stuff foams and dissolves,confirming my belief it is very high in PH.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Our 36 never had any buildup in those hoses, but we were always in fresh water. The boat has been in Miami for one year now and I have no clue about a buildup. How long does it take to get that buildup? I am going to change from our Groco head to a Raritan Freedom unit and have been debating about whether to use fresh water or sea water for flushing. I really would like to have either option, but that sounds impractical. Raritan has you install a filter on the seawater line. Do we think that would prevent the buildup? I guess I should use fresh water but I don't like the idea of not being able to flush the head if I run out of water in the tank.

 

[krush]

I think it is calcium carbonate from the saltwater...........BTW/when exposed to any type of acid,the stuff foams and dissolves,confirming my belief it is very high in PH.

Make perfect sense. I used acid to clean scaled fishtanks I got out of the dumpster (nice deal,100+ gal tank and stand for free!). Stuff wouldn't come off, I fiured it was minerals, little acid and it bubbled away.

I had to reclean the other day and had no muratic acid so I just used vinger. Got the little film off but required some scrubbing. Simple chemistry i useful sometimes.

 

[Brian Degulis]

What is the crystalline? Is it salt or is it mineral build up?

I don't know I was told by Peggy the head mistress that it's called crystaline and it's caused from piss laying in the lines.

Brian