What To Do When RV Toilets Do Not Hold Water?

Sometimes you have to deal with hardships such as water leakage in toilets. You can take it for granted, but it won’t solve your problem. Think wisely and find out the fixes to this issue. Let’s know the normal functioning of your toilet first.

So when you flush the toilet, there should be little water in the bowl. The bowl holds water to stop the odors. However, some homeowners face an issue with their toilets when it does not hold enough water in the bowl.

No biggies. This article will help you solve your problem in the easiest way possible. We have added various methods to repair the toilet. Let’s begin with it.

Here’s Why RV Toilet Fail to Hold Water

Before we begin the solutions, let’s first understand why your RV toilet fails to hold water. There may be plenty of reasons. So, we have listed some of them here.

Perished Blade Seal

Most commonly, a blade seal is the cause of malfunctioning RV toilets. The blade seal is a rubber that can get damaged and hardened easily. That’s why the seal doesn’t work consistently to hold water. It will be unable to hold water for a longer time.

Broken Water Valve

Many times the valve is broken. You may not notice it. But it is also a reason behind water being held by the bowl. So, the water runs beneath when you start the flush button.

Here are the causes of broken water valves.

  • Low temperatures can freeze the valve. Hence, it breaks quickly.
  • High manual pressure

So, ensure you take care of the RV in cold, harsh weather. That’s because extreme temperatures can shrink the seal in the future. 

Broken Toilet Flange & Other Parts

Broken toilet flanges decrease the stability of the toilet. In the RV toilet, broken flanges will cause leakage as well. Apart from this, there will be a gush of water if it’s extremely damaged. 

Parts in a toilet often break due to prolonged use. Additionally, other broken parts can create major issues in the toilet. You need to remove these broken parts and replace them with new ones. 

How To Fix RV Toilets That Don’t Hold water?

If you know the plumbing techniques to resolve any issue, it’s well and good. However, you will need a useful guide if you are a newbie. To help you, we have made a comprehensive guide in this article. 

After understanding the causes behind RV toilets not holding water, you need to choose the specific solutions that meet your requirements. It can be silly if you ignore the steps mentioned below.  

Fix The RV Toilet Seal

The first trick is to focus on the RV toilet seal. Check whether it’s broken or not. If the seal is not intact, you need to replace it. Here are the essential items you’ll work with for this technique.  

Essential Tools

Before starting the procedure, let’s first gather all the tools for this job. You may need to buy some. However, they will be inexpensive.

  • A screwdriver 
  • A socket wrench
  • A flathead screwdriver 
  • Rubber gloves 
  • Paper towels 
  • Trash bag
  • Disinfectant wipes

Step 1: Clean The Toilet And The Surrounding

This must be the first step you should take while dealing with any plumbing issue. You can work for long hours cleaning the toilet and not get irritated with the odor.  

Step 2: Turn Off The Water Pump 

The second step is to turn off the water if it may leak at the time of repair. You can switch off the water supply. In addition, you can disconnect the water hook-up. Don’t forget to flush the toilet at the end. 

Step 3: Remove the Caps 

One should disconnect the caps with the help of a putty knife. It loosens the caps and facilitates the removal. You can also use a wrench and take the nuts out from the tank. The nuts can be located anywhere as it depends on who’s the RV manufacturer.  

Take the hose off the valve and move the toilet up. Next, place a trash bag over the drain hole to protect your tools from dropping into the drain.   

Step 4: Remove The Blade Seal

First, you should locate the blade seal. You will find it at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Remove this blade. But if it’s hard to remove, don’t apply much pressure. 

Otherwise, you will end up damaging your RV toilet bowl. Put this seal in the trash bag. Also, ensure you’ve cleaned other parts in the toilet that are sealed before heading on to the next step. 

Step 5: Clean The Toilet And Change Its Seal

You can again clean the toilet with a scrubber. Then, replace the blade seal when everything is cleared. Center it above the drain or follow the directions given on it. Apply gentle pressure for this process. 

Step 6: Place Everything Back To Their Original Position 

Remove the trash bag which was placed over the drain. It should be on the blade seal. Also, every part of the toilet, such as the drain and blade, should be connected properly. 

Screw the nuts you have removed in the above step. You can even sit on the toilet to connect the blade and RV toilet tightly. After everything is done, turn on the water supply. 

RV Toilet Does Not Hold Water – FAQs

Is lubrication good for toilet seals?

Lubrication is good for toilet seals as it tightens them. For this, you can use a silicone-based formula as it prevents sticking.

Is Vaseline good for rubber seals?

No, rubber seals can get rot by Vaseline. So, you should never apply it on any parts of a toilet, such as seals. 

Final Words

An RV toilet is essential as it plays a crucial role in camping. You may get frustrated with its malfunctioning and broken parts. 

However, the above solutions will help you fix this issue in a better way. It aims to guide you when you are troubleshooting your RV toilet. Now the water will no longer be on hold in your toilet.