Head Problem?

Question

Being new to a larger boat I cannot get the head to draw water. Does i t need priming or am I missing something? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

First, I'd check to make sure in water intake seacock was open and pump "wet bowl". If that gives no joy, ensure the waste out seacock is open.

When you flip the toggle to wet bowl, make sure that it feels like it's actually doing something. Try pumping the piston a few times. If you still have no flush action, flip the toggle back to dry bowl and pour about a quart of water into the bowl and see if it'll pump dry for you. If it does, your problem will be between the intake seacock and the head. This usually involves putting on the rubber gloves for the absolute joyous task of taking apart a marine head. (It may be just a simple fix, such as a foreign object stuck in the mechanism.)

While you're at it, might as well check out the hoses to make sure they're not plugged.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Could be a number of things:

First make sure, you have the switch to wet.   When on wet do you get any water or hear any water in the system at all?  if you hear or get something, it's probably the prime.   Use some oil to lubricate the piston. (I just put some olive oil in the bowl and pump it)  Sometimes detaching the out take on the pump itself and holding your hand over it while pumping helps get your prime back, but you may need a new pump.

If you get nothing at all, there may be a block of some sort.   First check the seacock on the intake thruhull   It may be closed for safety reasons and simply needs to be opened.   There could also be anything clogging the intake (such as seaweed or a bend in the hose) anywhere between the thru-hull and the bowl.

If you are having trouble figuring out where the problem is, either diconnect and use the original intake hose or a new section and stick it in a bucket of water and see if it will draw water that short distance.  (Be sure you close the thru-hull seacock first!) That will tell if you if it's the pump or something prior to the pump.

Answer 3

Make sure the sea suction valve is open to supply water to the head or if it is a fresh water head make sure you have fresh water in the tank and that the water pressure switch is on at the panel as well as the head switch.