Commode not holding water

[ferndaleflyer]

This past week end the commode stopped holding water. I am far from a plumber but it seems to have a rubber seal that is not sealing. How hard is this to fix?????

[bshpilot]

Im curious - those of you that are having problems, are you keeping water in the toilet bowl all the time ?

I fine that if i keep water in the bowl (above the seal) that i rarely have a problem. Even when in storage i keep the seal wet by making sure theres some water in the bowl - doesnt have to be much....just enough keep the seal wet.

[happy-2]

IT works better if you clean the seal then apply some vas aline on the seal,and work it . it fixed mine

[J-Rooster]

hershey wrote:
Please try the vinegar treatment. It absolutely works. Make sure that there isn't any paper stuck to any part of the ball or gasket. Calcium will disolve easily with vinegar.

I'll give this a try!

[J-Rooster]

ScottG wrote:
My SeaLand only holds water about half the time. Make no difference to me - it doesn't smell or anything when it leaks out.

X-2, Mine is the same way Scott!

[Koop]

Our Thetford will fail to hold water occasionally. I add an ounce or two of vegetable oil to the bowl and it works itself out after a day or two. We full time, I also add vegetable oil when we're driving down the road. I started doing this after having a chronic problem that seemed un-fixable. Works for us.

[gwheel]

I have a sealand, and it would not hold water, but it had been setting for about 4 years, and this is a 2003 mh. I pulled the top off, and removed both rubber seals and cleaned them with dish liquid, and scrubbed the ball, but back together and it has been working perfectly for about two months. Geo

[hershey]

Please try the vinegar treatment. It absolutely works. Make sure that there isn't any paper stuck to any part of the ball or gasket. Calcium will disolve easily with vinegar.

[CG_Dawson]

I have used the same product that bshpilot mentioned, Thetford's Toilet Seal, it really does work.

[BB_TX]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
I won't be replacing this ceramic toilet that looks better than the ones in our house.....I think it might be a Thetford but not sure....I just looked through all the paper work and the pull out dump deal is that brand but it don't say what the throne is.

Mine has a tag on the lower back side. Had to lean over with my head down behind to read the name and model number.

[Dune_Hauler]

Funny enough my 3 year old Thetford Style Plus just stopped holding water. I tried all the tricks I read online with no luck, gave up and bought the 34117 repair kit. The seal has some sort of Teflon lining I think they just give up after a while. Good luck with yours.

[ScottG]

My SeaLand only holds water about half the time. Make no difference to me - it doesn't smell or anything when it leaks out.

[ferndaleflyer]

I won't be replacing this ceramic toilet that looks better than the ones in our house.....I think it might be a Thetford but not sure....I just looked through all the paper work and the pull out dump deal is that brand but it don't say what the throne is.

[BB_TX]

Mine is a Sealand and it is really quite easy. Two piece toilet and the top is held to the bottom by what looks like an oversize hose clamp. Loosen the clamp and the top lifts off and exposes the ball and seal.
At about 3 yrs mine stopped holding water. Took it apart, cleaned the rubber seal and lubed it with Pam (per Sealand rep) and it then held fine. ....
Until this year 4 yrs later. This time cleaning did not help as rubber had hardened. Replaced the rubber seal and all is well again.
Less than an hour even when not in a hurry.

[BobandShaz]

CLR is a good cleaner for the buildup.