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?????

Try using white vinegar to clean the bowl. Or hot water to "soften" the rubber seal and get it working again. If these tricks don't work, take it in for service as this is a job I don't recommend doing at home. ;)

What brand toilet? Mine started doing that yesterday. New gasket kit on order. Five minute fix with parts.

get a old tooth brush,some real soapy mixed water ,and clean the seal have some one hold the gate open, after your done, put some water in the bowl see if it holds water. you don,t need a plumber just gotta be willing to get a little dirty. nice long pair rubber gloves is a good idea.

I had this problem (after letting my seal get dry, from not having some water sit on it).Thetford makes a product to "renew" the seal - worked great on my "blade" style toilet.

I just did this about 10 minutes ago. My valve wouldn't close all the way everytime and just last week, it got stuck open. I applied plumbers grease around the opening being sure to get it into the grove wearing a glove of course. I hope it works. It was cheap anyway. $1.97

Commode not holding water | Good Sam Community

bshpilot
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
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
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
IT works better if you clean the seal then apply some vas aline on the seal,and work it . it fixed mine
J-Rooster
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
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
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
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
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
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
Explorer
Sep 03, 2014
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
Explorer
Sep 03, 2014
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
Explorer
Sep 03, 2014
I have used the same product that bshpilot mentioned, Thetford's Toilet Seal, it really does work.
BB_TX
Nomad
Sep 03, 2014
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
Explorer
Sep 03, 2014
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.