The owner’s
manuals for SeaLand® and VacuFlush® products address
most aspects of operation and troubleshooting. Please
download and refer to these manuals for specific
product questions. This FAQ section discusses general
aspects of VacuFlush system installation, use and
care.
Q. How is a VacuFlush toilet different
from a conventional marine toilet?
A. Conventional
marine toilets can be either manually operated or
electrically operated. All conventional marine toilets
move the waste from the toilet bowl to the holding
tank or overboard by pushing it with a column of
water. Electric or macerator toilets function somewhat
like a garbage disposal and break up the waste before
it enters the pump. VacuFlush toilets use a powerful
burst of air pressure to move the waste through
the piping system. When the VacuFlush toilet is
flushed, the waste is literally blown out of the
bowl through an orifice under the flush valve and
completely broken up.
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Q. How much
water does a VacuFlush toilet use per flush?
A. On
average, a VacuFlush toilet flushes with about
1.5 pints* of water. A conventional marine
toilet consumes about one gallon of water per flush. A VacuFlush
toilet will greatly extend the use of a holding
tank between pump-outs as compared to conventional
marine toilets.
*VacuFlush
toilets use as little as 1 pint (.5 L) of water
per flush. Because we recommend adding more water
when flushing solids, we conservatively estimate
average water use at 1.5 pints.
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Q. How much
electricty does a VacuFlush system draw per
flush?
A. In 12
VDC systems, foot-pedal operated VacuFlush toilets
draw 4 – 6 amps per flush for less than one minute,
and electronic Flush and Forget® models draw only
an additional 7 amps during the five-second flush
cycle. (Some competitive marine systems can consume
up to 60 amps per flush.)
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-
An onboard freshwater supply system.
Freshwater
is highly recommended for flushing. VacuFlush
toilets consume very little water from the onboard
supply. Sea water use can cause malodors and
maintenance issues.
-
A thru-hull vent fitting.
This vent fitting is connected to the holding
tank and allows the air in the tank to move
overboard as the holding tank fills.
-
Appropriate discharge fittings.
These fittings include a 1.5-inch (38mm) through
hull fitting with seacock for overboard discharge
and/or a 1.5-inch (38mm) deck discharge fitting
for connecting to a dockside discharge pump.
A vented loop or in-line check valve may also
be required depending on the standards or regulations
effective on a specific vessel.
Water supply
and electrical requirements:
For 140, 500 Plus,
700, 1000, 5000 series toilets:
VacuFlush system
minimum requirements:
Toilet
(plumbing)
- 2 gpm (7.6
lpm) water flow rate at water valve
- ˝-in. (12.7 mm) ID water supply line
- shut-off valve in water supply line
Vacuum
generator (electric)
- 12 VDC: 10-amp
fuse or circuit breaker
- 24 VDC: 5-amp fuse or circuit breaker
For 3000,
3600 series toilets:
VacuFlush
system minimum requirements:
Toilet
(plumbing, electric)
- 4 gpm (15
lpm) water flow rate at water valve
- ˝-in. (12.7 mm) ID water supply line
- shut-off valve in water supply line
- 12 VDC: 8-amp fuse or circuit breaker
- 24 VDC: 4-amp fuse or circuit breaker
Vacuum
generator (electric)
- 12 VDC: 10-amp
fuse or circuit breaker
- 24 VDC: 5-amp fuse or circuit breaker
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A.
Through SeaLand's SuperTech™ program, we, along
with Dometic’s Master Sanitation
Distributors have trained hundreds of professional
VacuFlush system installers and dealers across the
USA and around the world. They can recommend, sell
and install the best components suited to your boat.
Call for the name of a certified SuperTech installer
near you, or contact your nearest Master Sanitation
Distributor (see the
Master Sanitation Distributor locator). They
will give you the name of the nearest VacuFlush
SuperTech dealer that would be best suited to your
location and installation needs.
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A. You can
install a VacuFlush system if you keep in mind several
important issues:
- Proper
installation is as vital to the long-term performance
of a sanitation system as the quality of the
individual components.
- Remember
that each VacuFlush system is a custom-built
vacuum sanitation system. It is extremely difficult
to create a single set of components for all
installations due to the wide variety of boat
configurations and types of toilet operation.
For example, Dometic offers toilets that vary
in height, bowl size, outlet location, means
of operation, color, styling, and mounting method
(over 800 different part numbers).
- Usually,
the installation of a VacuFlush system involves
more than just unbolting an existing fixture
and reconnecting a few hoses. Installing a VacuFlush
system requires working with shipboard DC electrical
systems, cutting into structural bulkheads or
decks, working with fiberglass, and general
knowledge of standards and “good practice” related
to marine systems.
Participating
SuperTech installers are happy to provide VacuFlush
installation consultation at the time of system
purchase. If required, an hour or two of onboard
consultation can be arranged at a nominal cost.
Once your installation is complete, a certified
SuperTech installer must inspect and approve the
installation to activate the warranty.
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A. An onboard
operating toilet system is vital to the enjoyment
of any pleasure craft. A boat equipped with two
toilet systems allows boat passengers to operate
the toilets independently – especially if a problem
occurs with one. Most experienced boat owners appreciate
this approach as a redundant system safeguard.
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A. Parts
and accessories for SeaLand and VacuFlush systems
are available in several ways.
-
Master
Sanitation DistributorsWe have
10 Master Sanitation Distributors located throughout
the U.S.A. and Canada. Any of these distributors
carries a complete inventory of parts for VacuFlush,
SeaLand and Mansfield marine sanitation systems.
If you contact them before 2:00 p.m. Pacific
Standard Time,
they can ship the same day, and they accept
all major credit cards. Distributor staff members
are also trained to handle technical questions.
-
Marine
Dealers
SeaLand/VacuFlush
systems are installed as standard or optional
equipment on most powerboats over 26-feet sold
in North America. The dealer for any of these
brands of boats will have parts either on hand
or available to them.
-
International
Distributors
For
countries other than the U.S.A. and Canada,
there is a strong, worldwide network to assist
in servicing and maintaining your sanitation
system. For the authorized service center nearest
you, please call 330-496-3211 or fax 330-496-3221.
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A. Most
residential toilet tissues will work fine in
a VacuFlush toilet. However, a few can be troublesome
in any toilet system (including home toilets).
These
troublesome tissues contain adhesives that
bond together the paper fibers from which the
tissue is made. The adhesives prevent the tissue
from breaking apart, and their use in any toilet
can cause blockage. One brand of tissue we don’t
recommend is Charmin® Ultra (trademark(s) of
the Proctor & Gamble).
SeaLand
brand tissue is especially formulated for use
in low water consuming toilets. Its rapid dissolving
properties prevent tissue paper from accumulating
in the holding tank or elsewhere in the system.
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