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Topic: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Yahoo Message Number: 148383
Happy day-after labor day!   We'll be putting our LD in storage for a few months. Last time we did this, the water in the toilet bowl evaporated, leaving a water ring stain. Is there a trick to avoid this?  Should we saran wrap the bowl (knowing-of course, the risk of forgetting to remove the saran wrap before using?).   We are in the SF Bay area, so the warmest months are just coming up. Please offer your advice.
2002 MB
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148385
We fill the bowl with water and saran wrap it (have never forgotten to take it off before using!).  We then close the lid and saran wrap that, too, so we have a double layer.  If you think that you would have trouble remembering to take the saran wrap off before using the toilet, this double wrap would solve the problem since you wouldn't be able to lift the lid until the outer saran wrap was taken off.

Linda Hylton

Quote

Happy day-after labor day!   We'll be putting our LD in storage for a few months. Last time we did this, the water in the toilet bowl evaporated, leaving a water ring stain. Is there a trick to avoid this?  Should we saran wrap the bowl (knowing-of course, the risk of forgetting to remove the saran wrap before using?).   We are in the SF Bay area, so the warmest months are just coming up. Please offer your advice.
Linda Hylton
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148392
One could always leave something ontop of the plastic. A yellow sticker or some bit of paper with a line or three of witty text.
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148399
If your black tank is nearly empty, and you have been using a good  bacterial/enzyme chemical in your black tank, (Happy Camper or Always  Fresh, or similiar) you can just flush with the water pump off and have a  dry bowl.  There will be essentially no odor in your RV.

RonC
  From: 'Wendy Harris' dwjharris@... [lifewithalazydazerv]
 Sent:  ‎Tuesday‎, ‎September‎ ‎2‎, ‎2014 ‎6‎:‎33‎ ‎AM
 To:  lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com

Happy day-after labor day! We’ll be  putting our LD in storage for a few months. Last time we did this, the water in  the toilet bowl evaporated, leaving a water ring stain. Is there a trick to  avoid this? Should we saran wrap the bowl (knowing-of course, the risk of  forgetting to remove the saran wrap before using?). We are in the SF Bay area,  so the warmest months are just coming up. Please offer your advice.
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148402
Still important is to dose the bowl with a strong vinegar-water solution to loosen and eliminate mineral build-up around the seal which may contribute to the bowl leaking water into the black water tank...while one should flush and fill the bowl with clear water, one should work on the potential root cause of the "leak"...this being separate from the evaporation of water while in a very dry storage atmosphere.

A cheap preventative maintenance operation which won't hurt anything, but may eliminate  the problem (in addition to the saran wrap treatment).

TinaP 2006 MB
2006 MB
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148404
"Still important is to dose the bowl with a strong vinegar-water solution to loosen and eliminate mineral build-up"

Agreed!

Andy Baird

Travels with Andy
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148409
If you try the saran wrap method, I'd be concerned about mold or mildew in the bowl.
 I'd try RV antifreeze.  It will evaporate eventually, but it's pretty slow.
 Another option would be something like Thetford Toilet Seal Lubricant and Conditioner.  I'm just guessing that it wouldn't evaporate very quickly, I'm not sure.
 Toilet Seal Lubricant and Conditioner   
Rich '03 MB in NC
2003 MB
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148411
We've done the saran wrap thing for 6 months at a time with no mold. Of course we've been in relatively dry areas (AZ and eastern WA). It might be a different matter if you're in a humid area such as FL.

Linda Hylton
Linda Hylton
 
Re: how to keep water in the head-bowl in storage
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 148415
If the intent is merely to prevent migration of odors from the black tank to the interior, get a seal-able plastic bag such as ziploc (I suggest one of the larger sizes), fill it with water and place it in the bowl such that the bowl is sealed more or less by the plastic bag.  Having some RV anti-freeze in there under the bag will help.  The bag will prevent evaporation of the anti-freeze and as long as there is no leak, the anti-freeze will make a full seal.
 If there is any chance of freezing during storage, DO NOT have any plain water in the bowl.  That includes my plastic bag idea.  Use RV anti-freeze instead.
 I endorse the comments about dealing with a leak first.  If your bowl is leaking, there is almost certainly an encrustation of salts between the base of the bowl and the top of the rubber seal.  The longer it sits there, especially if it is dry, the harder it will be to remove from the toilet base, thus the harder it will be to deal with future leakage.

Ken F in OR
'08 MB