As with any plumbing, RV toilets can break down for various reasons and are susceptible to the wear and tear of everyday use. They must be properly maintained and routinely checked in order to preserve them over the course of the rest of the RV’s life.
One of the most used parts is the RV toilet pedal, and because of its frequent use and motion, it can wear down and leak, either from being used too much or not enough.
Why is my RV toilet foot pedal leaking? The most common causes of the RV toilet leak are a damaged intake valve or a buildup of sediment around the pedal. The sediment should break itself down after repeated flushes, while the intake valve is fixed by opening up the toilet and replacing the valve.
If you want to learn in detail how to take care of your pedal, or other parts of your RV’s toilet, read on for tips and instructions to keep your RV toilet running cleanly.
We will cover other possible causes of leakage, how to better take care of your foot pedal and other basic parts of the RV toilet that you can easily replace or take care of yourself.
Table of Contents
What Causes RV Foot Pedals to Leak?
Why is my RV foot pedal leaking? The most common cause of RV foot pedals leaking is a damaged intake valve and a buildup of sediment that occurs when the toilet goes unflushed for a long period of time.
While the sediment is easily fixed by repeatedly flushing the pedal, the intake valve can be damaged by a variety of different factors that may also damage other parts of the toilet.
While the sediment is easily fixed by repeatedly flushing the pedal, the intake valve can be damaged by a variety of different factors that may also damage other parts of the toilet.
Below are listed the most common causes of intake valve damage and how to prevent it and fix it:
| Why Is My RV Foot Pedals Leaking | How To Prevent |
|---|---|
| Cold- Probably one of the most common causes of a leaky intake valve is cold weather. The cold causes the valve to become brittle and thus crack or break completely, meaning that the foot pedal no longer connects properly with the water supply and can either cause the toilet not to flush or leak under the pedal. | To prevent the valve from breaking, try and keep your RV in shelter over the winter or, if that is not possible, make sure to occasionally start it and heat it up so that the internal temperature is never too low for very long. |
| Rust- While some pieces may be made of a plastic polymer or rubber, a metal intake valve is subject to rust, especially if exposed to a water leak caused by something else. | To prevent rust, make sure to routinely check the valve and spray with lubricant. |
| General Wear and Tear- As with vehicle part, the intake valve could suffer damage from hitting bumps in the road over time or as the result of a collision. | If you think your RV may have taken a bump or you went over rough terrain, make sure your intake valve is still tight and not cracked. |
How Should You Take Care of Your RV Foot Pedal?
Just like any other part of your RV, it is important to take good care of your toilet’s foot pedal to avoid breaking it and possibly causing a leak.
Even if you don’t plan on using your RV for an extended period of time, make sure to flush or press the pedal on occasion so sediment doesn’t build up and cause a link and you can make sure your toilet is functioning properly.
In addition, you should check joints, connections and all parts of the pedal to make sure they are running smoothly and if they aren’t, you can use a lubricant or replace the smaller damaged part to prevent future leaks and a more expensive fix in the future.
RV Toilet Foot Pedal Repair >> Check out the video below:
What is the RV Foot Pedal?
Unlike most home toilets, some RV toilets use a foot pedal to flush instead of a traditional handle.
While the end design of these pedals is to flush, they may function differently depending on your toilet.
Some pedals have the user push part way down to fill the bowl with water and then all the way down to flush, while others have you push the pedal all the way down to flush and then refill the bowl once you take your foot off the pedal.
Other Basic Parts of an RV Toilet
In addition to the intake valve and flush pedal, there are several other basic parts of your RV toilet that you should know about and that are important to maintenance for everyday use.
While some of these may be similar to your toilet at home, most vary slightly for the different needs and uses specific to an RV or any toilet not directly connected to a sewage system.
- Seal- Unlike your home toilet, most RV toilets come with a seal and valve at the bottom to prevent the stench of waste from flooding the cabin. A good trick for knowing if your seal and valve is in good shape is to check and see if it holds water while closed.
If it does hold most of the water over the course of the day, then the seal is in good shape, but if water seeps through, the seal may be damaged or dried out and must be replaced.
2. Water Module- The module connects your RV’s toilet to the water supply. While they are usually the most common causes of RV toilet leaks, they are also one of the most insured and easiest parts to replace.
If you must replace your module, make sure you find the exact make and model used for your toilet in order to avoid incompatible parts.
3. Sprayer- Because the water pressure in your RV is much lower than that of your home, most RV bathrooms come equipped with a hand sprayer to get rid of tough, sticky residue that may be left over after you flush.
These can come separate or attached to your toilet and are often simply a short hose with a handle and spray head. Like any garden hose, should the seal around the handle become cracked or the tube of the hose split in any way, the sprayer will leak and need to be replaced.
Related reading: Do RV Toilets Have Wax Rings? Here Are The Facts
How do I Clean and Maintain My RV’s Toilet?
The same steps listed above for the flush pedal and intake valve hold true for many of the other toilet parts as well.
Regular checks and maintenance will go a long way in persevering the life of your toilet and prevent leaking and flooding, as well as extend the life of parts that will occasionally need replacing such as the seal and valve.
If you want to clean the entire RV’s systems, flushing an approved cleaning solution or boiling hot water is another way to effectively preserve your RV toilet and clean lingering residue.
Simply pour the mixture into the bowl and flush so that the solution can run through the pipes and clean out the system.
Related reading: Is Charmin Toilet Paper safe for RV? – What You Need To Know
RV Toilet Leaking-How To Fix Guide
If your RV has a leaky Dometic 310 series toilet valve leak. This video will show you how to fix your leaky RV toilet in under 15 minutes. This is a Dometic 300 series Valve repair made easy.
How To Fix A Leaking RV Toilet | Valve Replacement- Dometic 300 301 310 series how to fix rv toilet >> Check out the video below:
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no need to panic or turn to a mechanic (unless you feel more comfortable doing so) should your RV toilet foot pedal begin to leak.
Simply take the time to diagnose the problem and you will find that most issues you can easily fix yourself.
Regular maintenance and keeping your RV out of extreme conditions can also help preserve the life of your RV toilet.
Recommended Reading
For more helpful articles about RVs please check out our articles below:
Where to Properly Dump Portable Toilet Waste?
Can You Flush Tampons Down an RV Toilet? Facts You Should Know
Is Your RV Water Foamy? This Might Be Why.
This Is What Happens to Solar Power When Batteries Are Full? – (FACTS)
What is a Non-ducted RV Air Conditioner? (Ducted vs. Non-ducted)
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