Toilet water screen - treatment

[McLaughlin]

Our toilet water line on our 2017 Rockwood mini was plugged somewhere.

Reading thru old posts I found it’s quite a common problem. There is a filter screen in one of the hose lines on the toilet fixture. I couldn’t locate it and don’t need to now.

The problem seems to originate from crystals that develop in the water heater, back flush into the system and get trapped in filtering screens etc...

Since I couldn’t find exactly where the screen was located and I didn’t want to pull the toilet causing a greater mess... I took the trailers main water filter out of the housing and filled the housing back up with white vinegar. Then turn the pump on and suppressed the toilet foot pedal until I could smell vinegar trickling out of the fixture. Let it set for an hour. Tried the pedal again. Better water 🚿 pressure now. Let it set another hour. Now it was full up to standard operating pressure!

Flush the system well with water after to get the remaining vinegar out of the lines.

Just like cleaning a coffee maker. Quick fix. Probably not the best for reoccurring issues. I’ll put a more accessible screen in front of the toilet for the future maintenance.

Happy travels. Hope this helps someone sometime!

Doug

[SeaDog]

glad you got it fixed. I have never run into a screen on a toilet supply line however that does not mean they are not there. How is the deposits in the WH getting back flushed into the cold water line supplying the toilet? just asking.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

glad you got it fixed. I have never run into a screen on a toilet supply line however that does not mean they are not there. How is the deposits in the WH getting back flushed into the cold water line supplying the toilet? just asking.

Just like they always do. Run a search on this forum for numerous posts on the subject. Not being in water heater (suburban water heater) bypass when low point drains opened is one way.

[5picker]

The screen for the toilet is right at the toilet valve on most toilets. (see photo below)
Removal of the valve is pretty simple for cleaning.

The reason they get plugged is usually because folks drain their water system, including the water in the water heater, WITHOUT first putting the water heater in bypass. When you open the low point drains and water begins to drain, it sucks debris from the bottom of the water heater tank through the cold side mixing/dip tube that is in the water heater. That debris doesn't always all come out the low point drain. Some of it remains in low spots or elbows and when the system is repressurized, it gets pushed to the toilet valve and the aerators at the faucets.

There has been a lot of past discussion on this. People often ask how can debris from the water heater (usually associated with hot water lines) get into the cold water lines that feed the toilet?.... now you know.

[SeaDog]

Like I have said many times this is the reason I like the forum learn something new each time I read it.