Rigid PVC or Flex for Head Plumbing

[provo]

Need help from those who have experienced odors from marine toilet plumbing, currently finishing off a 12 meter cat fit out, and would like to know the best solution with regards to head installs some say rigid PVC pipe is better with odor control then the special flex pipe sold buy marine stores, is this true

[Cotemar]

Hard PVC will have no odor as it will never get permeated.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post585670

[sailorboy1]

I believe there are lifetime odor free guaranteed flex tubing!

[IdoraKeeper]

The actual available flex in flex tubing is not as great as you might think. Plan for straight runs. PVC is cheap and effective.

Todd

[Cotemar]

This is the best Sanitation hose they make and it’s only a Five-year limited warranty

OdorSafe Plus® Sanitation Hose

Durable hose acts as a superior odor barrier, keeping your entire system as fresh as possible. Features up to 20 times greater resistance to sulfurous malodors than other marine hoses. Sold by the foot; or 50' roll.
· Application: Sanitation systems
· Material: PVC with odor-resistant additive
· Reinforcement: PVC helix
· Temperature Range: N/A
· Burst Strength: 270psi
· Vacuum Rating: 28
· Minimum Bend Radius: 7.5"
· Approvals: FDA
· ID: 1.5"
· Warranty: Five-year limited warranty
Important Owner Information: OdorSafe® Sanitation Hose is formulated for transfer of sanitary waste only. Do not allow the following items in system: Strong acids or caustic chemicals (example: drain open- ers), petroleum solvents or fuels, alcohol-based products (example: alcohol-based antifreeze), pine oil- based products (example: Pinesol® cleaner). Use of products containing these substances will void warranty on hose.

http://seacoastservices.com/odorsafe-plus-sanitation-hose-foot/

[rw58ph]

We have white flex hose that has lasted 10+ years with no odor. However, the heads uses fresh water, not raw water, we use/flush ever day, we get pumped weekly, and rinse/clean the hose once a week. If the head uses raw water there tends to be a rotten egg odor, so if the head is not going to be used, might want to flush clear with fresh water. I use the shower hose to flush.

[sww914]

Rigid PVC works great if you can make it work.

[Dsanduril]

+1 on rigid PVC if you can make it work. Replaced the hoses on our head and could not be happier. A little harder to find, but I would strongly encourage using sweep fittings intended for wastewater rather than the hard-turn elbows that are most common in PVC. Sweeps are very common in ABS but harder to find at the box stores PVC, but they do exist.

[provo]

Thanks for the replies and info I think the consensus is solid pvc is the way to go and cost effective

[foggysail]

One additional suggestion and yes, I recommend PVC.

You should at least consider how to make right angle turns to minimize stoppages. I have been using PVC now for over 30 years or so with two boats. I don't recommend using a 90 degree fitting especially in hard to get at places. Two 45s will be better. Better yet is to visit the electrical section in one of the big box stores and purchase electrical 90 degree sweeps. They are colored gray which means they have not been tested for indoor plumbing. But a boat does not need to comply with housing plumbing codes.

The sweeps are PVC, can be glued to the white stuff in the same manner as plumbing PVC is glued. They provide a really gentle 90 degree turn.

Also recommend that you consider adding clean outs. They are inexpensive and if you ever have a stoppage....and I have not.... you will wish dearly that you had them.

[rw58ph]

like 65 degrees, and tissue/stuff will get caught at the joints especially 1" tubing.

Our head has a 1" outlet so I used 1 1/2" after the first 3" to make sure the stuff that made it through the 1" would go though the 1 1/2". 10+ years and all the clogs have been in the head and/or first 3".

[rcmpegasus]

If you have long straight runs use PVC, never goes bad. It is difficult to get it around all the twists and turns, but worth it in the end. Use 1 1/2 minimum.

[geoffh]

I agree that 1 1/2" (40mm in Aust) is the way to go but I would recommend you buy pipe and fittings from the plumbing store. It is easy to measure, cut and glue, just one tip though, apply glue to both fitting and pipe then push in and give the pipe a little twist, maybe 90 degrees before the glue goes off, this will ensure you wont get a leak.