Chemical Toilet FAQs

Leak & Splash Repairs
Reservoir Cap Replacement
T-handle Repairs
Treatment Chemical & Water Fill Amounts

How can I Fix a splash problem at porta potty?

Hi. Just wondering if the little spout where the water comes into the toilet bowl when flushing can be adjusted?

Just bought a van and the water comes out and over the toilet into the shower everytime it's flushed On 2019-07-15 by Linda

Suggestion by (mod) - chemical toilet or porta-potty whose flush squirts up out of the bowl when flushed:

Linda:

Fixing a chemical toilet or porta-potty whose flush squirts up out of the bowl when flushed:

Thanks for asking, Linda; if you're seeing a flush-squirt problem you're probably not the only person. It'd help to know the brand and model of your toilet.

First I'd look at the flushing mechanism. The over-spray problem might be due to someone who's more aggressive than necessary when pushing the flush plunger.

Second I'd look to be sure that the trap in the bottom of the bowl is fully open before flushing; someone may be using the toilet without first opening the flusher; that can contribute to splash problems.

Third I'd check for calcium or debris deposits (remove calcium with vinegar) that could be mis-directing the porta-potty flush spray.

If those problems don't pertain, then let's look at the flush water dispensing tube as you suggested.

Typically the water dispensing spout is just a little flexible plastic tube - is that what is in your toilet? (Attach a photo so I can take a look);

It may be possible to adjust the upper portion of the tube to aim water downwards in the bowl while still washing the bowl clean; try first something trivial like jamming a toothpick between the top of the tube and the bowl plastic body to see what happens-take care not to break off the toothpick or you'll be fishing about with tweezers to get out that debris.

If that works for you we can move on to a combination of a plastic toothpick and a small dot of hot melt glue to make the modification more lasting.

Chemical toilet blows out waste when flushed

Has anyone had a chemical toilet blow matter out when flushed? The toilet my daughter has was used once (urine only) without chemicals.

Two weeks later, she added the chemicals and when it was used, it spewed out when flushed. Could it have been a chemical reaction between the old urine and the newly-added chemicals? On 2017-07-29 by Jim

...

@Eric, Mine is doing the same thing! It's like pressure builds in the holding tank and explored when flushed. I didn't see an answer to your question.

I have notice on the seat part under the handle it says vent hole. I'm thinking maybe I'll drill a small hole there and see if that helps. On 2018-05-07 by Dana

by (mod) - check the one-way gas venting valve on chemical toilet

Jim and Dana,

Porta potty toilets typically have a one-way vent valve to permit gas venting should pressure buildup in the holding tank.

Before drilling another vent, which risks perhaps spraying liquid waste where you don't want it, I would take a look at the specific brand and model toilet, find the instruction book, and see where the manufacturer describes any events that might require cleaning.

Or if you let me know the brand and model of your toilet I'll help look for that information.

How to fix a chemical toilet T-handle that is Stuck

The T bar handle is very hard to push in and pull out how do I fix it? On 2019-01-10 by Pete

Pulling and pushing back the flushing T handle seens to be getting stiffer. What should be used to lubricate it and the flushing diafram? On 2018-10-24 by Chuck McConnel

by (mod) - solutions to a stiff or stuck t-handle on a chemical toilet

Pete

Try a bit of silicone spray lubricant. That T-bar handle pulls or pushes a sliding door that opens or closes the bottom waste container to allow waste to enter the reservoir from the upper toilet bowl.

Sometimes there is some debris that needs to be cleaned from the sliding surfaces, but first I try silicone.

Next, if the handle is still hard to move check for physical damage such as gouges or debris jamming the moving parts.

Chuck - here are more stuck toilet flush opening handle repair details

First: take apart the upper and lower toilet halves, empty and clean both, thoroughly to be sure there's no paper or waste stuck in the sliding door assembly. Open, spray, close half way, spray, etc.

Then wipe the accessible (upper) area dry with some clean paper towels or a cloth that you'll throw away.

Then spray some sililcone lubricant onto the closed slider, then pull it open and spray the exposed open part of the slider on both upper and underside.

Try moving that back and forth a couple of times.

Providing you don't see actual broken or gouged parts lubricating should work.

Let me know if that's successful for you.

Chemical Toilet Water Reservoir Cap Replacement

Can't find a replacement water reservoir cap for my chemical toilet

I need a replacement waste reservoir cap for my century portable toilet but can't find it on the internet and no stores carry it. What can I do? On 2018-11-13 by steve

by (mod) - Here's a generic replacement waste reservoir cap for Century portable toilet

I agree that the reservoir cap needs to be water-tight lest you spill waste when carrying the toilet to a point where it can be emptied.

There are a couple of possibilities. Sometimes we can find a standard threaded plastic cap from another container that fits - because often manufacturers are savvy enough not to design a product whose parts dimensions are unique (thus keeping the cost under control).

Since a stunning number of chemical toilet brands look so close to identical that we think lots of them were made by the same manufacturer, youi could simply measure the diameter of the waste reservoir cap and then check with other chemical toilet manufacturers who are still listed at CHEMICAL TOILETS

Or you can find a generic drain plug like the one I show here.

I'd note the spout diameter and scour around in hardware stores and in stores selling various plastic containers to see if I could find something that fits.

I suspect that a simple expanding rubber drain plug like the Oatey 1 1/2" "Gripper" Plastic Mechanical Test Plug #33400 sold at plumbing suppliers will work ok. Or measuring your toilet you may need a slightly different size test plug.

Century portable toilets are sold widely by Amazon, Walmart, REI, etc. but they typically don't carry spare parts.

Why not contact the company directly, giving the model number and name of your Century toilet as well as the dimensions of the reservoir tube that needs a cap - maybe even a photo?

Century Chemical in Elkhart, Indiana USA has NOTHING to do with Century Portable toilets that are most-likely an imported Chinese product. I have been unable to locate a US manufacturer so that leaves you returning to Walmart or Amazon or REI to ask about spare parts.

Chemical Toilet Leak Troubleshooting FAQs

Leaks from left side buckle top storage tank of my portable toilet

Leaks from left side buckle top storage tank. Leaks on floor. Not into black water tank.

Bad when dry camping. Seller would not replace since "used" . Told me to contact company. Frustrated since I will be dry camping this weekend 7/21 to 7/25. What to do ? On 2017-07-20 by Geraldine

by (mod) - Leaks from left side buckle top storage toilet tank

I assume you're saying a portable chemical toilet top reservoir tank is leaking.

You can - slap an ugly temporary patch over the leak area using duct tape or plumbers leak patching tape that's used to wrap leaky pipes
or
dry the reservoir and patch the leak with epoxy or even silicone sealant - let it dry 12 hours or longer if you can.
or
buy a new portable toilet

Chemical Toilet Water & Deodorant Chemical Volume FAQs

How much water and how much chemical do you put into a chemical portapotty toilet?

How much fluid do you put in camping porta potty ? On 2017-04-09 by Anonymous

by (mod) - how much fluid do you put in camping porta potty

Anon:

The portapotty's upper water chamber (water used for flushing) is filled to near the fill opening.

In the toilet's lower waste chamber where you add treatment chemcial, usually the quantity or volume is quite small, often less than an ounce.

In that lower chamber I often add an ounce or two of water to distribute the chemical and speed its mixing with future flushed waste.

To get the exactly correct chemical treatment dose, the treatment chemical that you buy will have, on the bottle, a chart of how much of that liquid to use for a given volume of wastewater.