Sun-Mar EXCEL NE User manual

Customer Service 1-888-341-0782 ext 218
5370 South Service Road
600 Main Street
Burlington Ontario
Tonawanda New York
Canada L7L 5L1
U.S.A. 14150
Liquid Overflow Out the Drawer Opening
The over-flow drains in a Sun-Mar unit are 1” (2.5 cm) above the floor of the unit. For this
reason, it is normal to see liquid inside the unit when you remove the drawer. Your Sun-Mar is
designed this way so that even in non-electric units, some evaporation is achieved.
If liquid is flowing out of the drawer opening instead of the drains, the most likely causes along
with procedures to correct the problems are listed below:
1) The composting unit is not level. If the floor where the unit sits is not level so that the front
of the unit is lower, liquid will flow towards the drawer instead of the drain. To correct
this, check your floor with a level on both sides of the composting toilet and on the closed
lid of the toilet. If you do notice that the area of the floor where the composter sits is
slightly out of level, we would recommend that up to ¼” (6mm) shims be placed under the
end of the composter near the drawer opening. This will cause any liquid to run towards
the drain.
2) The over-flow drain is not hooked up or the drain hose has an upward bend preventing
excess liquid from flowing out of the unit. In some situations, your composting toilet may
receive a lot of liquid use (parties, family visits, etc.) and may not be able to evaporate all
liquids. If this is a regular occurrence or even occasional, you will need to hook up the over-
flow drain. If the over-flow drain is already hooked up, check the hose to make sure there
are no upward bends or kinks in the hose that could prevent liquid from flowing out.
The hose needs to slow downward and away from the unit for liquid to continue to flow.
3) The drains have become blocked. Usually, raking any solids from the evaporating chamber
is enough to prevent the drains from becoming blocked. If you do feel that the drains are
blocked, the first thing you should do is to remove the finishing drawer and rake the
evaporation area, paying extra attention to the wall where the drain is located. On the
inside of the unit, there is a baffle (Fig. 1)that covers the drains to help keep floating debris
from entering the drain pipe. Since the liquid must flow under this baffle, solid debris
tends to accumulate in this area and in the 2 corners of the unit nearest the baffle. When
raking, it is important to give a little extra attention this area.

If you have raked and feel that there is still a blockage, then there could be debris stuck
between the baffle and the wall of the unit. On the rake tool that was provided with the
unit, there is the flat end (made for scraping) and the hooked end. The hooked end of the
rake will fit under the baffle. Place the hook parallel to the floor of the unit and push it
under the baffle. Once the ‘hook’ is under the baffle, turn so that the hook is vertical
behind the baffle. You can then move the hook back and forth behind the baffle to remove
and debris that may be stuck in this area.
In most instances, this will unclog the drains and solve the problem.
If the above does not remove the blockage then the drain, hose and /or where the
composter drains to is the problem.
If the drain assembly is clogged, you will be able to see a brown area in the opaque drain
assembly. Disconnect the drain hose. Depending on how much material is in the drain
assembly, you may be able to use a wire from the outside to remove the clog.
If you have a garden hose or an air compressor, you can back-wash the drains by connecting
the hose (air or water) to the outside of drain assembly and sending short blasts of (air or
water) back into the unit. If you are using water, spread newspapers/paper towels in front
of the unit in case it over-flows.

If you are reasonably sure that the clog does not rest in the unit or drains, flush water
through the drain hose to make sure it is flowing easily and check the drain-field where the
over-flow empties to make sure that it is able to receive the liquid.
4) Electric units only: The heating element or thermostat has failed. Remove the finishing
drawer and place your hand (above the liquid) where the drawer usually sits. You should be
able to feel a noticeable heat in this area. If there is no heat (room temperature) then your
thermostat and/or heating element has stopped working. Call Sun-Mar at 1-888-341-0782
Monday to Friday 9am –5pm Eastern time with your serial number (found on the front
cover of the original manual or on a sticker on the back of the unit) and we will be happy to
assist you in getting the parts that you require.
By going through the trouble-shooting suggestions above, your drains should be operational
and over-flowing liquid should not be present out the front of the unit.
CS102012