Fancy p-trap!?!

[Noco]

Hepvo Waterless Valve

I'm remodeling a 1969 overlander. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with these waterless p traps. I'm thinking it may help with my shower drain, by eliminating a standard trap, it may give me more room for pitch toward my grey tank. Also I will not have to worry about freezing traps or dry traps causing odor. Any thoughts or experience?

[ventport]

No experience, but I looked through all the literature and it looks good to me. It could be just what we need to put in grey water tanks in older trailers.

[daveswenson]

I'm thinking of putting them in my rig. Not only will it alleviate the dry p trap problem, it looks like it will free up space under the sinks.

[garry]

Many years ago there was a similar device you could use on a boat that replaced the standard drain plug. The idea was you could leave it installed and not worry about launching your boat without putting in the plug.

I tried it and it worked until some trash got caught in the flap valve and held the valve open.

I finally went back to the regular plug I just didn't trust the rubber valve.
While mine never did fail if it had there was a chance of taking on water so you really could not use it if you left the boat in the water all the time.

Should work in your application but I think the valve would eventually deteriorate and fail. Not much to fail with the standard P trap.

[cwf]

Make sure you properly flush trapnof Cheerios each time...

[perryg114]

That would be my concern. Once a layer of funk accumulates in this thing it won't work. Anyone who has ever cleaned a p-trap in a bathroom sink knows what I am talking about. Those flapper things are going to get covered in gunk and won't seal. Also if they are plastic they won't last forever. Whatever you use, make sure you can get to it, because it will fail at some point.

Perry

Originally Posted by garry

Many years ago there was a similar device you could use on a boat that replaced the standard drain plug. The idea was you could leave it installed and not worry about launching your boat without putting in the plug.

I tried it and it worked until some trash got caught in the flap valve and held the valve open.

I finally went back to the regular plug I just didn't trust the rubber valve.
While mine never did fail if it had there was a chance of taking on water so you really could not use it if you left the boat in the water all the time.

Should work in your application but I think the valve would eventually deteriorate and fail. Not much to fail with the standard P trap.

[murreywalker]

The hepvo installation has been heavily discussed and documented on the Casita Trailer forum.

Matter of fact, a fellow in Dallas; Larry Gamble specializes in the install of these, in the Casita units.

When I had a Casita, he did it for me and he's good!

Little House Customs is his company's name.

[jdalrymple]

These traps have also been installed on some new AS models to correct a galley sink drain issue. Even as part of warranty complaints, as recommended by the factory.

It seems in some front bed models, the galley sink drain is plumbed into a "T" in the vent line.

When one pulls the plug on a full sink of dishwater, the surge into the grey tank blocks the vent, and the displaced air from the tank burps up in the shower.

These traps slow the surge enough to allow the air pass by up the stack.

Not exactly part of the intent of this post, I know, but perhaps useful info to some.

Regards,

JD

[daveswenson]

Originally Posted by perryg114

That would be my concern. Once a layer of funk accumulates in this thing it won't work. Anyone who has ever cleaned a p-trap in a bathroom sink knows what I am talking about. Those flapper things are going to get covered in gunk and won't seal. Also if they are plastic they won't last forever. Whatever you use, make sure you can get to it, because it will fail at some point.

Perry

I'm not too worried about stuff plugging up the drains in my AS since I'm careful not to run anything down my sinks except water. Sure some stuff will get in there, but I'm not rinsing stuff off my dishes. I wipe them off before I rinse them to keep stuff out of the grey tank. Since I do this anyway I think the Hepvo will work well for me.

[Noco]

Thanks for the input folks! Check out the FAQ section of the link, seems to answer a lot of the worries, but I am a skeptic. I've cleaned many traps and the amount of hair and grime in them can be scary, but as long as your careful, it seems like it would hold up. Hepvo Waterless Valve

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I use them on every job coming through my shop. They work great.

[Becky B.]

We put them in the galley & shower of our Bambi II. While we've only gone out with it once, it worked well. The install is pretty slick!



We did make them readily accessible

[Noco]

Thanks Becky the pictures look great. Getting access in case of failure is one worry I have. Did you install a belly pan, and did you make an access in the pan if so?

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by Noco

Thanks Becky the pictures look great. Getting access in case of failure is one worry I have. Did you install a belly pan, and did you make an access in the pan if so?

Yes, I installed a belly pan, and yes, I made it in accessible sections in the rear. Nothing wrong with having numerous sheets, as long as you have the overlaps facing the rear so water won't wash up off the road while traveling & into the seams.

[Noco]

Did you install a grey and black tank? Do you have any pictures of those, thanks again!

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by Noco

Did you install a grey and black tank? Do you have any pictures of those, thanks again!

You can see the grey tank to the left of the hevpro drain (which comes out of the shower) The black tank is above the floor & is directly above the main dump valve. The grey & black tie in together at the one dump valve you see to the right.