Clearing clogged gray water system?

[dsafian]

Hello,

I have a 1971 27' Overlander with a plugged Gray Water system. The sink and shower in the bathroom will not drain. I've just purchased this trailer and am new to the Airstream world - would appreciate any advice on how to safely unclog the plumbing. I do not see any clean outs built into the system. The gray water valve works and the water has drained out, but I can't get the sink and shower to drain into the tank.

Thanks in advance.

ds

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by dsafian

Hello,

I have a 1971 27' Overlander with a plugged Gray Water system. The sink and shower in the bathroom will not drain. I've just purchased this trailer and am new to the Airstream world - would appreciate any advice on how to safely unclog the plumbing. I do not see any clean outs built into the system. The gray water valve works and the water has drained out, but I can't get the sink and shower to drain into the tank.

Thanks in advance.

ds

You can try reverse flushing the gray water drain lines.

Force water from a hose into the gray water outlet at the "collector", which is the white colored part of the sewer outlet.

I am not aware however, of how a gray water drain could possibly be stopped up in your Airstream.

Black water blocked yes, but gray water, no.

Andy

[Smartstream]

We had a similar thing in our moho. It was just crud in the P-traps. Used a small bottle brush on a flexible cable. Cleaned up in a few minutes and they drain fine.

Good luck, Dan

[dsafian]

Honestly, I'm not sure either - just don't have experience with the system.
I've dealt with the Black water system and that was a nightmare, but the tank is clear now. As I mentioned, the sink and tub in the bathroom will not drain completely. But the water from the kitchen seems to drain and I can empty the gray water tank without the water going down in the bathroom. I can only surmise that the lines are somehow blocked. Are you talking about the water spigot at the back of the trailer next to the black tank outlet - is that where I'd attach a hose and "back" flush the system?

thanks.
ds

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by dsafian

Hello,

I have a 1971 27' Overlander with a plugged Gray Water system. The sink and shower in the bathroom will not drain. I've just purchased this trailer and am new to the Airstream world - would appreciate any advice on how to safely unclog the plumbing. I do not see any clean outs built into the system. The gray water valve works and the water has drained out, but I can't get the sink and shower to drain into the tank.

Thanks in advance.

ds

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

You can try reverse flushing the gray water drain lines.

Force water from a hose into the gray water outlet at the "collector", which is the white colored part of the sewer outlet.

I am not aware however, of how a gray water drain could possibly be stopped up in your Airstream.

Black water blocked yes, but gray water, no.

Andy

1971 Airstreams did not come from the factory with grey tanks of any kind. Maybe there is no tank, and the sewer cap is holding the grey water in the drain lines. Removing the sewer cap will show if this is the problem, when the grey water pours out onto the ground.

[dsafian]

Ah, Ok - this makes sense to me. So there is no tank the lines just drain out - got it. Is there a way to access the P-traps or is it just that I have to snake something down inside?

thanks for the beta.

ds

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by dsafian

Ah, Ok - this makes sense to me. So there is no tank the lines just drain out - got it. Is there a way to access the P-traps or is it just that I have to snake something down inside?

thanks for the beta.

ds

You can access the trap in the bathroom sink by opening the rear compartment hatch, and looking up inside it. you'll see it there at the bottom of the sink. Getting to the tub trap is something of a PITA, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are sure you are having problems.

[Melody Ranch]

No Gray tank here. The water is draining from the sink, filling the drain line to that cap. Your probably lucky if there is not water coming up thru the shower drain from that capped line. Your cap should have a hose connection on it (with a screw on cap) to be used to drain the gray water away from the camper.

[Aage]

If you have children, inspect the two bathroom drains for small objects forced into the drain.

With kids, you Just Never Know...