Standing water in drains

[hhuber]

We went camping this weekend and I became acutely
aware of a situation that I now recall has existed all
along. The bathroom basin and shower drain have
water standing in them just at the top of the pipe.
I imagine this has something to do with pressures in the
system but it is somewhat offensive. Does anyone have any
suggestions as to how to get the water to drain. I'm on a
mission!

Heidi

[dscluchfc]

Heidi-
I believe the water you see is a necessary thing with drains...the pea trap. That little bit of water you see standing there is what keeps the grey tank odor from permeating the trailer. Personally, I pour a little Pine-Sol in mine from time to time to give them that clean smell.

[InsideOut]

Sounds like that may be the case in your '84 dscluchfc...but a '67 typically doesn't have a grey water tank. They weren't added until '73...

Shari

[dscluchfc]

Shari-
I stand corrected and embarrassed....

[thenewkid64]

Heidi,

You may want to check the vent pipe on the curb side of the trailer to see if it is blocked. If there is no room for air to move in the system you will have this kind of problem.

[hhuber]

Thanks Brett. Is this the pipe that appears to come out
at the roof. Do you just look in it or is there another way
to see if its blocked?

Heidi

[thenewkid64]

Heidi,

Ladder and a flashlight is where I would start. If you cannot see anything you could try to see if the water level drops when you either remove the sewer cap, or when you open the black water valve. The black tank is the pipe on the other side. You just want to see if the water is being held back by lack of air space. If it is the vent is the spot to start. If you cannot see the blockage you may need to snake out the pipe. Depening on your setup the tub drain should be accessable in the closet under the plastic cover. There may be a cleanout there.

[InsideOut]

dscluchfc

I stand corrected and embarrassed....

Don't be embarassed! The vintage units can be "odd birds"...gotta love 'em!

Shari

[thenewkid64]

You were half right!

The P traps also stop the smells from the campground sewer form coming in the trailer when you are hooked up. But I think Heidi has more water than normal since it is coming up to the edge of the drains.

[hhuber]

Thanks y'all. I'll investigate tomorrow evening.
Its mostly the basin that seems to have too much
water but maybe the shower too.


Heidi

[dscluchfc]

You know, after thinking about this for a bit, there would still be p-traps on those grey water drains for no other reason than to provide a water barrier against critters coming up through the drains. Depending on the type p-trap used, the water could appear quite high in them. Also, if the drains flow easily and not slow, then I would have to think they are open and like they should be....just my 2 cents...and I am not embarrassed anymore...

[59toaster]

Originally posted by hhuber
Thanks y'all. I'll investigate tomorrow evening.
Its mostly the basin that seems to have too much
water but maybe the shower too.


Heidi

I think your basin is very simular to the one in our 59. On our 59 you have a P trap that connects to the flexible drain line. That flex line travels down the inside of the cabinet and through the floor and joins into the rest of the drains.

Take a peak under the cabinet that the basin is in and see if the flexible line is higher then the P trap. If the drain line is higher then it will effectively become a P trap and cause the water level to be higher then normal. You may need to lower that line some.

Eric