Hello,
Assistance Needed!! Haven't been able to use our Coach for about 5 years! We have been in it now for a week and have a clogged sink drain. Appears to be beyond the p-trap. Thought the blockage was at p-trap and tried to use the obvious methods (short snake, drano granules with hot water, but it didn't work!! Upon flushing p-trap with cold water, drain did not completely clear, took a couple of minutes for water to back up into sink bottom indicating that blockage was beyond p-trap. After using suction plunger additional debris was dislodged and drain is now completely blocked. Am at a RV part in Clermont, Florida, and thinking to call an RV tech (plumber) to come out tomorrow. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Kim and Ed.
Year of coach?
Have you checked the air admittance valve under the kitchen sink to see if it's stuck closed and not letting air in?
Without that air flow, a drain will be slow to non-functional. Their normal failure is NOT sealing but it sounds like in this case it could be stuck in a sealed position.
Have you pulled the plug on the grey water tank?
Signed,
Captain Obvious.
Let water/Drano set overnight. Then go under the sink and apply light hammer taps to the pipe parts you can see & reach. LIGHT I said.
Just enough to dislodge the blockage that the water/Drano mix can percolate down further.
Unless the grey tank is full to backed up, that should not impact one sink's ability to drain.
AND, when and if the grey tank
does back up, it almost always will
first flood the shower pan. Don't ask how I know...
Our kitchen sink drain pipe has a "Y" connector at the point where it turns from vertical to horizontal. There is a plug that can be removed to allow a straight shot down the drain pipe as it runs toward the grey tank. If you have the same setup, you should be able to run a long snake from that access point down the pipe all the way to the tank.
BE GENTLE with the snake! Remember it is PLASTIC drain pipe that is getting old and might be kinda fragile.
I would remove the p trap, yeah I know you said it was clear but then you got debris from a plunger. Best way to clean and assure a p trap is clean is to remove it and ya don't need any tools or chemicals.
Roland
Chuck, I have had my head under the sink many times over the years. I never noticed the sewer clean-out there, but sure enough I have one of those clean-outs. Thanks for mentioning it.
Pretty sure you will also want to replace AAV, air admittance valve on kitchen sink line and posibly one in bathroom if it is on the same side of rv.
Admittance Valve, black, grey vent, slow drain, odor (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=38139.0)
Not sure which coach Ed and Kim have, but the threaded cleanout can typically be found by removing the back panel in the compartment under the refrigerator. Helps to have a good flashlight and be a contortionist.
It will if the tank vent is plugged and the tub stoppered. Some people like those stoppers that you step on with your toe to set and release.
If I'm lucky, once the grey tank has filled to the tank vent, detergent bubbles come up in the other side of the sink while doing the washing up.
Second best is soaking your feet while showering.
Third is noticing the odor in the bathroom. But the tub probably was ready for a good scrub anyway.
Thanks to All. Went to Home Depot and purchased a 15 foot snake and Woila!!!!! Blockage appears to be gone. Did the Kitchen Drain and the Shower Drain. What do you suggest that I can put down the drain the get any other debris to move down the line? Many Thanks Again. Kim
Ed and Kim if you have a good shop vac seal off around vac hose and turn the vacuum on if it don't creat a vacuum then the air inlet valve is working
Screw that off and plug it then let vacuum suck out the rest of the debris. I have used this method and it will usually work unless something has got in the line and solidified in which case you will have to use a snake. As said previously go very lightly with snake in plastic lines
Chris
Great to see problem solved. This has helped me prevent your issue and protect my new AAV, air admittance valves. Seelevel II in bathroom.
The temp on switch is only avail on ones from Garnet, mfg of See Level, Amazon unit has on/off only, not intermittent switch. Bought mine from Amazon, Garnett shipped me correct switch nc.
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos (https://photos.app.goo.gl/1wMVYaDZ6W6eaMMw5)
See Level 709P3W1003 Tank Monitor System Amazon.com: See Level 709P3W1003 Tank Monitor System: Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019QGWODO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_8SzhMiJTpdCQk)