Drainage problems

[Cathryn1]

We have just started caravanning, so this may be a easy question for those with more experience..

Our kitchen sink water drains away really slowly - it can still be there half an hour later. Should I use a plunger or is that to 'fierce', or would the marketed since unblockers be the best answer?

There's no problem at all with the bathroom basin.

 

[nick_374224697]

Hi Cathryn, firstly a little anecdote. I was away in winter once and underneath the van a pipe had a small low spot in it which meant that the water had pooled and frozen there. I thought no problem I'll use a plunger to remove the ice after pouring hot water over the pipe. I started plunging and sure enough after a few good tugs the water disappeared from the sink faster than ever before. You can imagine how pleased I was until my Brother who was with us said 'no water out of the waste yet' from outside the van.What had happened was the pressure from the plunger had simply pulled the waste pipe off the bottom of the sink and emptied the greasy water into the cupboard under the sink.....not very nice to clean up!

So I wouldn't advise a plunger.

Things to look for are pipes under the van - do they have a good run on them or do they go flat or uphill at any points?

Also, have you put a lot of food down the sink which could have gathered on the ribbed part of the waste pipe?

Try flushing the system with a milton solution or an equivelant.I can't think of anything else but good luck.

 

[Robert_374242026]

Cravan and some motorhome wastes are pathetic.Most seem to have no fall and design/materials also fall into that category.As soon as i have slow ruuning away of waste water on a unit i take the whole lot out and use 30mm domestic solvent weld.No more problems

 

[Andrew_5080451]

HI, We had same problems with our sink, pour washing upo liquid down sink hole then add boiling hot water from kettle and that will flush away any residue.

Hope this helps

Andrew

 

[GeorgeB]

Cathryn,

if the kitchen sink is slow to drain and the bathroom sink's Ok then its a safe bet that the kitchen sink drain is blocked,

Mr. Muscle sink & drain clearer is your best bet

 

[milliesdad]

i also had the winter problem with ice forming but at the washroom end.

The problem is the manufacturers like to get the waste points to 1 position outside the van probably due to customer demand.

The pipe goes down and exits the van and then, on modern vans, connects to rigid pipe. On ours, in order to clip to the underside of the van the pipes have to go uphill, albeit only a little and the along the van before turning right angles to go to the side.

my solution (now to the 3rd van) was to disconnect the corrugated pipe where it joins the rigid pipe and have place it directly into the waste container. I know you now have to have 2x waste containers but i think it is worth it due to the benefits.

I have fixed "C" cips underneath to clip the pipes up during transit.

Benefits

1. Water now flows out quickly - you even get a little "vortex" as it goes down the plug hole!

2. No ice blockages during winter

3. No smells from food scraps remaining in the pipe.

If you ever sell the van you can just reconnect underneath tho' the people i have sold to asked me to leave it as was.

Hope this helps

 

[Cathryn1]

Brilliant - thank you everyone for your tips - I shall have a nice little job to do when we're next away.....

 

[milliesdad]

You're welcome Cathryn - enjoy the break.

Stewart