Sink draining

[lunarman]

In the Bailey owners FB groups there are regular reports of poor drainage from the kitchen sink on various models. One of the common problems appears to be the routing of the waste pipe from the sink in that it goes uphill to clear the side of an adjacent furniture unit.

 

[bobnick]

Suggest getting an empty 4 pint plastic milk bottle filling with water and then holding over plug hole on each basin and shower and giving it a good squeeze. It will likely shift any blockage and eliminate that problem. Then check build quality next.

As it's a brand new van i don't believe it's a muck blockage. But willing to try anything.

 

[L' Hobo]

Why not fill the sink with HOT water and plenty of washing up liquid, after it has been running long enough to soften any grease etc, press down over the plug hole with a plunger or cupped, plunger shaped, hand. (remembering to cover the sink overflow if it has one)
I do my 'washing up' in a bowl and when I'm finished, pour the used water warm water directed at the plug-hole from about a 9'' away.
It works for me!

 

[Sapper520]

In our Sunlight, if you fill the sink in the shower room, when you pull the plug out water bubbles up through the shower drain plug.………we just leave the plug in the shower tray.

 

[63720]

After trying different ways I now know ours drains away better if the front of the van is slightly higher than the back. Must be the pipe run.

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[bobnick]

Why not fill the sink with HOT water and plenty of washing up liquid, after it has been running long enough to soften any grease etc, press down over the plug hole with a plunger or cupped, plunger shaped, hand. (remembering to cover the sink overflow if it has one)
I do my 'washing up' in a bowl and when I'm finished, pour the used water warm water directed at the plug-hole from about a 9'' away.
It works for me!

As mentioned the van is brand new so cannot believe it's a grease build up. I am will to try anything. It's not really a massive issue at the mo, just frustratingly slow to drain.
We/she does the washing up in a bowl then pours away in the sink.
We do have a plunger

 

[bobnick]

After trying different ways I now know ours drains away better if the front of the van is slightly higher than the back. Must be the pipe run.

I think we are pretty level. But again i will put it on ramps giving it a slight bias to drain to the tank. Will revert.

 

[63720]

As mentioned the van is brand new so cannot believe it's a grease build up. I am will to try anything. It's not really a massive issue at the mo, just frustratingly slow to drain.
We/she does the washing up in a bowl then pours away in the sink.

Only water goes down our drains, everything else goes outside preferably in the hedge, definitely will today as we're wilding, or campsite facility or sometimes down the loo. After all it's only food bits, soapy water and a bit of colour.

 

[Terry]

Try a plunger If that does not help then it's a case of asking your dealership to reroute the waste pipe's

 

[Sapper520]

Only water goes down our drains, everything else goes outside preferably in the hedge, definitely will today as we're wilding, or campsite facility or sometimes down the loo. After all it's only food bits, soapy water and a bit of colour.

We tend to wipe everything off with kitchen roll before we wash them. We’ve only got narrow pipes so wouldn’t take a lot to block them.

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[Dave Scadding]

As it's a brand new van i don't believe it's a muck blockage. But willing to try anything.

Correct but it might be “construction swarf”?

 

[L' Hobo]

As mentioned the van is brand new so cannot believe it's a grease build up. I am will to try anything. It's not really a massive issue at the mo, just frustratingly slow to drain.
We/she does the washing up in a bowl then pours away in the sink.
We do have a plunger

Be gentle with the plunger as, if used too harshly, it can cause connections to come adrift causing bigger problems, better the cupped hand as a regular practice.

I have just replaced my waste outlet pipe/tap that was very slow draining and was surprized to find that the pipe was restricted to a third of it's size by, what looked like, original jointing mastic. Just because its new, assume nothing!

 

[Podney]

Never watch a boiling kettle……..Never watch a draining sink! By the time you’ve dried the dishes it will all be gone.

 

[The Wino]

I think it's most likely the design of the drainage pipes so could be a put up with it job.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

As mentioned the van is brand new so cannot believe it's a grease build up. I am will to try anything. It's not really a massive issue at the mo, just frustratingly slow to drain.
We/she does the washing up in a bowl then pours away in the sink.
We do have a plunger

I think that it is simply a "feature of the design" ("they all do that, sir") - our Le Voyageur often has the same issue, especially if there is little volume in the sink - a good slug of water and it is ok). I always think that some of these vans are perhaps designed by a 4 year old high on sugary sweets, with the plumbing showed in very much as an afterthought. Everything else works and it will not be a grease build up in a new van, so best to live with it.

One thing we do every so often is to get a pack of washing soda. put water in the sink with a good wodge of soda crystals and dissolve, then empty the sink, which helps clear the lines. also helps stir up the muck in the grey waste tank.

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[Terry]

I think it's most likely the design of the drainage pipes so could be a put up with it job.

Why would you put up with what is clearly a fault? The van is only 4 months old ! I would take it back to the dealer's and get them to rectify it.
It is not rocket science to reroute a water pipe so it drains. If it is draining into the bottom of the tank instead of the top then it needs pipes rerouted and possibly a new tank so the drainage pipe enters the top and not bottom.
Bobnik a couple of questions , where does drain pipe enter tank ? and is it a smooth bore pipe or flexible round circle type pipe. If it enters bottom of tank then it has to push against weight of water once tank starts to fill. IE no good. If it's flexible pipe then I would be having it changed to 20 mm smooth bore household type that still should enter from top of tank Get the dealer to sort it

 

[busbuddy]

Does the sink drain any better with the waste tank valve open ?

 

[Terry]

Does the sink drain any better with the waste tank valve open ?

That would be a simple way to check if the water is draining into bottom of tank
I remember doing one of my first SBs, I made sure the waste entered the top of tank but shoved the pipe into the bottom of the tanksoon realised that it needed cutting off near the top

 

[bobnick]

Why would you put up with what is clearly a fault? The van is only 4 months old ! I would take it back to the dealer's and get them to rectify it.
It is not rocket science to reroute a water pipe so it drains. If it is draining into the bottom of the tank instead of the top then it needs pipes rerouted and possibly a new tank so the drainage pipe enters the top and not bottom.
Bobnik a couple of questions , where does drain pipe enter tank ? and is it a smooth bore pipe or flexible round circle type pipe. If it enters bottom of tank then it has to push against weight of water once tank starts to fill. IE no good. If it's flexible pipe then I would be having it changed to 20 mm smooth bore household type that still should enter from top of tank Get the dealer to sort it

We have had the van 3 weeks from 0 miles.
The pipe is of the flexi type (see pics i was asked for).
The drain in the bathroom looks like it's running uphill, even with my limited knowledge i know water don't run uphill.

I have put the van on ramps to bias the drain, no difference. If it's not resolved during the course of this thread i will have A&E of Northwich look and remedy.
Don't think i could be bothered with the suppling dealer so will ask A&E if they can do it under warranty, if not it's dip dip dip again.

 

[bobnick]

That would be a simple way to check if the water is draining into bottom of tank
I remember doing one of my first SBs, I made sure the waste entered the top of tank but shoved the pipe into the bottom of the tanksoon realised that it needed cutting off near the top

Not sure but i think the pipes drain into the top.

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[bobnick]

Does the sink drain any better with the waste tank valve open ?

I have released the top cap, no difference.

 

[Tombola]

I had the same Imala as you, drained like a good un !
Now have a Rapido, drains very slow, no kinks decent runs etc? Ive gave up thinking about it

 

[bobnick]

A guy pulled onto site last night in a van almost identical but 2 years older. Talked to him this am, theirs drains not fast but again not very slow.

 

[lunarman]

On my Bailey 740 there are traps in the pipework under van between the sink and the grey water tank have you checked them if they exist on yours?

 

[Robert Clark]

My money is still on small diameter waste pipe routed level / slightly uphill and van not totally level

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[Reallyretired]

My kitchen sink drains very slowly though washbasin and shower, which are nearer to the waste tank are fine. I have fitted a waste pump/macerator to it so if its a bit slow, just press a button and its sucked down tout suite.

 

[Spriddler]

I can't believe I'm reading a post about 'Sink draining'.
(I must get out more).

 

[daveclare]

Ours is slow too. I put it down to the shallow shower type combined drainer/ubend. It's like that to clear the drawers. Yours looks similar to ours. Little chance of yours being blocked because it's so new.

I think you'd get a better drain with a lower/ deeper trap. But you may be limited on space below.

 

[bobnick]

My money is still on small diameter waste pipe routed level / slightly uphill and van not totally level

Tried the leveling bit, no change. Dia of drain is more than adequate i would think.

 

[bobnick]

On my Bailey 740 there are traps in the pipework under van between the sink and the grey water tank have you checked them if they exist on yours?

From under the van you see only a bloody big tank. The drain pipes go into the tank at the top, not visable.

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