Trouble with waste water drainage in rented motorhome

[Kans]

Hi- I have rented out an acer 4 Berth Fiat Ducato Motorhome.. the waste water drain is not draining out the waste water..the indicator also shows waste water as 0% consistently..
What is typically the ratio between of the waste water tank to the fresh water tank.. I have refilled the fresh water twice and am unable to drain the waste water.. can I continue to refill fresh water and if yes how many refills can I go upto? I have the van for another week of rentals.. many thanks for your help!

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Really need the maker for more detailed information, bit it sounds as though the waste drain off is permanently open, naughty very naughty,

 

[Lenny HB]

Waste is usually around 80% of the size of the fresh tank, our van fresh is 160 lt, and waste 130 lt.

Have you checked the waste tap is closed may be open & running straight out.

 

[kevenh]

Might be a control panel setting.
What motorhome make & model have you rented?
And I’m sure a photo of the control panel will help get you help yy

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Welcome to the Fun.

Wastewater gauges are notoriously hopeless. Mine shows zero and then 100%.

Waste blockages are likely. Quick fix can be a couple of cheap cola bottles down the sink, drive around for an hour to agitate and then see. But works best if not too much stuff already in the waste tank.

More complex is to start pulling off taps and hoses so you can stick drain cleaning brushes into apertures.

Oddly there is often less out as waste than in as fresh. You use some fresh in drinking, cooking, even toilet flush.

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[Kans]

Am posting a photo of tge control panel

Waste is usually around 80% of the size of the fresh tank, our van fresh is 160 lt, and waste 130 lt.

Have you checked the waste tap is closed may be open & running straight out.

thanks for the reply.. have checked and the waste water drain was indeed closed throughout..

 

[Lenny HB]

Water tank gauges are often in accurate my waste tank only reads 25% when it's 50% - 75% full. Doesn't really matter as I always empty when I fill up.

 

[Kans]

Really need the maker for more detailed information, bit it sounds as though the waste drain off is permanently open, naughty very naughty,

Thanks…the waste water drain was indeed closed throughout.. the maker is Auto Trail Fiat Ducato Acer 4 berth campervan..

 

[funflair]

Are you putting any water down the sinks and shower or are you on a camp site and using the facilities? Zero is quite low though

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Just check the drain valve itself, open it up and if nothing comes out get hold of a short piece of clean hose pipe and put one end over the outlet and blow through the other to dislodge any gunge. If you don't like doing that use a hand balloon type pump up the hose and give that a few pumps to clear any blockages.
Have a bucket handy.

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

Thanks…the waste water drain was indeed closed throughout.. the maker is Auto Trail Fiat Ducato Acer 4 berth campervan..

So open it smidge to check the gauge is correct.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

If that Autotrail gauge is like my Autotrail (it's the same display) it has two settings. Zero and 100%. In other words pointless.

 

[Old Gibber]

The simple answer could be that the van doesn't have a sensor in the waste tank. If the fresh and waste tanks are the same size, then you don't need one as you empty the waste tank every time you fill with fresh water.

 

[Landy Andy]

As said the dirty water tank tends to be just slightly smaller than the clean water tank.

You would not be able to fill/use the clean water tank twice without either emptying the dirty water tank, or relying on its overflow (immediate discharge as it fills)

 

[pappajohn]

How do you know the valve is closed, they aren't usually marked in any way.
Which ever way it is now either turn the other way or pull/push the other way depending obviously whether it's rotary or linier.
Then open a tap and let it run. If its open water will flow from the waste outlet.
I just cannot see a rental company allowing a van out in that condition.
Chances are they checked it was empty and left it open

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[Fidge]

Hi- I have rented out an acer 4 Berth Fiat Ducato Motorhome.. the waste water drain is not draining out the waste water..the indicator also shows waste water as 0% consistently..
What is typically the ratio between of the waste water tank to the fresh water tank.. I have refilled the fresh water twice and am unable to drain the waste water.. can I continue to refill fresh water and if yes how many refills can I go upto? I have the van for another week of rentals.. many thanks for your help!

Check that the waste water pipe is has been closed. I have gone to empty it and wondered why nothing came out and realised that it had been open all the time and had been draining straight out all the time!!! You'll only do once!

 

[Reallyretired]

My waste is the same size as fresh, but usually they are a bit less. The gauges are notoriously inaccurate and pretty useless really. That said I have actually found mine to be pretty near right. If hyou can, stick a hose up the drain pipe and reverse flow it a bit. Usually works but be prepared to get wet.

 

[pappajohn]

My waste is the same size as fresh, but usually they are a bit less. The gauges are notoriously inaccurate and pretty useless really. That said I have actually found mine to be pretty near right. If hyou can, stick a hose up the drain pipe and reverse flow it a bit. Usually works but be prepared to get wet.

It isn't blocked. The grey tank has had two fresh tanks into it.
It can't hold that much.
The valve has to be open.

 

[Reallyretired]

It isn't blocked. The grey tank has had two fresh tanks into it.
It can't hold that much.
The valve has to be open.

Valve could be closed or blocked, tank full and overflow dumping everything going into the tank. You can't believe the gauge.

 

[GAVLAD]

Easiest solution is if the van has an access lid that you can peer into, put your phone with the torch on into video mode and hold it into the waste tank to see what’s in there? It could be debris that’s clogged the sensor - if it’s got one. Then, whilst on site, put the hosepipe into the access lid and jet clean the inside of the tank and see what drains out.
Failing that if it’s rented, I’d be ringing the renter and telling them as a) I’d want to know if it was my van, b) they might know the issue from previous issues and c) they don’t blame or bill you for an issue after take back.

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[h8ten]

Is there a leak in the waste tank or pipework? It could be draining out from underneath the vehicle and out of sight if you are just looking at the drain tap.

 

[IAnn]

Hi, some years ago my autotrail had a similar problem, it turned out to be the joint in the pipe that feeds waste water into the tank had come apart and water was just draining out under the centre of the van, hence not noticeable. It just needed pushing back together and hasn't happened again since.

 

[kev54]

Open a tap inside and let the water run, then have look at the underside/outlet - that should clarify if you’ve an open valve or a leak elsewhere. Sensors are most often useless

 

[ronboyracer]

Waste systems throughout the industry of motorhomes are notorious for being unreliable, usual trouble is blocked taps which sometimes are very stiff, sometimes a quick fix is to undo the jubilee clip and loosen the hose off the tap, but be prepared
to dodge the tsunami that might come out, also I have had the waste coming out of the shower drain, yuk, good luck Ron

 

[TDub49]

Hi- I have rented out an acer 4 Berth Fiat Ducato Motorhome.. the waste water drain is not draining out the waste water..the indicator also shows waste water as 0% consistently..
What is typically the ratio between of the waste water tank to the fresh water tank.. I have refilled the fresh water twice and am unable to drain the waste water.. can I continue to refill fresh water and if yes how many refills can I go upto? I have the van for another week of rentals.. many thanks for your help!

Why not check with the firm you hired it from? Attempting any funster solution might cause damage that they decide you are liable for . . . . . .