Water won’t run away!

[Penk]

All going well till we showered last night. Since then, not only will the shower not drain, neither will the wash basin or sink . We’ve emptied the waste tank but nothing has changed. Help appreciated as we have to drive off shortly, and with this lost sloshing about it’s a worry. Thanks, Penny

 

[Penk]

Does any organisation offer a short course on caring for your motorhome, the way they offer reversing and towing courses? I would enjoy to be on top of the subject, and do the maintenance chores properly.

 

[Brains]

That‘s another good tip. Thank you

We have one like this
£3.19 online which covers postage
we got ours in a pound shop for ...... £1 !

 

[DavidG58]

Does any organisation offer a short course on caring for your motorhome, the way they offer reversing and towing courses? I would enjoy to be on top of the subject, and do the maintenance chores properly.

Great idea, but, it would never include the thing that goes wrong next, Sods law and all that

Has your water run away yet ?

 

[Brains]

Does any organisation offer a short course on caring for your motorhome, the way they offer reversing and towing courses? I would enjoy to be on top of the subject, and do the maintenance chores properly.

Owning a motorhome is like owning a boat.
Every day is a learning day.
You never finish with all the little (and not so little) tasks.
Over time you will work out how it all hangs together.

Take time to understand the plumbing and electrics, so that when the lights go out and the loo stops working on a rainy night in a muddy field you at least have a clue as to what it might be.

Every make and model has known faults, so read the forums.
In my case my MoHo is known to have a dodgy door lock spring and a water pump with a short life span.
Therefore I carry a spare door spring and pump (Not needed the door spring yet, but on my third pump)

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[jockaneezer]

People used to suggest throwing a few litres of cheap cola (Aldi/Lidl) down your plug hole and driving around for while, I think the phosphoric acid loosens up the crud ?

 

[Willieboy]

I'd be very careful about using any kind of plunger. The waste pipe connection to the kitchen sink on our motorhome is only a push on connection. We used a plunger and the push on connection joint became detached. The next time emptied a sink full of washing up water it cascaded all over the top of the fridge (hidden from view) and ended up soaking the floor and carpets! We had to have the fridge pulled out so that the waste pipe could be refitted more robustly

 

[Penk]

I'd be very careful about using any kind of plunger. The waste pipe connection to the kitchen sink on our motorhome is only a push on connection. We used a plunger and the push on connection joint became detached. The next time emptied a sink full of washing up water it cascaded all over the top of the fridge (hidden from view) and ended up soaking the floor and carpets! We had to have the fridge pulled out so that the waste pipe could be refitted more robustly

thank you for that point….

 

[Gellyneck]

Mmm. Thank you for that point. I’ll buy a washing-up bowl then. The sink’s quite big and should hold one.

Take the diameter of the sink with you!
We got ours in Home Bargains or B&M for next to nothing.

 

[Penk]

People used to suggest throwing a few litres of cheap cola (Aldi/Lidl) down your plug hole and driving around for while, I think the phosphoric acid loosens up the crud ?

it must keep our inner workings very clean then

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[Penk]

Take the diameter of the sink with you!
We got ours in Home Bargains or B&M for next to nothing.

Lovely excuse to go to B&M - yippee!

 

[Gellyneck]

Lovely excuse to go to B&M - yippee!

Don't be tempted!
Make sure you just take 2 pound coins.
One for the trolley and one for the basin!

 

[Penk]

Don't be tempted!
Make sure you just take 2 pound coins.
One for the trolley and one for the basin!

Aw, must I?

 

[Gellyneck]

Aw, must I?

Yip, 'cause you'll end up like the rest of us!

Buying a multitude of cr*p that you lug around in the motorhome for years and never use only throw it out when you do a tidy up every few years!

ps in the spirit of the forum these first two money saving tips are foc but be aware any more will be on a commission basis as you seem as daft as the rest of us and would pay it!

 

[cyberyacht]

Owning a motorhome is like owning a boat.
Every day is a learning day.
You never finish with all the little (and not so little) tasks.

It seems the only difference is that you don't have to scrub, antifoul and maintain mooring chains.

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[pappajohn]

Try turning the van 180°
It may be the tank inlet is slightly higher than the shower tray and water can't flow uphill

 

[TheBig1]

It would not be the first time I have seen an underslung waste tank with no overflow at the top of the tank to vent air pressure. The system then gets airlocked and drains extremely slowly if at all

 

[Shrimp]

I have a small sink plunger that I only use when absolutely needed, and then very gently, I don’t do the up and down thing with it multiple times I just give it a slow and gentle plunge maybe two or three times and wait to see if thats done it!

 

[JockandRita]

Penk, it won't solve you current problem, but it may prevent it happeing again, ie, before washing plates, pots, and pans, clean them off with paper towel first, then none of the debris can end up blocking your waste system.

Good luck with clearing the blockage.........if it is a blockage.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Ducatian]

If after washing up the water has lots of bits in it I don’t put it down the sink, it goes under the nearest tree or hedge.
Bread/toast crumbs, rice, bits of pasta, they will all swell up and any fats or oils are not a good idea.

Spot on there Shrimp. Learnt that the hard way. All our food plates and pots get a wipe out with a paper towel before washing and we use a bowl.
On a larger scale, we managed to block an entire row of houses drains with the rice we used to put down the plug hole!

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[dobbyt]

I know it is called a plunger but for clearing a blockage I find the upstroke more effective and less risky to the pipes than plunging.

 

[Nanniemate]

I'm amazed at what stuff goes down plug holes

 

[Petroleumblownapart]

are you on a slope if not the putting the flat of your hand over a plug hole and try pumping it up and down Ilke a plunger worked for me with our sink in the van

You beat me to it denisejoe

 

[PP Bear]

Opened the grey tap and you should have seen the clump of hair that came out!!! I try hard to keep the grey clean, but this really surprised me.

Worst ever is if SWMBO used hair conditioner as it crudes up everything and is a bugger to clear.

Don’t know why you ladies need to use the greasy stuff, when a good lathering with Palmolive soap does just as well, rinses in seconds and doesn’t leave the shower tray like a Torvill and Dean skating rink

 

[PP Bear]

All going well till we showered last night. Since then, not only will the shower not drain, neither will the wash basin or sink . We’ve emptied the waste tank but nothing has changed. Help appreciated as we have to drive off shortly, and with this lost sloshing about it’s a worry. Thanks, Penny

You also need to get these, 1 for the shower and the other for the kitchen sink.

Be surprised how much rice they’ll catch.

Amazon product ASIN B00E7OPJO2

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[Penk]

Yip, 'cause you'll end up like the rest of us!

Buying a multitude of cr*p that you lug around in the motorhome for years and never use only throw it out when you do a tidy up every few years!

ps in the spirit of the forum these first two money saving tips are foc but be aware any more will be on a commission basis as you seem as daft as the rest of us and would pay it!

Giggle

 

[Penk]

It seems the only difference is that you don't have to scrub, antifoul and maintain mooring chains.

Don’t you?

 

[Penk]

Penk, it won't solve you current problem, but it may prevent it happeing again, ie, before washing plates, pots, and pans, clean them off with paper towel first, then none of the debris can end up blocking your waste system.

Good luck with clearing the blockage.........if it is a blockage.

Cheers,

Jock.

Cheers Jock!

 

[Penk]

I know it is called a plunger but for clearing a blockage I find the upstroke more effective and less risky to the pipes than plunging.

That’s an interesting thought.

 

[Penk]

That’s an interesting thought.

With any luck, it’ll suck the muck from out of the truck? (Spam Ayres)

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[Penk]

You also need to get these, 1 for the shower and the other for the kitchen sink.

Be surprised how much rice they’ll catch.

Amazon product ASIN B00E7OPJO2

I’ll measure our (very small) plug holes and just check they’ll fit. Thanks.