Forum Discussion

evy's avatar
evy
Explorer
Apr 02, 2016

Plumbing vent options? side wall?

Hi everyone,

I'm working on my very first DIY camper conversion, using a 2010 extended Ford E250.

I have a quick question for you experts.

I'm planning the plumbing and I was looking at my roof today, trying to figure out where I would install the plumbing vent, my pipe would be hidden in my kitchen's top cabinet and would come out over it, the problem is I already installed my roof rack with a welded grill on top, the only way to install a vent would be to cut a round hole in the top grill and install it through the whole no problem BUT! it would be sticking out of the top grill by about a 1-1/2" and it would be right where my kayak would sit...

Can I install a roof vent on the side of the wall behind that same kitchen cabinet? when I'm driving if water comes in, it would simply end up in the tank right?

Ok I have a crazy idea, maybe I could use a bath overflow as a vent on the side wall.







  • evy's avatar
    evy
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2016
    eHoefler wrote:
    The Air-Admittance Valve will not work as a vent, it lets air in so your sink will drain properly. You have to have a vent that will let the gases from your tanks out. The reason you need to have a vent higher than the roof line, is so any breeze can catch it and carry it off. On the side, it can pool and you will not like the aroma, plus sewer gas is deadly and explosive. Any vent, window, or appliance will bring in the gas.


    That's pretty much what I mention earlier ;-)
    BUT! Maybe I forgot to mention this, we're talking about grey water only. I have a porta potti :-/
    In this case it will serve to let air out when the tank is filling up, preventing a gargling sound through the drain pipe.
    Is grey water as bad as black water for gases and oders?
  • eHoefler's avatar
    eHoefler
    Explorer II
    Apr 02, 2016
    The Air-Admittance Valve will not work as a vent, it lets air in so your sink will drain properly. You have to have a vent that will let the gases from your tanks out. The reason you need to have a vent higher than the roof line, is so any breeze can catch it and carry it off. On the side, it can pool and you will not like the aroma, plus sewer gas is deadly and explosive. Any vent, window, or appliance will bring in the gas.
  • evy's avatar
    evy
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2016
    buzzard616 wrote:
    Goofy as it sounds, the longer I think about it and try to think of anything better, that tub overflow looks like it should work. Maybe drop the rubber gasket in favour of some butyl-based caulk or window tape.
    Stu


    It even has the perfect angle for my side wall (slightly tilted).
    But I would definitely paint it haha, lose that chrome look.
  • buzzard616's avatar
    buzzard616
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2016
    Goofy as it sounds, the longer I think about it and try to think of anything better, that tub overflow looks like it should work. Maybe drop the rubber gasket in favour of some butyl-based caulk or window tape.


    Stu
  • evy's avatar
    evy
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2016
    Rollnhome wrote:
    Where does the waste water go? You might be able to use an undersink vacuum screw on vent. Around $5 and no holes thru camper.
    Some one will come along with the actual name of the vent I am referring to.


    I know what you mean, I think it would work when I'm hooked up in a camp site but I don't think it would work when I'm boondocking, when water is going into the tank the air has to exit through the vent and those things only let air in not out.

  • Rollnhome's avatar
    Rollnhome
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2016
    Where does the waste water go? You might be able to use an undersink vacuum screw on vent. Around $5 and no holes thru camper.
    Some one will come along with the actual name of the vent I am referring to.

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