Plugged Drain

[mommie53241]

Okay Dilema 1- when my DH turned the water on in the kitchen sink the water backed up in the shower. Were guessing that is a plugged drain somewhere. So what is a good drain cleaner I have read not to use Draino not sure why not its the same drain pipes you use in your home right? Anyway any advice would be great 🙂

[mommie53241]

Ok I see what your saying will try both and see what happens

[AnEv942]

More than possible, and was my thought earlier, or moved. Other thought now is possibly shower added. But just guessing from the way drains are laid. Or just some plumbing issues and this was how it was fixed.

Either case what Im seeing is a tee (not directional sweep) with a valve above/before tank. Whether water flows A or B
(A) #2 is to tank and #1 is from shower, or
(B) #2 is from shower and #1 goes to tank,
nothing directs flow thru tee- water dumping down #3 will likely go into both legs. Unless the shower is elevated alot you would see water from sink. Hence I think A and valve was to keep water from coming up shower. Drain restricted more so. Especially, due to lay out drains are probably indeed full of crud, restricting flow.
But if valve does close line to/from shower there should be no water coming up?
Easy enough if you had a place to do it, gray tank empty (gray) dump valve open, run water thru sink, with inside valve closed (handle pushed in against body) water should freely run out. Open inside valve-(handle fully pulled out bout 3" as Wayne described) look to see if water coming up shower. If no water flows outside with inside valve closed and outside valve open, but does when you open inside valve-well thats a problem, cant imagine that. Or you could add water to shower with valve closed, water would back up pretty quick if valve closes shower line. It could be valve was added because theres no P trap in shower.
I could think of a half dozen plausible scenarios how this is plumbed. You have rubber seals on valves, generally brass sensors in the tank(s) draino can be a problem, snake anywhere near a valve can ruin it, if it ends up in tank, well.

My fix would be start with water running both sink and shower alternating plunger between, if vents caps removable garden hose down it.

[Super_Dave]

From the sounds of it, does anyone suspect that the grey tank may have been an add on as a previous owner mod?

[mommie53241]

another pic but labled

[mommie53241]

Okay got a few answers- The long tank on the outside of the camper is the Grey Tank, The small door open is the Sewer dump the black tank is basically under the toilet, the petcock in the corner of the small door is he fresh water drain but not sure if there is another bigger drain for the fresh water, The fresh water tank is in the wood box that you step up on to get into bed. If you look at the picture and you see a grey line on the right of drains is the fresh water line to the petcock.

[AnEv942]

mommie53241 wrote:
I agree I talked to a guy at Lowes about my situation he said do not use draino you could use Rid X but he said to poor 3 cans of Coke down the drain and another 3 cans the next day and that should clear up the problem of there is a blockage of hair and such :)Thank you

What I meant I wouldnt be pouring anything down (though least of all chems) until you are sure tanks is empty- which was the first concensous as to why backing up in shower. That needs to verified. With the tanks empty any liquid would flow, or a place to go if theres a blockage in the shower line or what is causing it kitchen sink to come up in bath you then you can deal with it. But if tank is full (or your lines blocked or valve situation isnt allowing) just adding. The way the lines are plumbed isnt clear.

If drains are as it should be and would otherwise work, I would then add to the shower line if it backs up try to clear. If added to kitchen and it backs up you have that piping above full of water. Least starting from shower you can control the level.
Mark

[Reddog1]

AnEv942 wrote:


-Where does the pipe go from the valve at #1, (you said shower was to left, just verifying doesnt go out side)

-Where do the pipes go at #2, or are they just looped making a return just beyond picture, or is one going outside, the other up from something (sink or vent)

-The pipe at #3, Thats a large hole, is tank behind that?
If not tank then drain from kitchen?
-The angled pipe at #4, any idea where that goes (i guess vent also)

Ya know Ive been assuming 2 tanks-looking at this picture with no other info only one tank (IF it even has a tank)?, some one replaced, or at least replumbed, for what ever reason lack of correct fall the kitchen line will flow into shower if valve open, Im assuming valve is inbetween shower and one of the lines at #2 lead outside. Sure would like to see exterior valve and how you dump.
More than likley Im 180° off

Turning the handle (#1) will do nothing, it is a push to close, and pull to open.

Wayne

[mommie53241]

I agree I talked to a guy at Lowes about my situation he said do not use draino you could use Rid X but he said to poor 3 cans of Coke down the drain and another 3 cans the next day and that should clear up the problem of there is a blockage of hair and such :)Thank you

[AnEv942]

So your camper does have a black tank, on board toilet? Huh even more interesting. Be curious how this develops and what you find. Is a puzzle. Me I'd at this point certainly refrain from drain cleaner until its verified where or how its plumbed. Hopefully its that simple, blockage, just needs cleaning and not a plumbing issue, as it appears from the bits & pieces we've seen. Good luck

[mommie53241]

Well AnEv942 the small door on the left of the main door is the sewer dump. I appoligize I didn't get pictures today and I work the rest of the week early to late so it will have to be this weekend before I get over there. Anyway there is a tank a long one probably 2-3 feet long on the left side of the camper on the outside. when we back the truck under the camper to load it you have to be careful backing up with the bed liner it scrapes along it at your backing in, we are planning on taking the bed liner out for ease of loading. its either a black tank or the grey tank, I don't know which need to ask DH. We don't know where all the pipes are from and where they go to, we haven't dug into that mess yet.

[AnEv942]

Yes, whats behind door number #2..

If the shower is indeed on the left, downstream of valve means its a direct drain for shower (this was 30 years ago). If its upstream means valve is inbetween shower and other drains:h The more I looked at picture just didnt compute, IF the dump valve was a dump valve. But it doesnt sound like it. Sounds as if there's another valve, though not a blade valve thats opened to drain. But that only makes sense if there was no holding tank and had hose thread. Possibly shower on the left is upstream of #2. Then #1 makes sense its on its way out except no mention of where its at outside

Otherwise looks like you either open to shower or close to use sink? But just a lot of guessing on my part trying to make whats shown flow...too many missing parameters-need one more better clue mommie53241 🙂

[Super_Dave]

#1 - Shower drain
#2 - waste tank
#3 - sink
#4 - roof vent

And if that is true, unless that valve in the picture was open, water wouldn't back up into the shower. Unless, that shower line is an overflow should the main shower line clog?

Don't you love this game?

[Old-Biscuit]

AnEv942 wrote:


Wait a minute...

-Where does the pipe go from the valve at #1,

-Where do the pipes go at #2,

-The pipe at #3,

-The angled pipe at #4,

Answers to those 4 questions should clear up the mystery

[AnEv942]

mommie53241 wrote:
This is whats under the furnace and coat closet left of stove You've got 2 pipes and 1 handle to the right of this is the sink and to the left in the shower. Hope this pic helps explain what I was trying to describe 🙂

Were not seeing the rest of the picture you are seeing, where these lines are going or from.

Is there another valve that is accessed from the little door shown earlier outside? Where do you connect drain/dump hose? Is the handle shown what you open to dump the tank (1 1/2" line?)
Not seeing any large lines normally associated with black tank.
edit: no black tank?

Dump valve inside? ...Wonder, just a passing thought, if valve shown is as diverter to keep replumbed lines from dumping into shower. If #1 goes to shower...The pipe that goes to left from valve..is that going outside or showere?
Wait a minute...

-Where does the pipe go from the valve at #1, (you said shower was to left, just verifying doesnt go out side)

-Where do the pipes go at #2, or are they just looped making a return just beyond picture, or is one going outside, the other up from something (sink or vent)

-The pipe at #3, Thats a large hole, is tank behind that?
If not tank then drain from kitchen?
-The angled pipe at #4, any idea where that goes (i guess vent also)

Ya know Ive been assuming 2 tanks-looking at this picture with no other info only one tank (IF it even has a tank)?, some one replaced, or at least replumbed, for what ever reason lack of correct fall the kitchen line will flow into shower if valve open, Im assuming valve is inbetween shower and one of the lines at #2 lead outside. Sure would like to see exterior valve and how you dump.
More than likley Im 180° off