Shower drain backs up - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Brand RVs > Ultra-Lite
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-26-2019, 05:33 PM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: New Ulm
Posts: 7
Minnesota
Shower drain backs up

Does anyone have a problem with the shower drain backing up if the grey tank valve is closed. We have a 2019 261RBSL which when we have the grey tank valve to the bathroom open works fine, but when it is closed, the shower backs up. It plunges down, but that is a real irritation to always have to do that. I have run a snake down the vent pipe and up the grey tank outlet, but it has not helped. Any suggestions.
__________________

Andreamanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2019, 05:45 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Delaware
Posts: 227
Ohio
Someone here is bound to have an answer for you. Me? I'm worthless. But in the same vein ...

Why does my shower pan drain have a plug? The pan is only 2" deep, so plugging the drain makes no sense. All it manages to do is restrict the water flow down the drain!
__________________

__________________
2017 CTS16FB
2019 Nissan NV
PamW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2019, 07:19 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
ewarnerusa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 606
Montana
Andreamanor,
Does it immediately back up once the grey tank valve is open? Do you know the capacity of the grey tank? It definitely doesn't sound right to immediately or even quickly back up once the grey tank valve is closed. But our old camper must have had an undersized grey tank because even with only a 25 gal fresh water supply, we would regularly get grey water backing up through the shower drain during a weekend boondocking trip. Not immediately, but the grey tank would fill up to capacity pretty quickly and then back up on of the shower drain.

PamW, the plug can help prevent odors from the grey tank getting into the living space should the P-trap dry up like during storage. Also handy to keep things from falling into the shower pan and down the drain by accident!
__________________
2012 Aspen Trail 2710BH | 470 watts of solar on the roof | 2x6V GC batteries | 1500 watt PSW inverter | Micro Air on A/C | so far strictly boondocking
ewarnerusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2019, 07:21 PM   #4
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: New Ulm
Posts: 7
Minnesota
It does not back up when the valve is open.
Andreamanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2019, 07:43 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
ewarnerusa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 606
Montana
I meant when it is closed, sorry
__________________
2012 Aspen Trail 2710BH | 470 watts of solar on the roof | 2x6V GC batteries | 1500 watt PSW inverter | Micro Air on A/C | so far strictly boondocking
ewarnerusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2019, 08:35 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Beaver Dam
Posts: 890
Wisconsin
Quote:
Originally Posted by ewarnerusa View Post
I meant when it is closed, sorry
Dump valve open --- no backup
Dump valve closed --- backup
Snaked drain. Snaked one vent.

Either there is no space left in the gray tank (filled with goo) or one or more plumbing vents are plugged.
__________________
Paul Bristol
Dutchman Kodiak Cub KD176RD 2018
Nissan Pathfinder 2015
persistent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2019, 08:45 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
ewarnerusa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 606
Montana
Plugged vent was what I was going to claim but I was fishing for more info.
__________________
2012 Aspen Trail 2710BH | 470 watts of solar on the roof | 2x6V GC batteries | 1500 watt PSW inverter | Micro Air on A/C | so far strictly boondocking
ewarnerusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 01:44 AM   #8
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: New Ulm
Posts: 7
Minnesota
I am wondering about the vent. There is only one vent on the roof through which I sent the snake. I wonder if there is not a "T" where it splits one way going into the black tank and the other to the grey. If that's the case, how can you clear out the vent to the grey?
Andreamanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 02:56 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andreamanor View Post
I am wondering about the vent. There is only one vent on the roof through which I sent the snake. I wonder if there is not a "T" where it splits one way going into the black tank and the other to the grey. If that's the case, how can you clear out the vent to the grey?

I'd be wondering if they even put a vent on the shower given the only way it drains is with the tank valve open. If it had a tee or a y you should have bottomed out at that junction.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 11:15 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
When it fills up, does the water drain after you plunge it (with the valve closed)?
franktafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 12:00 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Roselle
Posts: 1,292
Illinois
Might not be accurate, but I heard you should use caution when snaking RV drains as they have a different type of "P" trap. Can't recall name but others will know what it is called. Just an FYI, as it still doesn't explain why drain backs up when valve is closed. Just didn't want OP to exacerbate the problem.
Rusty
__________________
2015 Black F-350 Platinum Diesel Dually Crew Cab
2019 Riverstone Legacy 38MB (Full Paint/All Options)
2015 Voltage 3990 (Full Paint, All Options) Sold 6/18
2005 Harley Ultra Classic w/too many miles
lcv800 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 02:03 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
Quote:
Originally Posted by lcv800 View Post
Might not be accurate, but I heard you should use caution when snaking RV drains as they have a different type of "P" trap. Can't recall name but others will know what it is called. Just an FYI, as it still doesn't explain why drain backs up when valve is closed. Just didn't want OP to exacerbate the problem.
Rusty
It's a HepvO (in some rv's. problem is that it prevents backflow so you would not have one in the shower since when your tanks fills, the first thing to fill is the shower or the bath tub. Most of these HepvO's are probably utilized in sinks that are outside I would imagine. I'm thinking I would LOVE to put one in my kitchen getting me more space underneath.

franktafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 02:13 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
wildwest450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
HepvO, more like CrapO. If you have these do a search on them, there's lots of people with the same problem. Also, you're not supposed to snake them.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
wildwest450 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 02:25 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450 View Post
HepvO, more like CrapO. If you have these do a search on them, there's lots of people with the same problem. Also, you're not supposed to snake them.
? explain? and yes, you can't snake them... forgot to put that in.
franktafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 03:08 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
wildwest450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl View Post
? explain? and yes, you can't snake them... forgot to put that in.
Lots of posts(other forums) about these "rolling" up in RV's and causing backups with showers and washing machines, if the op has one, i'd bet money it's the problem.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
wildwest450 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 04:17 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
There are other items of this sort that do the same thing, they just don't have the "RV" price tag on them.
Plumbing supply houses will have the ones made for the real world, not the overpriced RV world.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2019, 09:38 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
wildwest450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
There are other items of this sort that do the same thing, they just don't have the "RV" price tag on them.
Plumbing supply houses will have the ones made for the real world, not the overpriced RV world.
Yeah, p-traps, they cost $3 and in the history of the world one has never failed without the aid of human error.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
wildwest450 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2019, 01:14 AM   #18
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: New Ulm
Posts: 7
Minnesota
When I plunge, some of the water goes down. I continue plunging and more goes down until it all finally drains. It is as though there is something preventing it from running continuously.
Andreamanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2019, 11:50 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andreamanor View Post
When I plunge, some of the water goes down. I continue plunging and more goes down until it all finally drains. It is as though there is something preventing it from running continuously.
I'd buy one of those cheapie camera snakes you can put on your phone and run it down there to see what's in your gray tank. There are tons of them out there... this one makes sense.

https://www.amazon.com/Endoscope-Sem...60627664&psc=1
franktafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2019, 12:13 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
So you spend 40 bucks on a 'camera' and find an obstruction somewhere in the system.


The question is, can you handle this problem? Do you have the tools or knowledge or a place to work? Or better yet, is it not time to take the RV back to the dealer and let them waste time and energy on a manufacture's screw up?
__________________

__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×