Leaky fold over sink! Help!!

[TexasCamper]

Just got back from our first outing in the pop-up.  We noticed the fold over sink leaking around the drain, where the two pieces meet.  Since it was under the fold over part, the base part sat with water on it.  Some of the base particle board is now bubbling from the water.  The foam around the sick drain looks to be in good condition.  We had to stop using the sink for the last few days.  Any one else with this problem?  Suggestions??  The water did drain through the hose into our container outside.  So it is a leaky drain connection.

Thanks!!!

http://community.webshots.com/user/TexasCamper

LQQK at my pics to see black thing :eyecrazy:

[wavery]

Just got back from our first outing in the pop-up.  We noticed the fold over sink leaking around the drain, where the two pieces meet.  Since it was under the fold over part, the base part sat with water on it.  Some of the base particle board is now bubbling from the water.  The foam around the sick drain looks to be in good condition.  We had to stop using the sink for the last few days.  Any one else with this problem?  Suggestions??  The water did drain through the hose into our container outside.  So it is a leaky drain connection.

Thanks!!!

The drain hose could have a loose clamp, the hose could be cracked or the sink to drain seal could be bad. You'll just have to dry everything off and run water through the system until you can actually see where the water is leaking.

Make sure that your gray water container is vented. If it isn't, there may be water sitting in the hose for an inordinate amount of time. The water should just flow out smoothly. If it sits, there is a stronger chance of it leaking somewhere where it wouldn't normally.

For testing purposes, you might want to cap the outside drain so that the drain will fill with water, just so that the leak will be more evident.

[dthurk]

I had the same problem with our '04 Fleetwood Yuma.  I removed the drain hose from the sink drain, removed the sink drain from the sink, used plumbers putty to re-seal the drain to the sink (it operates much like a household version), then reattached the drain hose to the sink drain.  I have a 1.5" drain fitting on the outside of the camper.  Using a portion of a household "P" trap to screw into the fitting, then pool filter hose on the outside of that gives me a complete 1.5" drain to my gray water tank.  I have no vent on the drain, and it works easily and smoothly.  I've got a photo of it (the exterior gray water set up) somewhere on this forum.

[wavery]

I had the same problem with our '04 Fleetwood Yuma.  I removed the drain hose from the sink drain, removed the sink drain from the sink, used plumbers putty to re-seal the drain to the sink (it operates much like a household version), then reattached the drain hose to the sink drain.  I have a 1.5" drain fitting on the outside of the camper.  Using a portion of a household "P" trap to screw into the fitting, then pool filter hose on the outside of that gives me a complete 1.5" drain to my gray water tank.  I have no vent on the drain, and it works easily and smoothly.  I've got a photo of it (the exterior gray water set up) somewhere on this forum.

You don't need a vent on the drain. However, the grey water storage container/tank must be vented. In order for water to occupy space inside of the tank, there must be a way for the occupying air to escape.

[dthurk]

You don't need a vent on the drain. However, the grey water storage container/tank must be vented. In order for water to occupy space inside of the tank, there must be a way for the occupying air to escape.

Yes, you have to get air out of the container.  I know of others who have concocted elaborate plumbing schemes to vent the drain coming out of the camper.  Some of these plumbing schemes get pretty goldbergsian.  That's what I was talking about when refering to venting.  I think many reduce the 1.5" line into a 5/8" garden hose, then wonder why the drain is slow.

[griffsmom]

Hot water from washing dishes had softened the putty sealing our drain and it was causing a leak underneath.  We re-puttied it (and do I dare say this?) we haven't had any problems since.

[tlhdoc]

You need to find out where the leak is coming from.  Until you do that you can't fix it.  You might want to pour some RV antifreeze or water with food coloring in it, to help you see where the leak starts.

[dthurk]

You need to find out where the leak is coming from.  Until you do that you can't fix it.  You might want to pour some RV antifreeze or water with food coloring in it, to help you see where the leak starts.

Yes, good suggestion.  

I'm assuming there was no freeze damage to anything in the camper, although it would be most unlikely for freezing conditions to damage a drain.  OP also does not say what make of camper.  I don't understand the "foam around the drain" reference in the original post, either.  I don't remember seeing any foam at any point on our sink drain line.  We do have a fold over sink in our Fleetwood.  The only connections in the sink drain area are between the sink and the plastic drain, and the connection from the flexible hose to the plastic drain.  If the drain is leaking, it's got to be in one of those 2 spots.  Maybe a cracked hose at the attachment point?

I would suspect it may be leaking in a different area, as we never had water laying on our sink base from our drain leak.  If nothing can be found in the drain area, I would turn to checking the faucet.  Maybe try antifreeze or food coloring through the faucet.  Is that a hand pump, or is it on a 12v pump?  Cold water only or hot and cold?  The faucet could easily sustain freeze damage, begin leaking and put water on the base.  From the description in the original post, I would think this to be more likely.  It is most difficult, sometimes, diagnosing from a distance particularly not knowing the brand of camper and how it's equiped.

[TexasCamper]

Thank you for all the helpful hints.  No freezing days this year so it cant be that.  It looks like the water is coming from the black foam seal where the sink tailpiece goes into the drain.  I will look for a new foam piece. I will also redo the plumbers putty on all parts.

thanks
TC

[tlhdoc]

Thank you for all the helpful hints. No freezing days this year so it cant be that. It looks like the water is coming from the black foam seal where the sink tailpiece goes into the drain. I will look for a new foam piece. I will also redo the plumbers putty on all parts.

I haven't seen a foam piece between the drain and the hole in the sink (I think that is where you are talking about).  If we are talking about the same spot just get some plumbers putty and make a snake of it.  Remove the drain from the sink. Put the putty snake around the hole in the sink.  Insert the tail piece of the drain and tighten it.  Clean off any putty that squishes out as you tighten it.

[XJJoe01]

I haven't seen a foam piece between the drain and the hole in the sink (I think that is where you are talking about). If we are talking about the same spot just get some plumbers putty and make a snake of it. Remove the drain from the sink. Put the putty snake around the hole in the sink. Insert the tail piece of the drain and tighten it. Clean off any putty that squishes out as you tighten it.

I had the same problem on our popup.  My drain fitting (the part you are putting) had a crack in it causing a leak.  I replaced it and have no problems since.
 
good luck,
 
Joe

[TexasCamper]

New mods for vent
http://community.webshots.com/user/TexasCamper

[brgmgb]

I haven't seen a foam piece between the drain and the hole in the sink (I think that is where you are talking about).  If we are talking about the same spot just get some plumbers putty and make a snake of it.  Remove the drain from the sink. Put the putty snake around the hole in the sink.  Insert the tail piece of the drain and tighten it.  Clean off any putty that squishes out as you tighten it.

We now have the same problem.  We purchased the PuP last August and I finally replaced the broken faucet.  Now we have a leak where the fold over sink sits on the rest of the drain.

Look at TexasCamper's pictures.  We have a similar setup.

http://community.webshots.com/album/548917971KrKics

http://community.webshots.com/photo/548917971/2918902740088029764tfYDxH



There is a black foam piece that is glued to the bottom of the sink.  It is supposed to create the seal when the sink is folded into position.  The stationary drain assembly has a plastic camper drain trap similar to the following:

http://www.camco.net/images/SmallProduct/37262.jpg

Water backs up in the sink (the new faucet allows a lot more volume of water than the OEM faucet) and leaks out between the foam disk and the stationary drain part of the trap.  I have the gray water emptying into bucket so there is no vent issue.  I think the issue is the trap stopping the flow.

I like the idea of using 1 1/2" drain pipe, but am hesitant to cut a hole in the side of the camper.   I would rather try to use hoses and clamps, but the fold over aspect adds complications.

Suggestions?


Thanks,

Bill

[RockHound]

We have the same problem with out Jayco.  It looks like the counter top has gotten wet on the stationary part of the sink and made the drain drop down a little, causing the round rubber gasket to not make good contact when it is set up.  We found this out on our first camping trip with this camper.  As a temporary fix, I got some of that door and window foam that comes in rolls and has a sticky side.  I made two circles around the drain with it, just to be sure I covered enough area.  This did the trick, no more leaking.  Sometimes it comes loose, but I just put some new down.  I'll have to replace the counter at some point, but for the foreseeable future, this will have to do.  You can try this to see if this area is where your problem lies.  If so, you can keep doing it, or replace the drain area.  Hope this helped.