Sink not draining

[Bicycle Campers]

Well here I go with my first post. A brief introduction, we just purchased a new to us 1995 Coleman PU. We took our first weekend trip. Everything went pretty smooth! Everything except the sink. It drains very slooooowly. There is no clog in the trap or hose. It drains slightly better without the outside hose attached, but it still took over 5 minutes to empty a half full sink and it's a very small sink. Since we're new to the whole PU thing DH is not sure what the best approach is to fix the problem. Is it just an old style drain and have they improved in the last 14 years? Is there a trailer specific replacement or would a household sink drain work? He could sure use a suggestion or two from those of you who have been there and done that.     bikerHen

[PattieAM]

Sounds like you could use a "T" for a vent in the line to aid in draining.  Someone else can chime in with more particulars.

[coach]

Since it doesn't drain much better without the outside hose, I'd suggest you examine the tubing under the sink. Being a swing sink, there is extra hose under there to get messed up. After the first trap at the drain, you don't want any more traps, you want the hose to go down hill the entire distance, this includes the outside hose when attached.

Fiddle around under the sink! Do it with water in the sink IF you can!!!

I've heard of folks shortening the under sink drain hose, not too short so that flipping or swinging can't be done. Others zip tie the hose in place so it doesn't slow flow

[spicyville1]

On the outside of my camper, I used one of the T fittings. I screwed one end to the water outlet and let the T verticle. Doing this will leave one connection open facing upwards and one open facing downwards. Couple a short 1-2 ft old waterhose to the top opening (for venting) and the regular drain water hose to the bottom. Doing so will allow air to flow down the drain hose and will allow the water to drain quicker.

[tlhdoc]

If the sink drained fast when the hose wasn't connected then I would recommend a vent to improve the draining.  Since it doesn't drain fast either way I would follow the drain hose and see if there are any kinks in it, or if it is getting pinched somewhere.  You need flexible tubing for the drain since the galley moves when you pop down.  What size is your tubing?  If it is the size of a garden hose, then I would consider replacing the tubing and the fitting on the side of the PU with larger tubing.  My 1999 Coleman PU has a 2 (I think) inch fitting on the side of the PU.  My first PU a mid 80's model had the garden hose size fitting and was slower.  Good luck and let us know how it works out.

[waterdoctor]

Well here I go with my first post. A brief introduction, we just purchased a new to us 1995 Coleman PU. We took our first weekend trip. Everything went pretty smooth! Everything except the sink. It drains very slooooowly. There is no clog in the trap or hose. It drains slightly better without the outside hose attached, but it still took over 5 minutes to empty a half full sink and it's a very small sink. Since we're new to the whole PU thing DH is not sure what the best approach is to fix the problem. Is it just an old style drain and have they improved in the last 14 years? Is there a trailer specific replacement or would a household sink drain work? He could sure use a suggestion or two from those of you who have been there and done that. bikerHen

bikerHen - I've got a Coleman PUP as well, with the same drainage problem. As an Irrigation Specialist, I should understand that water naturally like to move downhill. So, to address the problem, I first verified that the drain hose from the sink had no "uphill" sections before arriving at the discharge point. I discovered there was a bit of an uphill run inside the swing-down galley, so I cut about 2" off the drain to facilitate better drainage. It seemed to work well until I hooked the 3/4" garden hose back up to the 2" drain, and I still had the problem.  I read some posts in this forum (about 2yrs old) that suggested a mod whereby you move the sink discharge from the side of the PUP to a location under the PUP.  I haven't done this mod yet, but it sounds like it should work. I bought some new 2" drain line at my local trailer supply store and had good intentions, but....  Anyway, in the interim, I just place a bucket under the drain to catch the water and empty it every couple of days.  My pln is to remove the 2" drain fitting from the side of the PUP and reinstall it under the PUP so I can hook up the garden hose. Only problem is, now I've got a raw hole I've got to do something with. So... I found a light for mounting externally and plan to install it in the ready-made hole. I figure that side of the PUP is pretty dark (as in no external lighting) and that's where the outside shower is.
 
Any-hoo I hope this gives you some ideas. Now I just have to find the time to do this mod on my rig.  Enjoy your PUP, we sure enjoy ours. In fact, we're heading out tomorrow morning for our first outing this season.:-()
Steve
:usflag:

[spicyville1]

Here is the link I was looking for. Easy fix to your problem as long as there are no kinks in the line.

http://www.title-3.com/GrayWater.htm

[Bicycle Campers]

Thanks for all the ideas. I was thinking along the lines of a vent, but it is just a garden hose size fitting. It drains out the bottom of the PU. The hoses all seemed to be laying the way they should. We checked for kinks and clogs.
Our internet wasn't working at home last night so my "Mr Fix it" couldn't read all your ideas. Hope he can go over them tonight. He has the next three days off!     bikerHen

[flyfisherman]

Thanks for all the ideas. I was thinking along the lines of a vent, but it is just a garden hose size fitting. It drains out the bottom of the PU. The hoses all seemed to be laying the way they should. We checked for kinks and clogs.
Our internet wasn't working at home last night so my "Mr Fix it" couldn't read all your ideas. Hope he can go over them tonight. He has the next three days off!     bikerHen

Here's something else to consider ... my Starcraft has the fold over sink and there has to be extra length in the freash water and the drain line to accommodate this folding over action. Quite often I, too,  have this sink slow drain phenomenon. Right under the sink is a cabinet which gives access to the drain line and I discovered that if I gaive a little giggle to the line when the sink is going through one of it's extra slow drain episodes that all "breaks lose" and drains out like gang busters. I think maybe a vacuum like condition is caused by this extra length drain hose and the folding back and forth action and a little giggle breaks it lose.



Fly

[brainpause]

Here's what we did with our popup:

http://www.larryandhollycrockett.com/vent1.jpg

and

http://www.larryandhollycrockett.com/vent2.jpg

Larry

[Bicycle Campers]

Just wanted to update our sink issues. We've had our usual winter like spring here in the PNW and haven't had a chance to take another trip, but we pop up the pup every chance we get in the driveway to fiddle with stuff. So DH was messing with the sink drain and I said why don't you just giggle the hose (My favorite response, thanks flyfisherman!) And guess what? Worked like a charm! DH almost flooded the driveway cause he kept filling the sink and giggling the hose till he figured out where the problem was. There is a short section of the hose that indeed goes uphill and that seems to be the problem. So now we know we have to make sure the drain hose sits up on the wheel well and all is good. :-()  It's the little things in life that keep us going.  bikerHen