Grey water from kitchen sink getting into shower tray Forums

duetto96

The subject says it all really. I'm having terrible problems with a very slow draining kitchen sink and bathroom basin on my 2007 Tracker EK. My dealer promises to look at it when a replacement shower tray arrives but that is probably weeks away.

If I pull the plug on a significant amount of water in the kitchen sink, it drains very slowly and then perculates up through the shower tray plug hole. I know its not life or death but it is very unpleasant and jolly frustrating.

I'm guessing the slow draining feature is possibly related to the back flow up into the shower tray. Has anyone had similar to this or is there a budding plummer who could tell me if this sounds like a pipe run problem or a blockage? Even without a plug in either sink or basin, when either tap is turned on, the basin or sink immediately fills up. Its almost like the whole plumbing pipework is full of water right up to the plug holes.

I have ruled out any problem with van levelling and its the same whether the external grey water drain valve is open or shut. I'm planning to get underneath the van tomorrow (again) and see if I can find any pipework to check out. When I last looked there wasn't much to see at all and no connections to undo. There does appear to be an inspection panel under the shower tray though so I guess thats a starting point.

Any guidance greatly appreciated.

David

Zebedee · Moderator

Give it some welly with a good old fashioned sink plunger David.

Chances are it's partially blocked somewhere, as the pipework is probably that awful narrow bore convoluted stuff which is guaranteed to collect gunge.

You may have to shove the plug(s) tightly into the shower tray drainage hole(s) to ensure the pressure is directed where you want it.

I plunge each drain separately while blocking all the others with their plugs when I do it.

Try a kettle of boiling water down the sink first in case it's a grease based blockage.

Hope it works for you. It does for me - far too frequently. Evil or Very Mad

blondy

Could'nt agree more Dave, could be a good idea to get someone to hold the plugs down tight when using the plunger with vigour

theboadacea

I have had this problem .. not with the kitchen sink as it is a different drainage system but our bathroom sink used to spurt up into the shower. It drove me mad for a while until I had a complete brain fart one morning and just knew the answer!

The issue was that the overflow (air hole) on the tank under the van had become blocked (with scum). This meant that if water was to flow downwards, air had to come up wards and this involved displacing water into the shower tray.

I had a poke around under the van around the drainage tank, it took me about 20 minutes to find the wee finger sized hole that existed at the top edge of the tank, then I poked my finger in to clear it and our problem was solved.

After typing this I have just re-read your post and realised that you say it is still the same with the drain hole open .... doh ... my answer would not help you then - sorry - but I am still going to post it as it took me so long to type and may help someone else I guess! Sorry Embarassed

MikeH

Had the same problem on my EKS. You need to fit a non return valve between the shower waste pipe and the t junction where it meets the sink waste pipe. Dealer fitted mine and did others in stock at same time. The problem is the water doesn't know it has to turn left at the junction (inside rear locker) and it goes sraight on and up the shower tray. Mike H.

maddie

Hi in total agreement with zeb & blondy,if you fit a non reurn valve it may slow your drainage more.Water will always find the lowest point so in theory that will be your tank unless the pipes are blocked making it divert to the next lowest point of resitance, Laughing

terry

duetto96

<<Give it some welly with a good old fashioned sink plunger David.>>

Zebedee... and this is why I'm also waiting for a replacement sink!! I didn't use excessive force (in my opinion) but I still ended up with a cracked basin, or maybe it was already cracked.

Let me re-emphasize part of my analysis. First, I think the grey water in the shower is the result of the problem, not the main problem. I hoping this will go away when whatever the problem is, is solved.

What I can't understand is that the kitchen sink will eventually drain, takes ages but it drains, irrespective of the external drain valve being open/closed. What I can't get my head around is that long after the sink has emptied, if I turn the tap on, without the plug in, the sink immediately fills. It isn't like the water goes down to the point of the blockage and then stops, its almost like the blockage is right there at both the kitchen sink plug hole and basin plug hole.

Without the plug in, I would have expected tap water to at least empty down either plug hole for a while and then backfill when the blockage/airlock/dead rat is reached and the plumbing is all full.

I think the habitation side of this van was virtually unused before I bought it a month ago so I really don't think it is a fat build up. It seems more of a design thing to me.

David

Zebedee · Moderator

putties

My brother had the same problem Look under the back of the vehicle and you will see that the outlet pipe is higher than the rest of the pipe work so there is not a natural outlet flow, especially if you are slightly high on the rear when parked up. A few minor adjustments fixes the problem

Putties