sepisllib
Cresco, Iowa
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I know that the roof vent allows the Black tank to breathe and the fumes to escape up and away from the living area. Not unlike your home roof vent.
What I am not understanding is the little seals up underneath the sink area that sometimes allow for the odors to permeate the coach.
Is the gray tank not vented up into the roof vent as the black tank is?
Guess I am simply not understanding the plumbing arrangements on the coach and the whys of the vents inside.
From the best that I can tell the odor we get for the first few miles (when pulling out) is from the gray tank seals - underneath the sinks. In my coach there are 2 - one for the bathroom sink and one for the sink located in bedroom vanity. The kitchen sink does not have one.
What would be the result of just capping off those seals? I presume that the tank would still try and breathe thus forcing air bubbling up through the traps whether sink or shower and etc.
Plumbers out there - input please.
God Bless
Bill
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chastho
arkansas
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They are a vacuum breaker, they are only a couple of bucks at any rv/mobile home place.
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Farmerkev
Illinois
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sepisllib wrote:
What would be the result of just capping off those seals? I presume that the tank would still try and breathe thus forcing air bubbling up through the traps whether sink or shower and etc.
Plumbers out there - input please.
God Bless
Bill
Don't cap those off, they are what allows the water to drain properly.
air admittance valve explanation
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sepisllib
Cresco, Iowa
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Wonderful response and information.
I think I understand the real purpose of these little valves now.
Since my coach is 7 years old the likelyhood that one or both of the 2 valves being defective is fairly high and I will replace both of them at the same time.
I don't know how susceptable these valves are to heat and conditions but when motorhomes, trailers, 5ers and so on sit around in the heat of the summer for long periods of time I would think it's not easy on them.
Thank you
God Bless
Bill
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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In order for a sink to drain, it needs air to allow the water to flow on it's way to the gray tank. In your home that is accomplished by running a vent pipe from each sink drain up through the roof. In an RV, they use a short pipe with a vacumne breaker to do the same thing. When you drain the sink, the breaker opens allowing air to enter the system and the water drains it's merry way into the tank. No AIR, No DRAIN. It's just like putting a straw into a drink, then putting your finger over the straw thus cutting off the AIR. You can lift the straw out of the drink and the trapped fluid will not drain out until you remove your finger and let the air in.
P. S. You said the kitchen sink does not have one. I would look again under the kitchen sink for the "Air Break" just in case yoou missed it. Does the kitchen sink drain OK?
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flrvman
Southeast
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They are cheap. Replace them. You do have one on kitchen drain. It may be a little further away. Pull out drawers an look. They do get old and you can't tell if they are bad. Just replace.
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Lantley
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The pipes going to the roof are vents for the tanks. The cannisters connected to the sinks are vents for the individual fixtures. Same theory behind both. They allow air into the system in order for water to drain freely
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ArchHoagland
Clovis, CA, USA
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I always turn on my dash air right away when we pull out and keep my rear most roof vent open.
Seems to keep the air fresh.
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sepisllib
Cresco, Iowa
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flrvman wrote:They are cheap. Replace them. You do have one on kitchen drain. It may be a little further away. Pull out drawers an look. They do get old and you can't tell if they are bad. Just replace.
I will do that tomorrow - going to LaCrosse Monday and may be able to buy the replacements up there.
Apparently those things don't last very long though - seems like it's a common problem out there.
Makes thing intersting when you have to track down things like this - just hard to pinpoint.
Thank you for input
God Bless
Bill
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RLS7201
Gladstone, MO
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The vacuum breaker's main function is to keep the out going water from siphoning the water out of the "P" trap. If the trap goes dry, you'll get all the good smells from the grey tank. If you're getting smells from the cabinet areas, goto any of the big box hardware stores and buy replacments. Their cheap.
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