Watse tank not draining!

[Eric Robinson]

Pretty simple really, open the valve to empty the waste tank and, nothing. There is water in the waste tank but nothing is coming out so Im assuming that some 'gunk' has blocked either the valve or some part of the system. The question is has anyone had this happen to them and if so what was their fix?
Ive taken the plastic cover off just under the fridge and found a waste coupling adjacent to the valve, even with the valve open nothing is coming through that tends to point to the blockage being between the valve and the tank. Any advice would the gratefully recieved.

 

[Paul Cardiff]

Pretty simple really, open the valve to empty the waste tank and, nothing. There is water in the waste tank but nothing is coming out so Im assuming that some 'gunk' has blocked either the valve or some part of the system. The question is has anyone had this happen to them and if so what was their fix?
Ive taken the plastic cover off just under the fridge and found a waste coupling adjacent to the valve, even with the valve open nothing is coming through that tends to point to the blockage being between the valve and the tank. Any advice would the gratefully recieved.

Have you got the plug in the sink? This can stop the water flowing

 

[Eric Robinson]

Thanks for that advice, but unfortunately some stuff has made its way into the tank, on thinking about it most likely coffee grounds, and with it standing several months not being used the grounds may have hardened and created a blockage. Im hoping the water Ive put into the system will soften the gunk. Ive tried entering the system from both the sink end and the coupling located just under the fridge to no avail. Anyone who has any bright ideas please let me know.

 

[SteveR]

Thanks for that advice, but unfortunately some stuff has made its way into the tank, on thinking about it most likely coffee grounds, and with it standing several months not being used the grounds may have hardened and created a blockage. Im hoping the water Ive put into the system will soften the gunk. Ive tried entering the system from both the sink end and the coupling located just under the fridge to no avail. Anyone who has any bright ideas please let me know.

Mild drain clearer?

 

[Eric Robinson]

Ill give it a try. Was wanting to avoid using that but may have to resort to chemical warfare on that gunk.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Back flush with a hose pipe. They don't like it up 'em

 

[Eric Robinson]

Great Call. Will give it a go....and you're dead right....they don't!

 

[Eric Robinson]

With the waste valve in the open position I slipped 10mm hose right up the waste outlet, turned on the water , heard lots of curling noise left it a while, and sadly nothing still blocked. What I don't understand is the water was coming up to the valve and somehow transmitting the effect of the water pressure, which I though meant water was making its way into the waste tank, but obviously not. Great idea but for some reason it has not done the trick. Back to the drawing board.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Hummm, sink plunger, long pipe cleaner contraption, really hot water and bio washing detergent?

 

[Eric Robinson]

Hummm, sink plunger, long pipe cleaner contraption, really hot water and bio washing detergent?

Wow you are on the ball today! One just this second arrived from Amazon! Going to give it a go tomorrow am. Your nomination for a Nobel prize in clever thinking is in the post!

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Is there a chance the outlet valve is faulty ? from your description it sounds like it is not opening correctly. You could try opening/closing the valve a couple of times to see if you can get it moving, it should move fairly freely. Turn the valve through the complete 90 degree arc from inline with the pipe to "across" the run of pipe.

It may be that the 10mm pipe was a little on the large side to pass through the open valve, do you have anything a little smaller in diameter to try (a flexi spar from a kite or similar).

Good luck!

 

[Eric Robinson]

Thanks for that, great idea. So now I know where all the great brains hang out.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

A 1/2" ball valve isn't 1/2"
In the ones I've used the aperture in the ball is actually 9mm

 

[Eric Robinson]

Thanks for that, Ill try and get some smaller diameter plastic tube I can feed up just in case the pressure plunger I just had delivered does not do the job.

The Moral of the story is "don't put coffee grounds down the sink and then leave the van unused for several months"

Im heading off on Monday for the first trip of the year up to the North West Coast just south of the Sky Bridge so would like all systems working smoothly. I really appreciate all the good advice and helpful tips.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Where you're generating small volumes of grey waste from one sink, you can leave the valve open and put a collapsable bucket under the van to collect it. Simple to get rid of and a clean, non smelly waste tank

Enjoy your trip.

 

[fraser]

bizarrely - I can force water up the valve and I can pour it down the sink but it still won't come out of its own accord with the valve open

 

[Grand Tourismo]

bizarrely - I can force water up the valve and I can pour it down the sink but it still won't come out of its own accord with the valve open

Pop the valve out of the network and check it is operating OK?

 

[fraser]

I will have to siphon it out first

 

[fraser]

TBH it is probably gunk the can be blown out of the way by a hose up the waste outlet - but crucially just fills the drain and blocks it again as soon as the hose is removed. I think a syphon out is required - if I use a big diameter hose - hopefully it will get the gunk too

 

[fraser]

Actually there is a breather pipe - so there is no point in sticking anything up its jacksy - I split it at the joint to the breather then stuck in a kitesurf pump pressurised it and agitated the coffee grinds that had gathered - that allowed it to drain. It seems there is a tiny 6mm hole into the drain which is a bit crap tbh.