Anatamoy of a grey water tank

[Meepeedee]

Hi everyone, thanks in advance for your help...

Just spent the afternoon trying to get my head around the new (second hand) Knaus Boxlife. Filled the fresh water tank up, ran the water through the bathroom sink and then grey water started dribbling down the sides of the grey water tank under the van. The outlet tap was switched to off and it looks like the bung is in position. So assume that the inlet pipes are leaky/not connected?

Any advice what and where I should be looking for and what I should do? Hoping to take the van away next week...

 

[phase3begins]

Could it be that the grey water tank is full and you are seeing overflow?

 

[Meepeedee]

Sadly not, drained it first..

 

[Wildweasle]

Funnily enough I did mine two days ago, first time since I have had my camper, had a similar problem, so filled it up added half a litre of Milton, left it until today, emptied it down drain, flushed through, no worries.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Sadly not, drained it first..

Ah, but are you sure its actually empty, it could be that the outlet pipe is blocked?
In which case it would overflow.

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[Meepeedee]

Hmmm. Good point. How would I find out if it is full and outlet partly blocked?

 

[2x2camper]

Ah, but are you sure its actually empty, it could be that the outlet pipe is blocked?
In which case it would overflow.

Ours did that a few days ago

 

[2x2camper]

Hmmm. Good point. How would I find out if it is full and outlet partly blocked?

Usually the value comes off. Just don't get in the way.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Hmmm. Good point. How would I find out if it is full and outlet partly blocked?

Open the drainage valve, then prod a piece of wire into it, if there is a blockage, it'll stink & might come out in a hurry!

 

[Meepeedee]

Open the drainage valve, then prod a piece of wire into it, if there is a blockage, it'll stink & might come out in a hurry!

Out with a coat hanger in the morning. Wish me luck!

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[Eddystone]

Tap on the side of the tank
It will sound dull if full and hollow if empty

 

[Vipar]

Put your mouth over the end and blow

 

[pappajohn]

Out with a coat hanger in the morning. Wish me luck!

Don't poke too hard, if it's a convoluted pipe you may push through it.
I would bend the end of the coat hanger back on itself.

 

[Landy Andy]

When you put water into the tank via another inlet (shower, kitchen sink) what happens to the grey water?

Do you not have a gauge to tell you the level of the grey?

Are you able to physically get under the van?

The inlet from the basin may have become disconnected, the outlet pipe from the grey tank may have come off, or the inspection hatch may not be fitted properly or missing.

If you expect the outlet to be blocked, I would shove a running hose up it, and not use wire which may cause more damage

 

[Meepeedee]

So, here are the results of half an hour of investigations...

No blockages in the grey water outlet. Poking completed without creating further damage

it looks like there is an overflow leaking onto the top of the grey water tank, which I suspect (not 100%) is coming from the boiler. There is a long transparent tube but it seems to be coming from the short stubby black tube - both tube seem to be underneath the boiler. I’ve attached the photo as best as I could take it.

Any ideas?

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[TheTwoOfUs]

Is there a cold (frost) dump valve near to the boiler? Has this been left open?

 

[Meepeedee]

Is there a cold (frost) dump valve near to the boiler? Has this been left open?

I’m not sure but that sounds like a good theory. Was unsure why there would be too overflows from the boiler.

Next question - any idea what a cold dump valve might look like?

 

[Just smiffy]

Is there a cold (frost) dump valve near to the boiler? Has this been left open?

Bingo...

 

[Just smiffy]

I’m not sure but that sounds like a good theory. Was unsure why there would be too overflows from the boiler.

Next question - any idea what a cold dump valve might look like?

Like this


<Broken link removed>

 

[Meepeedee]

Like this


<Broken link removed>

I already love this wonderful forum! Definitely seen this - is that in the open or closed position in the picture?

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[TheTwoOfUs]

Turn the lever on the top and if the button on the front pops out it was closed. If it doesn't then it's open. In winter you should always open the valve when the van is not in use to prevent damage from freezing.

 

[Just smiffy]

As TheTwoOfUs said and once it’s in the closed position push the button back in..

 

[Just smiffy]

The picture shows the open position as in the water will flow out the drain valve..

 

[Meepeedee]

Thanks both!

 

[Landy Andy]

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[Mike800966]

Theres a stub of 1/2" plastic tube that goes throught the floor to dump the system water if the truma thinks its near freezing.
On our van it dumped it over the spare wheel and at first you coudnt see exactly where it came from so I have now extended it so it is more obvious and misses the spare wheel and carrier.
A short piece of garden hose fitted over the spigot. If you should need to remove the dump valve its only two small screws into the floor but beware of causing a leak in the cold water pipes than run thru it.
Mike
PS its Item 4 in the picture above