Dare I ask a Grey wate question

[vectian]

As I was using my MoHo until after new years day and the weather down south has only just started to drop below zero I have just got round to emptying the fresh and grey water.
Fresh water was no problem with the dump valve on the truma and taking the plugs out of the tank.
However the grey didn't seem to want to flow easily, it started very slowly and then a little fater when I lowered the corrugated pipe. Then it stopped even thought the tank was virtually full. It only started again when I moved the van back and forward a couple of times. There are no drain plugs in the tank like in the fresh tank and there is a build up of foul smelling gunk at the bottom.
What is the best way to clean the grey tank. Can I put drain cleaner in it and also the corrugated plastic drain pipe, or maybe caustic soda.
Any helpful suggestions appreciated.

 

[Wildbill]

Yipeere another gray water thread
Bill

 

[WillH]

Try a few kettles of hot water first, it's amazing what you can shift with it.

 

[Lazyboy]

3 or 4 litres of cheap cola and take it for a drive. Or as said hot water with a little bleach.
It needs to be driven around with some fluid in the tank to "wash" the inside and then empty immediately

 

[rangi]

A couple 2litre bottles of Coke Cola down the sink then take it for a run and a good shake around.
I try to do it when homeward bound after a trip.

Another tip, greasey Plates and Pans, if you wash them in the M/H give them a good rub over with a paper towel before washing them to remove the grease and oil

As @WillH above, another good tip, then while still hot take it for a run around the block.

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[vectian]

Yipeere another gray water thread
Bill

At least I didn't ask if it was ok to open the grey waste tap as I was driving along to empty it

 

[Larrynwin]

At least I didn't ask if it was ok to open the grey waste tap as I was driving along to empty it

Why not ?

 

[vectian]

Why not ?

I don't like worms and that will open a can of them

 

[Reallyretired]

Those corrugated hoses are horrible for blocking. Glad I haven't got one any more, since I have not had British motorhomes for many years. Caustic soda can help. If you have access to mains water a backflush of the drain hose can get things moving again. Cheap cola is good too, has to be the one with sugar for some reason.

 

[mfw]

Caustic flake is ph 12+ you need somewhere safe to dump it - and dont add caustic soda crystals to hot water seen that done and blew back and hit the roof of factory where i worked

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[Liverpoollass]

Ok...so I have read numerous posts about grey water....and it has been suggested that cooking water from pasta should not be poured down the sink..is this advice the same for other starchy food for instance rice and potatoes...and what do you do with it instead?

 

[Landy Andy]

DON’T put hot water down any drains, especially in a motorhome. The parts aren’t designed to deal with that heat. It destroys house stuff let alone MoHo bits.

In the trade I use a wet vac and draw out any blockages, but in my MoHo I just use a mains pressure garden hose down each drain, and sometimes up the tank drain.

There is often an access hole in tank if you want a good go. Enjoy.

Any coke, or anything overly powerful will take the finish off your electrical contacts that inform you of its fill level.

 

[Shrimp]

Try to avoid greasy water going down the sink.
Use hot water.....NOT boiling-you may distort any plastic components.
Don’t use household drain cleaner, I did with boiling water & we had to replace the sink drain hole parts!
We used a few litres of white vinegar in our tank last time, get it from supermarché in France.

 

[sonny]

Garden hose up your waste pipe at least your clearing that section ,also partly fill sink with water and using a wad of cloth smartly press down on drain plug hole a few times .

 

[Jenben]

Ok...so I have read numerous posts about grey water....and it has been suggested that cooking water from pasta should not be poured down the sink..is this advice the same for other starchy food for instance rice and potatoes...and what do you do with it instead?

We drain it over the washing up bowl and then dispose of this water in a hedge/by a tree/drain as appropriate.

We only have pasta water, we tend to use the microwave rice packets nowadays as they are a serving for 2 and you can stir fry (or cook in a couple of tbsp of water). I know this is a bit off topic

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[Offagain]

Ok...so I have read numerous posts about grey water....and it has been suggested that cooking water from pasta should not be poured down the sink..is this advice the same for other starchy food for instance rice and potatoes...and what do you do with it instead?

Well I didn't know that. You can learn something new every day on here.

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

sometimes up the tank drain

That’s fine on most British and French Motorhomes, but not German ones

 

[Lot lover]

Try using white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, good for washing machines as well.

 

[two]

I used to know a couple who claimed never to put anything greasy down the sink. They wiped everything clean with kitchen roll before washing.
I empty my grey water whenever possible, and we try to let as little solid as possible go down the plug. We consider the above to be a bit extreme but do clean up excessive silage before washing. When retuning home, I empty all the remaining hot water from the boiler down the drain, together with some disinfectant, and let it slosh about on the homeward journey. I empty out when I get home. It keeps the smell sweet and doesn't seem to build-up with grime.

 

[tonyidle]

DON’T put hot water down any drains, especially in a motorhome. The parts aren’t designed to deal with that heat. It destroys house stuff let alone MoHo bits.

In the trade I use a wet vac and draw out any blockages, but in my MoHo I just use a mains pressure garden hose down each drain, and sometimes up the tank drain.

There is often an access hole in tank if you want a good go. Enjoy.

Any coke, or anything overly powerful will take the finish off your electrical contacts that inform you of its fill level.

The level rods are stainless steel. There's nothing in the waste plumbing that can't cope with boiling water.

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[Minxy]

I used to know a couple who claimed never to put anything greasy down the sink.

Not us is it? If the dogs don't lick it clean, then the kitchen roll is used!

No point having a nice hot bowl of washing-up water then contaminating it with loads of grease/muck ... I even wipe the knives and forks we've used before washing them up as they often have food remains on. I don't need to use loads of water to wash-up and it is quicker too.

We often use paper plates instead of normal ones so even less washing up ... can't be having my 'leisure time' restricted by spending too long on chores like washing-up!

 

[JJ]

Man up everyone... it is just a different kind of scent.

My grey water is like nectar from the gods.

(A reasonably sized puddle of it under my van stops other vans from parking too close.)


JJ

 

[Speve]

My grey water is like nectar from the gods

Ours smells worse than the toilet cassette so try to empty into a bucket every day rather than let sludge build up in the tank.

 

[scotzsue]

Ok...so I have read numerous posts about grey water....and it has been suggested that cooking water from pasta should not be poured down the sink..is this advice the same for other starchy food for instance rice and potatoes...and what do you do with it instead?

Our CI gives that directive. I drain the water into a pan or basin and put it into the casette as that gets emptied daily, not had a problem so far.

 

[monzer]

Can you get anything up the outlet to give it a shoogle about? Or as someone else said try and force water from a hose back up to free off anything there.

Let us know how you get on so we can get the same sense of satisfaction as you'll get if you finally release the flow!

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[vectian]

Can you get anything up the outlet to give it a shoogle about? Or as someone else said try and force water from a hose back up to free off anything there.

Let us know how you get on so we can get the same sense of satisfaction as you'll get if you finally release the flow!

Unfortunately I don't have access to an outside hose so cant put it up the drain hose
Looks like it'll be unclipping the open end of the corrugated pipe raising it above the height of the grey tank and pouring a weak caustic soda solution down it and leaving it a while. Then poring boiling water into the grey tank and dropping the pipe and opening the release valve and hope all the muck is loose enough to flow out

 

[monzer]

Have you got a plunger? Try using it over the plug hole first to try and get a bit of movement down there. Or if you don't have one, someone mentioned using a wad of kitchen roll just to force air/water back and forth.

What diameter roughly is this corrugated pipe? Sounds strange that it's blocked as I imagine it would be quite wide.

 

[Badknee]

Ok...so I have read numerous posts about grey water....and it has been suggested that cooking water from pasta should not be poured down the sink..is this advice the same for other starchy food for instance rice and potatoes...and what do you do with it instead?

Sandra @Liverpoollass if there's anything greasy or starchy I put it down the loo or if on a site in the WC emptying drain.

 

[TCG]

fenwicks waste tank cleaner, wonderful stuff

 

[P Jones]

Yipeere another gray water thread
Bill

not yet loftey ,pj

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