What do you put down your plug holes

[Hymerbell]

Got slightly blocked plug holes, water runs away but slowly...I cleaned the tanks with that whatever it was thoroughly but didn’t make any difference. What can I put down plug holes...at home I used to use One Shot until they stopped selling it to the public. I assume I shouldn’t put that down. Tried boiling water. Don’t want to destroy my tubes. Preferably something from a Lidl or other supermarket.

 

[joe and sue]

Had this problem on our van when we brought it at 15 years old, tried all types of pipe cleaners,
Finally replaced the ribbed waste pipes completely, problem solved immediately, they had a considerable build up of waste particles especially at bends etc, and where pipes had sagged between mounting points.
We replaced them with a smooth bore pipe, all now working fine.

 

[daveinspain]

We use Mr Muscle drain unblocker/cleaner both in the shower in the Rapido and at home, works perfectly. Just pour some in, leave for 5 minutes (NO LONGER) then pour a kettle of hot water down the drain - job done.

 

[tonyidle]

Regular plunger use?

 

[John Barrett]

Regular plunger use?

I found one on this van. So that's what it is for!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Landy Andy]

I hold the hose against the plug hole and then blast the water through the pipes. No chemicals needed

 

[Scotsblood]

A sink of hot water with a dissolved dishwasher tablet.
Let it go down but don’t flush it through immediately, let it sit along the pipe work for an hour or so then flush copiously.
We found the ‘sitting’ time was important and allowed the fluid to ‘lift’ the crud.
We were able to disconnect the grey tank inlet and allow the flush to go direct to a bucket and were amazed at the amount of muck flushed out of the pipes of a six month old van!
Now we do the dishwasher trick after every couple of trips away before dumping grey waste and it does still surprise to see how much rubbish comes out even when we are careful not to get particulates do down sink.

 

[Richard n Ann]

A sink of hot water with a dissolved dishwasher tablet.
Let it go down but don’t flush it through immediately, let it sit along the pipe work for an hour or so then flush copiously.
We found the ‘sitting’ time was important and allowed the fluid to ‘lift’ the crud.
We were able to disconnect the grey tank inlet and allow the flush to go direct to a bucket and were amazed at the amount of muck flushed out of the pipes of a six month old van!
Now we do the dishwasher trick after every couple of trips away before dumping grey waste and it does still surprise to see how much rubbish comes out even when we are careful not to get particulates do down sink.

+1 for that. The ghaaaaaarstly stuff that comes out is very satisfying

 

[tonyidle]

I found one on this van. So that's what it is for!

Most vans can't have a sensible fall in the waste pipes. Not ever being exactly level doesn't help either so waste remains in parts of the pipework that helps gunk stick to them. We have a traditional rubber plunger (in miniature) that I use whenever the sink drain seems to be slow. It seems to work.

 

[Lenny HB]

Be very careful with drain cleaners they are often caustic and will soften/dissolve the plastic plumbing.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jev88]

Had to go underneath mine, remove large bung and put one of those long flexible cables with a little brush on the end up the pipes from the other end. Not as messy as it sounds and really helped. Then discovered sink had a kink in pipe so replaced and created a loop the loop to act as a U bend and all works ok and less smell coming up sink if left standing.

 

[The Wino]

I suppose if any of these work the next thing is to watch what goes down the drain.

 

[tonyidle]

I suppose if any of these work the next thing is to watch what goes down the drain.

Grease of any sort causes blockages.

 

[tonka]

Be very careful with drain cleaners they are often caustic and will soften/dissolve the plastic plumbing.

HANG ON !! How come they sell them in plastic bottles then ??

Poundland / home bargains sell a reasonable priced drain unblocked.

 

[Lenny HB]

HANG ON !! How come they sell them in plastic bottles then ??

Poundland / home bargains sell a reasonable priced drain unblocked.

The bottles are polyproplene not PVC.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tonka]

The bottles are polyproplene not PVC.

See. I knew you would know. It's all just plastic to me.
I did watch breaking bad where the bodies went in the acid, so I should have known..

 

[MattR]

Don't pour water used for cooking pasta down your drains; it turns gloopy like wallpaper paste and is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Think those bottles are usually No.2 (if you'll pardon the expression )

 

[Wagoneer]

To stop greasy stuff going down the plug hole you need a "slop" bucket and/or plenty of kitchen towel to remove the worst from frying pans etc. Then empty the "slop" bucket into a black waste facility or into a hedge.

Washing up is done in a separate plastic bowl and the remnants decanted into the bucket. The clean plates etc are placed in the MH sink to drain.

Works for me and keeps the grey water tank squeaky clean

 

[Hymerbell]

Ah Ok...thanks all....I’ll go with the dishwasher tablet to start with....can you buy them singly in France...I don’t carry a dishwasher in the MH....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Otter Spotter]

2 to 3 litres of the cheapest cola down the plug holes works fine, and it doesn’t upset your pipe work just cleans them and any metering kit you have inside the tank

 

[kevenh]

2 to 3 litres of the cheapest cola down the plug holes works fine, and it doesn’t upset your pipe work just cleans them and any metering kit you have inside the tank

Lidl / Aldi colas or out of date “others” is on our solutions list. (No pun intended j.
Only done this once but that went well.

 

[Hymerbell]

2 to 3 litres of the cheapest cola down the plug holes works fine, and it doesn’t upset your pipe work just cleans them and any metering kit you have inside the tank

If I pour two to three litres of cola down won’t it just go into the waste tank ?

 

[Otter Spotter]

If I pour two to three litres of cola down won’t it just go into the waste tank ?

Should help clean out the hair capture in the plug hole and the bends in pipework

 

[kevenh]

If I pour two to three litres of cola down won’t it just go into the waste tank ?

After a bit of fizzing.
It could be a MHF joke on newbies but using cola is often mentioned. E.g. here

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Vipar]

I have used “spirits of salts” used it for years it don't stay in the pipe long enough to cause damage, flush with boiling water. Never not worked or caused a problem

 

[lindyloot]

My waste tank is blocked . I have done all of the above , its not the pipe work but the hole where the outlet pipe comes from the tank to drain. I do not put greasey things down the sink when washing up and have one of those sink strainer in the plug hole, just in case

 

[TheBig1]

the cola trick works well if you use the full sugar version, not the diet one, because it is more acidic. Great for cleaning rust spots off chrome bumpers too

What you are trying to dissolve is not just cooking fat and starches, one of the worst offenders is soaps. The soap is what produces the grey smelly slime

As previously mentioned, the best solution is to replace the convoluted, ribbed pipework with smooth bore pipe. The cheapest and easiest way to source the smooth bore flexible waste pipe is an aquarium/ water feature shop. Keep joints to a minimum and avoid sharp bends to allow fast unhindered flow through the waste pipe

 

[TheBig1]

My waste tank is blocked . I have done all of the above , its not the pipe work but the hole where the outlet pipe comes from the tank to drain. I do not put greasey things down the sink when washing up and have one of those sink strainer in the plug hole, just in case

have you tried back-flushing the waste tank? shove a garden hose up the outlet and give it a couple of blasts. Then as you pull the pipe out, hold your news and jump out of the way as the resultant rush of muck is not pleasant

 

[Otter Spotter]

After a bit of fizzing.
It could be a MHF joke on newbies but using cola is often mentioned. E.g. here

No I have used it and it works, just think how it cleans coins

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}