URGENT! Shower Drain Debris??

[SuzanneH]

Had a sudden onset drain clog in shower this morning. Finally got it to clear enough that shower pan was able to drain. Went to Lowes and got a mini plunger and a zip tool. The zip tool brought up a 3 inch or so piece of flattened tubing which we extracted. After doing so, then we worried that we had possibly destroyed something important...?

Quick background that may be important: yesterday we had a mini overflow event when the gray tank got overfull during the washing machine cycle (we had forgotten to open the gray tank for laundry day. We caught it right away with minimal drama.

Having read on here about debris left in tanks, etc., during the manufacturing process, we are not sure if this is 1.) debris that got floated back into the pipe during the miniflood; 2.) some sort of duckbill tube that is meant to be located at the shower drain to prevent sewer gas/backup of water into the shower pan; or 3.)something else that I haven't figured out yet.

If anyone know what this is (see photo) and can tell me whether we destroyed our plumbing with the zip tool, it would be appreciated. (The drain works great now! LOL)

[SuzanneH]

[govslug]

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=70434

[govslug]

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...t=shower+drain

[SuzanneH]

That's what it appears to be. Of course that means the hepvo valve should be replaced now, and from what I can see, it lives under the coroplast? How does one access this area?

[footz1941]

Originally Posted by govslug

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=70434

Possibly the HEPVO valve. Ours went bad and washer drained under the overhang. No water inside thank goodness. HEPVO valve replaces the P trap in the drain line

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by SuzanneH

That's what it appears to be. Of course that means the hepvo valve should be replaced now, and from what I can see, it lives under the coroplast? How does one access this area?

While you don't list the year and model of your Montana, more than likely the HepVo valve is toast. It is located behind the pass thru compartment. You will have to remove the back wall but it is only a few screws and you should be able to see where the valve is *under the shower drain).

[BuilderBob]

Looks like the end of the HepVo valve to me!

Bob & Carol
Washington St
2017 HC HM352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW CC LB 4x4

Happy Trails

[1retired06]

Yup, that is what I see.

[SuzanneH]

I am in a 3731FL. There is no storage compartment adjacent to the shower drain...the nearest is a slide out compartment under the bed that has an exterior door. I'm thinking it's drop the coroplast to get to it...or nothing. Not getting any odors at this time. I have a round silicon drain stopper on top of the drain opening and that may be doing the trick.

[Mikendebbie]

I had no idea what these HepVo units were but I googled it today and there is a good video narrated by the RV Doctor Gary Bunzer on the website. The use of the valve in lieu of a p-trap makes sense. The plastic thing that was fished out is the bladder.

I'm having a difficult time figuring out what event happens to cause the bladder to come loose? The video explains that you are not supposed to run a snake down the drain. Does the bladder come loose on its own?

[BuilderBob]

The Zip tool you used is probably what did it!

Bob & Carol
Washington St
2017 HC HM352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW CC LB 4x4

Happy Trails

[Phil P]

Hi

Don’t feel bad I did the same thing to ours when we first got it. LOL

Phil P

[SuzanneH]

Yep, the overfull tank caused the valve end to fold over/crimp from the pressure of the water in the tank, and the zip tool tore it up. I never had heard of this type valve before this...It would REALLY be great if there had be some information somewhere (like a sticker on the drain, maybe) that warned against snaking the drain.

Lesson Learned. Maybe someone else will read this thread and learn from it. :-(

[SuzanneH]

Originally Posted by Phil P

Hi

Don’t feel bad I did the same thing to ours when we first got it. LOL

Phil P

Phil, were you able to replace the valve on yours? I'm not finding ready access to the area in my 2018 3731FL.

[Phil P]

Originally Posted by SuzanneH

Phil, were you able to replace the valve on yours? I'm not finding ready access to the area in my 2018 3731FL.

Hi

Our trailer has the shower over the basement and that drain is easy to access from the curb side basement door.

I also have to clean it out periodically so I would suggest when you decide to make access to it to make so you can get to it when needed.

I have never had to use a tool to remove it is installed like the p traps under the sink.

I see by your floor plane that you will have to access it thru the under belly covering.

Here is my suggestion and this is from experience.

Go to Home Depot or some other store that handles lumber.

You want to purchase a piece of wood that is about as thick as a yard stick and close to 2 inches wide.

About 2 dozen flat head wood screws and large OD flat washers that fit the screws fairly tight but not so tight they will want to turn with the screws.

Locate your drain and curt a hole about 4 inches wide and 12 inches long cut only the back and sides leave the front uncut just fold it down so you can reach the drain. The size of the hole is your choice but I would not recommend more than 6 inches wide and 12 inches long but don’t cut the front.

After the repair cut the wood into strips that will be used to fasten the flap you have created back up.

Use screws to fasten the wood strips to the underlayment and then screw the flap back up in place.

Here is a picture of the drain however in the last picture the drain may be upside down so please take a close look at yours before you remove it and determine if the hump goes up or down.

http://www.sallyscoffees.com/montana-shower-drain/

Also I will send you a PM with my phone number so you can call if you don’t understand this write up.

Phil P

[Mikendebbie]

Question about pic #1...it looks like the white threaded pipe on the right is full of debris. Is that correct?

[Phil P]

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

Question about pic #1...it looks like the white threaded pipe on the right is full of debris. Is that correct?

Hi

Yes it is the drain had stopped up they need to be cleaned periodically I do it when it quits draining just don’t use a plunger it turns the bladder inside out and you have to remove it with water in the shower floor. Normally if you just wait it will drain down where there isn’t any standing water.

We use the trailer full time some times for several months in a row.

I like this trap arrangement and if we keep the Montana I will put it in the kitchen as well.

Phil P

[speedster100]

The rubber membrane on the check valve has a tendency to plug with hair and on occasion it gets reversed inside the valve chamber (rolled inside). When this happens flow either stops from the shower/sink area or slows a way down. A simple effective way to fix both issues is to use a standard toilet plunger on the shower drain. The sudden push of air clears the valve of hair and also if it is a case of the rubber membrane rolling up into the chamber it pushes it back out the way it is supposed to be.

Not a fan of this design, it can allow grey water tank odors into the the bathroom as it isn't a wet trap design however they are putting them in most RV's now, I expect because it saves time on the install...

The only real bonus's of this design is it is simple and when winterizing you really don't have to worry about ensuring you add enough anti freeze to displace the water in a trap... So technically you can just blow out your water lines with air and not worry about pouring anti freeze down the shower drain...

Still think a full trap is better, when ours fails completely (and it will with the rubber) I will install a proper trap.

[jcurtis934]

You can also reseal the flap cut in the coroplast with black gorilla tape...just clean the surface with rubbing alcohol first. My valve would stick closed on lots of ocassions and I used a smooth wood cope stick to open it back up. It let shower tank odors into the rv from day one. I finally got tired of this upgrade and installed a schedule 40 p trap.