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dabrooks · 03-09-2013, 07:05 AM

Are you even sure that the drain valve for the gray tank is even opening all the way up?

ernieh · 03-10-2013, 12:24 AM

If your unit was built by any recognized manufacturer, you will not have a second trap in any line. That is a violation of just about every plumbing code in existence.

ParryTack · 03-11-2013, 10:23 PM

Wow. I just saw this post and read it page by page until the end. If Anita lived within 100 miles of here, I would be there to help her. Where are all the men in California? Where is Chuck and Terry? Here is SE Georgia, we would help a lady in distress.BTW, is that a vacuum breaker under the sink that was mentioned earlier? Does it provide vent to the shower, as well?

2012 Cedar Creek 36 CKTS
2011 F-350 6.7 CC DRW

SpoiledRottNRanch

San Clemente, CA

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Posted: 03/11/13 07:04pm Link | Quote | Edit | Print | Notify Moderator
Well Hell Yeah YakFIsh! *laughing.... you're too kind. But please know that these wonderful people here on RVNet and IRV2 have been AWESOME!! In fact, Chuck was here this morning, in overalls and inspection camera in hand! (He and Terry came down with colds - and he felt well enough to come by this morning)
Heres what we did:
1. Spoke with Monaco, they said that they are now on "the line" installing an additional vent in the grey tank through the roof.
2. Followed the specs that Monaco sent of all the plumbing. Per instructions from them tracked down #24 - a clean out place (please excuse my terminology). We found this next to the fridge, under the floor of a cabinet in the kitchen. Nothing there, sent the camera down, didnt see anything - camera went in 3 feet.

3. I then called 4-5 places to buy a camera with a longer reach - no go. Cannot be rented or bought on the fly.

4. We then tracked down all the little hat air vents under all the sinks. The one in the forward bathroom sucked air big time when CHuck took it off and all the water ran out of the shower before I could get back there to check.

5. we pulled the face of the shower access again, nothing there.

6. We took drawers out of the bathroom... found some clothes that were missing.

7. We had some of the best darn chili in the world.

8. we emptied the cabinets under the kitchen sink and checked all those fixtures/junctures/vents.

9. We then started to clean up and Chuck hooked up my work trailer and drove it to my next stop (near his home 75 miles away) YEAH!! (Im having to move inthe middle of this nightmare. Thanks God for Chuck and Terry!!! Big Hugs!

10. THEN ANOTHER PLUMBER CAME OVER - whom the owner of Ace hardware introduced me too. He said, "you need someone who finds this a challenge and this is your guy" Tom Metzger - Master Plumber in San CLemente - Awesome guy. He and I worked on the bus for at least 3 hours. Up and down the roof, snaking, airing, evening gassing?? bursts of *energy down the shower. More doors off, back closet emtied, HUGE MOUND OF CLOTHES ON THE BED. Pulled out the washing machine, checked THAT vent, still nothing. Back on the roof, gurgle gurgle gurgle.... tried to get to the grey tank - not possible. He thinks it might be a *dip in a pipe? maybe the engine got it warm somehow and there is water in a dip? He felt so bad being unable to find the problem. I tried to pay him and HE WOULDNT LET ME! Holy Cow! I told him that every now and then, even a Blind Squirril finds a nut! HE said that if I was going to be around hed start tearing th floor apart under the bed to try to get to the tank. He is perplexed. So, I guess I should make my way to Oregon.
I asked Monaco, after his description of the new procedure to install an additional vent in the grey tank - So is this a recall? NOPE. Customer pays.
So thats that. The water still pools in the shower when vent is closed.
I guess I get myself a blue boy and make my way to Coburg, Oregon.
I was hoping that if I print this thread out and take it with me and say - Ive already done these things that were suggested... they should at least not charge me to redo all that stuff. What do ya think?
Anyone want to take a ride to Oregon?

Thank you guys! Thank you Chuck! Thank you Tom! and Yakfish!
Anita

Dunner · 03-11-2013, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParryTack

4. We then tracked down all the little hat air vents under all the sinks. The one in the forward bathroom sucked air big time when Chuck took it off and all the water ran out of the shower before I could get back there to check.

Anita

Am I missing something? If Chuck took the vent off and all the water ran out of the shower, wouldn't the problem be the "little hat air vent"?

RV Dan · 03-11-2013, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner

Am I missing something? If Chuck took the vent off and all the water ran out of the shower, wouldn't the problem be the "little hat air vent"?

I was thinking the same thing. Try a new vent, they are not that expensive and it may just fix it.

Dan Hopkins

Dunner · 03-11-2013, 10:55 PM

Or try it with the just the vent removed or swap it with another one in the MH.

chboone · 03-12-2013, 12:19 AM

We actually remove two vacuum breaker. The first one we took off was under the kitchen sink. When I removed it there was a puff of air against my hand, and the shower drained. What I am perplexed about, is Monaco did not install a direct tank vent to the roof. The only roof vent they installed for the tank is a wet vent. Which is against building codes for a stick house. The tank vent that is installed, is also the drain line for the washer and shower. Why Anita is having problems now and not the past 5 yrs ?. Once she gets settled at the new place I will see if I can get access to the top of the tank to try to add a vent direct off the tank. The schematics show there is a fitting at the top to add one, the same one they are using now. The big problem is routing it some where that won't cause odors in the coach, without getting into the walls. I was hoping that Tom The plumber would find something we missed. The inspection camera I had was from Harbor Freight, quit working when I tried to feed it up the tank drain outside to check if there is anything in the tank causing the problem. Taking it back tomorrow.

Dunner · 03-12-2013, 10:33 AM

Drill and tap a 3/8" brass barb fitting into the tank or line from the shower. If possible, run it up next to the fridge flume or any inconspicuous spot. Can't you just replace the vacuum breaker?

chboone · 03-13-2013, 12:33 AM

I plan on trying to access the top of the gray tank to reach the bung, the schematics show is there, try and run a vent off of it. After researching the Air Admittance Valve (AAV), the correct name for the vacuum beakers in the system, it is a good idea to replace them. Will do that first. The AAV's in the system have a very soft spring and are no longer made because they are not reliable. If I can get access to the vent/drain, I'll try to add an AAV to it, if replacing the existing ones don't work. Haven't given up, just been sick the past week.

ParryTack · 03-18-2013, 12:49 PM

OK HERE'S THE LATEST UPDATE!
1. I've moved fro the beach to a beautiful horse ranch near the horse shows Im working. (with help from Chuck his beautiful wife, Terry - big hugs)
2. I am not hooked up to sewer yet ( 20 feet further away - need to reposition next weekend) - so using the blue boy to dump.
3. So for a week now I have had the GREY VALVE CLOSED, taking showers daily and guess what - What Chuck and Tom did worked!
8 showers - NO WATER BACKING UP IN SHOWER PAN!!!!!

(moderator edit)

I just don't want to do this by myself anymore. Loosing my Captain, Ive stepped up, but Im exhausted! I'll probably look for something smaller.

Thanks again to all you FANTASTIC people who've been so kind to help with suggestions and ideas. Keep 'em coming!

Anita

ParryTack · 04-01-2013, 09:56 AM

Hope you all had a good Easter weekend, I sure did.

I'm parked here at the beautiful horse ranch, for the last three weeks. I am about 100 feet from the dump station, ALL VALVES ARE CLOSED, and I have not had any problems with water backing. YEAH!
Chuck has ordered the air valves for us to install - replacing the existing ones just because. I think the problem was that I ALWAYS left that grey valve open.
Ive taken daily showers, valve closed, no problem.
It is time for me to move the bus back 100 feet to dump though *grin
Thanks again all for your help!
Anita