Waste water in shower

[stinson]

Hi guys.

In my R23 I can hear The shower bilge pump cycling on and off and I see waste water in the shower itself my waist tank is not full as I just had it pumped out. Any idea what might be happening?

Jim

 

[Matty]

Check to be see if you have a clog just inside the flush area preventing stuff going all the way done. If so it may seep out the side. Happened in my RV.
Glad I already had breakfast!

 

[Capt’nKarl]

There should not be waste water (black water) in the shower sump pump. Have you used the shower? Shower water enters the shower sump pump container and when it reaches a certain depth the shower sump pump comes on to pump that water out the port discharge hole. There is always a little residual water left in the shower sump container. If this residual water gets sloshed around the pump will come on.

 

[stinson]

The reason I say I see waste water in the shower sump pump is I put a deodorizer tablet in the head that turns the water blue. I see that in the shower sump even though we don't use the shower. I hear the shower pump come on occasionally as it does but it stays on for several seconds, pumping out some water. My tank Minder gage shows no water in the holding tank. Strange....

 

[Matty]

Based on what i described you could easily see black water in be shower sump. What i described may not be the issue but would help to eliminate that possibility as you further investigate.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

The discharge hose from the head that goes to the black water holding tank should be totally separated from the shower sump pump. I guess you could have a leak in the toilet or toilet hoses where water could seep out and enter the shower drain which would then enter the shower sump. The shower sump should have a lid on top to keep water out. I’d suggest using the sink hose to fill the toilet bowl up and then pump it out while watching to see if any water enters the shower drain and then into the shower sump housing. Are all the clamps and hoses on the shower sump housing connected and tight? I’d also suggest using the sink hose to run water directly into the shower drain and make sure it enters the shower sump housing. Once the water level increases in the shower sump housing the pump should come on and pump the water out. Please let us know what you find. I just recently inspected the hoses on our head and replaced hoses in the shower sump pump so I’m quite familiar with the setup.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

The only way for fluid to enter the sump box is from one of the inlets on the box. That is th e shower drain from the cabin, potentially the A/C condensation drain, or something like that.

Pictures would really help.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Matty]

I think everyone agrees with that. My original post and follow is still a possibility. Mostly confirmed by the fact i have seen it happen twice.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

It would be impossible for black water to enter the shower area without visual evidence.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Matty]

Not true. I have taken the toilet apart when i had an issue. What happens when you have a clog in the throat of the toilet is there is no place for the water you have added by flushing to exit. Therefore it seeps out between the toilet and floor housing. You then have black water in the shower. It can then go to the shower drain and then to sump....where you would not expect to find it. This issue has nothing to do with the plumbing or where black or gray are supposed to go. I imagine it is plumbed correctly.
Again....just something to check. Not necessarily the answer but a definite possibility.

 

[stinson]

Problem solved!

Just got pumped out and she was full. Traced the problem back to having an all female crew on the boat last night 🙂

jim

 

[stinson]

this is actually the second time it happened. it seems when the waste tank is full it seeps into the shower pump housing via the pump discharge hose.

jim

 

[Matty]

Given the crew no matter what i say i cannot be right. But i will say i do think there is no way it is getting there through the plumbing. It is separate as others have commented.
Glad it is solved..

 

[stinson]

One last thought. In looking at the R23 manual, the shower drain should drain overboard and not enter the waste holding tank. I purchased the boat used off of lake Champlain in VT. Sometimes they put restrictions on discharge on boats in lakes and I wonder if they replumbed the shower to enter the wasted tank instead of overboard.....

jim

 

[Matty]

Could be. Easy to test by running shower and watch what happens.

 

[stinson]

Will do that test.

Thanks for all the help guys!

jim