When I connect my waste outlets to the drain sometimes provided on some campsite (super pitches?) I have sometimes noticed an an unpleasant smell coming from the vanity sink plug hole (particularly). I notice that there is no pea trrap / u bend on the caravan pipes (like in a house) and am wondering what stops the plug holes acting as a vent for the main drains?
Nothing stops your van being a vent to the sites waste water disposal system,if your van does not feature "U" traps.
Though some vans , like our German van, have these traps built in to both sinks and the shower.
With your van it might be better not to use the site waste connection directly.
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all caravans are the same, none have a u bend on them, you would be better off just having the external pipe to drain but not connected to the sites outlets
Thanks for your reply. Oh no, that’s not good! I wonder if there could be a U bend I can’t see? Near the exit or something? I have a 10 year old Bailey Senator. Amazing that they would have overlooked this even if using a mobile waste tank.
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 31/8/2019
all caravans are the same, none have a u bend on them, you would be better off just having the external pipe to drain but not connected to the sites outlets
Thanks for the advice. Quite shocking. Although no sewage of course the drains can smell quite bad. Not sure the site owner would be happy but tempting to extend the pipes into the hedge behind us via some kind of filter to catch food particles from washing up.
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 31/8/2019
all caravans are the same, none have a u bend on them, you would be better off just having the external pipe to drain but not connected to the sites outlets
As I pointed out mine has traps, as did the one we owned before this one, so your statement is simply wrong, they are standard in some vans.
Whilst mine are integrated under the two sinks and shower, there are in-line traps both for horizontal and vertical runs, available very specifically for caravans, so addressing the van's shortfall should not be too challenging.
Here is just one example, Googling might find others;
As far as I am aware it is illegal to allow your waste water to discharge direct on the ground.
I've noticed over the years that if I close the external flaps on the caravan waste outlets when not in use,I get a nasty smell inside. If I leave the flaps open, I don't get any smell, presumably because the pipes are then ventilated stopping build up of bacteria etc.
I encountered this problem and the solution is to vent the waste pipe, I use domestic push fit plastic rigid waste pipe and fittings to connect to the drain, I added an extra tee piece with a short stub of pipe about 9 inches long which when setting up the drainpipe the stub is positioned upright and allows smells to escape to the atmosphere rather than travelling up the internal pipework to the sink, basin or shower tray. A simpl!e solution that works and I do wonder why it took me so long to think of it
Quote: Originally posted by mickreeve on 04/9/2019
I encountered this problem and the solution is to vent the waste pipe, I use domestic push fit plastic rigid waste pipe and fittings to connect to the drain, I added an extra tee piece with a short stub of pipe about 9 inches long which when setting up the drainpipe the stub is positioned upright and allows smells to escape to the atmosphere rather than travelling up the internal pipework to the sink, basin or shower tray. A simpl!e solution that works and I do wonder why it took me so long to think of it
Quote: Originally posted by mickreeve on 04/9/2019
I encountered this problem and the solution is to vent the waste pipe, I use domestic push fit plastic rigid waste pipe and fittings to connect to the drain, I added an extra tee piece with a short stub of pipe about 9 inches long which when setting up the drainpipe the stub is positioned upright and allows smells to escape to the atmosphere rather than travelling up the internal pipework to the sink, basin or shower tray. A simpl!e solution that works and I do wonder why it took me so long to think of it