Grey water pump venting issue?

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   So our grey water pumps seemed to be working fine for 5 years.  This year,  a strange issue developed that has got me stumped.

Our forward grey water pump is working fine.    No issues there.

Our aft grey water pump works fine for the dishwasher and the washer dryer.   It does not, however, work for water in the aft shower (on our boat aft and starboard).    Water in the box is evacuated as soon as the switch fires up the pump,  but water doesn't seem to be reaching the box.     

Unless I remove one of the hoses onto the box, creating what seems to be a needed vent.   Then the shower drains into the box just fine and is pumped out.   Without this,  the shower has a nice pool of water on the floor.    Its not a clog.  The water drains just fine when I remove the hose in the blue circle from the box, creating a vent.

My questions are:

1.  Has anyone else seen this?   My assumption was that one of the existing lines into the box was *ASSUMED* by Hanse to also act as the vent for the box.  Not all the lines would be full of water at the same time. 

2.  Does anyone know where the line in the blue circle goes?     Its not for the aft head sink, that vents over the side.  Thinking it might also go in the box,  I filled the sink with water by shutting off the overboard discharge and then blasted an air horn thru the hose.   It does nothing in the aft head sink.  

3.  Given the washing machine and dishwasher drain fine,   it seems to be a drain venting issue, not a grey water pump issue.   Does this make sense?

Ideas?   I've made calls to my usual "boat Yoda's" and no luck.

Edited by Black Diamond - 28 April 2023 at 22:52

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Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 874	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Grey water pump venting issue? Posted: 28 April 2023 at 22:51
	So our grey water pumps seemed to be working fine for 5 years. This year, a strange issue developed that has got me stumped. Our forward grey water pump is working fine. No issues there. Our aft grey water pump works fine for the dishwasher and the washer dryer. It does not, however, work for water in the aft shower (on our boat aft and starboard). Water in the box is evacuated as soon as the switch fires up the pump, but water doesn't seem to be reaching the box. Unless I remove one of the hoses onto the box, creating what seems to be a needed vent. Then the shower drains into the box just fine and is pumped out. Without this, the shower has a nice pool of water on the floor. Its not a clog. The water drains just fine when I remove the hose in the blue circle from the box, creating a vent. My questions are: 1. Has anyone else seen this? My assumption was that one of the existing lines into the box was ASSUMED by Hanse to also act as the vent for the box. Not all the lines would be full of water at the same time. 2. Does anyone know where the line in the blue circle goes? Its not for the aft head sink, that vents over the side. Thinking it might also go in the box, I filled the sink with water by shutting off the overboard discharge and then blasted an air horn thru the hose. It does nothing in the aft head sink. 3. Given the washing machine and dishwasher drain fine, it seems to be a drain venting issue, not a grey water pump issue. Does this make sense? Ideas? I've made calls to my usual "boat Yoda's" and no luck. Edited by Black Diamond - 28 April 2023 at 22:52
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

Wayne's World Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 18 July 2012 Location: Cruising Status: Offline Points: 1045	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wayne's World Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 April 2023 at 01:35
	Rich, Haven't had any draining problems. I would think the drain into the other shower would act as a vent unless it was being used at the same time. We have had the fwd sump pump not work ( switch problem) and the water built up in the shower and also the head floor drain so it work appear there is not one way valves in the system to stop that happening. So the head floor drain should would as a vent. I would think the mystery hose on your image comes from the aft air-conditioning condensate drain.
	Wayne W Cruising, currently in the Caribbean and will head across the Pacific early 2024

Wayne's World Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 18 July 2012 Location: Cruising Status: Offline Points: 1045	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wayne's World Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 April 2023 at 01:36
	Sorry Rick, spelt your name incorrectly in the previous post. Maybe too much relaxing in the tropics.
	Wayne W Cruising, currently in the Caribbean and will head across the Pacific early 2024

Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 874	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 April 2023 at 10:01
	There is no second shower aft. We just have the fore and aft heads, with what would have been the third head turned into a "utility cabin" or "systems" cabin, with the watermaker, washer/dryer, and various tools storage. The pump works fine. The switch works fine. The issue seems to be venting for the aft shower drain path to the sump. Any thoughts on the hose in the circle? As to what it supports? When I remove this (and let the sump pump have a vent thru its opening, the shower drains fine.
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

Lyn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 04 February 2022 Location: Hampton, VA Status: Offline Points: 76	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lyn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 April 2023 at 18:39
	I can't answer your question on where that hose goes, and I know that my boat is slightly different than yours but you just helped solve a mystery to me. In the factory diagrams, it just shows (a) bow sump, (b) washing machine sump, and (c) aft sump for head/galley sink/dishwasher. YET... I've got (d) an additional one in the sole compartment for the hot water heater. It was a "make-it-yourself model", that I had either chalked up to a sump box/pump that failed/leaked in a far-flung place in the world or replacement of the hot water heater with a larger one that crowded out the whale box. Instead, this is what I've got. Not pretty, but effective. A sealed food storage cannister, plumbed in & out, with a standard float switch and pump that is powered by the same feed as the one at the foot of the stairs. The discharge of this pump goes into a Y-fitting that connects to the sump box at the foot of the stairs and out. My takeaway -- you may not be the first person to face this, though I can't explain why it would be a new thing.
	Jon S/V Lyn 2017 Hanse 588 \| Hull 19 \| Deep draft \| 150hp \| 220v & 110v systems \| Lithium House Bank

kipwrite Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 14 October 2015 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 394	Post Options Post Reply Quote kipwrite Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 May 2023 at 00:35
	Rick, As Wayne noted in his response, the mystery hose is likely from an AC condensate drain. On my boat, each AC unit has a drain beneath it, with a pipe that channels this water into a nearby shower sump. Took me awhile to figure out why my shower sumps would run periodically when the AC was running. As to why this pipe might cause the shower drain to fail, Maybe see if it's plugged up near the AC condensate outlet under your AC? Let us know when you sort it out.
	Kipwrite

Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 874	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 May 2023 at 01:54
	It makes sense, except that the hose heads to the starboard side of the boat and the aft AC unit is on the port side Ill check it out anyway
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

Pzucchel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 13 March 2020 Location: floating Status: Offline Points: 444	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pzucchel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 May 2023 at 08:42
	I had a draining problem after having replaced one water level sensor. It was draining only after a pasta... And stopped draining when I was making water at the harbour...I replaced it with an identical one few times, but same behaviour... The test/hint for the possible solution : put a handful of salt into the sink and flush.if it suddenly works, it's the conductivity of the water and the sensor you're using. Long explanation : most high quality sensors are designed to be differential, e.g. measuring the conductivity at a level where there is water vs. the conductivity at the level you want to trigger an action. But not the sensor I had bought, nor most of the sensors in this format ... So any oxidation, partial obstruction or lack of salt in the water make it think that there is no water. Some sensors are even designed to work in salted water, so they are calibrated for a much higher conductivity. Edited by Pzucchel - 02 May 2023 at 06:54
	Hanse588#55

Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 874	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 May 2023 at 00:43
	The switch is working fine. When we use the dishwasher or the washer/dryer they drain into the box and are pumped out the way they should. The issue is the shower drain on our starboard side head. If I vent the box (disconnect a hose) it drains. If I don't, it doesn't...
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

Arcadia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 27 November 2017 Location: Sag Harbor, USA Status: Offline Points: 585	Post Options Post Reply Quote Arcadia Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 May 2023 at 01:27
	If you can’t solve the venting issue, why not run a 1/2” hose from the grey tank to a high location in the engine compartment. As long as it’s well above any of the other drain heights there won’t be any leakage. I noticed a similar problem with my forward shower and I may do the same to improve the flow.
	Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY



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