Is it normal to see water in your sink drain?

[Long & Winding road]

Is it normal to see the water in your kitchen sink drain?

I never noticed this before but this weekend after washing my hands I noticed lots of bubbles in the sink slowly going down. So I ran the water full blast and it never backed up in to the sink (seems to be flowing well to gray tank) but you can clearly see the water (and soap if any) in the drain around 1/2 inch (perhap 1 inch) down the sink drain. You can stick your finger in the drain and touch it. Very odd.

I might take the P-pipe off and clean it out but im very carefull what I put down the drain (no grease, just crumbs of food or bbq sauce from the plates etc) so perhaps the vent pipe is messed up?

I dump the grey tank (it was about 3/4 full) then checked again (still Looks the same).

Any thoughts?

[Lt Keefer]

P traps do hold water to prevent smells from backing up.

[Long & Winding road]

Yes I know. But can you see your water in yours like 1/2 inch down the drain?

[JamieGeek]

Check out the height of the "U"--e.g. both high sides of the U. The water level would be at the lowest point of the exit. Thus if the exit drain is pretty high then the P-trap is going to hold a bunch of water.

Using my sink as an example the P-Trap water would be up to the red line I drew because of the height of the exit line.

[16ACE27]

Is your sink in a slide? Maybe a pinched flexible drain line?

[Long & Winding road]

Not in a slide.

I will remove the p trap and look at it when I have time. I wonder if the air vent is not working properly? My water level is all the way up to the bottom of the drain. Very odd.

I put the RV in storage so perhaps it has dropped down some just sitting. The funny thing is the water never backed up into the sink.

Im sure I will end up find some jinky Thor install.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Long & Winding road

Not in a slide.

I will remove the p trap and look at it when I have time. I wonder if the air vent is not working properly? My water level is all the way up to the bottom of the drain. Very odd.

I put the RV in storage so perhaps it has dropped down some just sitting. The funny thing is the water never backed up into the sink.

Im sure I will end up find some jinky Thor install.

How long have you had this coach and are just now seeing a problem. But yes, its a "jinky Thor install" that only took a few years to surface.

Any chance it is working as designed and someone just noticed or maybe all the grease and oil from dirty dishes being washed down the drain has caused an issue? But then you said the water doesn't back up in the sink so maybe the install is correct and it just doesn't meet your expectations of what you think should be right.

What is the industry standard are how far down into a P trap the water should be?

Sorry, two to three years of normal operation with no problems noted with the drain and all of a sudden there is an issue with the Thor install when the drain, in your own words, still works correctly.

[JamieGeek]

Yeah this does seem strange. May want to shove a snake down it before disassembling.

If your air admittance valve isn't working (plugged? Usually they fail they other way) I could see it causing a vacuum if it isn't letting air in.

I recently replaced both of ours (kitchen sink and bathroom sink) and found the ones at Home Depot are screw in replacements (even shorter so they are easier to put in).
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-Su...9230/205395535

[Travelin' Texans]

Remove the p trap & check it out, possibly a plunger, but don't use a snake. This, as you called it, is "jinky Thor" plumbing going into a plastic tank so a snake is not recommended or could create other problems.

[Long & Winding road]

Ok, thanks for the help.

No problem with the sink (that I know of) but I find it odd the water is like 1/2 (maybe 1 inch) below the sink drain. I never noticed it before.

I purchased new back in 2017 and been very careful what goes down the drain. I might punch out the P trap and remove to see what is going on.

I will go to the storage unit and see if the level has dropped at while sitting.

I wont use a snake (if I can help it). I Rather remove the P pipe to see what is going on first.

I would be very careful with the "toy parts" they use in these RV's......Plastic sink, plastic faucet, plastic water lines, plastic drain lines, counter top etc.

I better check..... maybe the Ford Frame is Plastic too!

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Long & Winding road

Ok, thanks for the help.

No problem with the sink (that I know of) but I find it odd the water is like 1/2 (maybe 1 inch) below the sink drain. I never noticed it before.

I purchased new back in 2017 and been very careful what goes down the drain. I might punch out the P trap and remove to see what is going on.

I will go to the storage unit and see if the level has dropped at while sitting.

I wont use a snake (if I can help it). I Rather remove the P pipe to see what is going on first.

I would be very careful with the "toy parts" they use in these RV's......Plastic sink, plastic faucet, plastic water lines, plastic drain lines, counter top etc.

I better check..... maybe the Ford Frame is Plastic too!

When I redid my kitchen I found that all the drain parts are pretty much standard that you can get at any home improvement store (of course the store bought products are white and the ones in the coach is black but that was the only difference). The cheapy sink, however, went straight to the trash.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

When I redid my kitchen I found that all the drain parts are pretty much standard that you can get at any home improvement store (of course the store bought products are white and the ones in the coach is black but that was the only difference). The cheapy sink, however, went straight to the trash.

ABS pipe is black and PVC is white. Believe it or not, the ABS pipe used in the coach is stonger and more shock resistant than the PVC pipe used in a house. The PVC, however, is more flexible than ABS.

But to some, using stronger and less shock resistant pipe in an RV is a display of the poor quality in build and materials.

[cavie]

The hair that used to be on your head is in the p trap. Easy fix.

[Judge]

I believe this is working per the design of the plumbing. I can see water down the drain of my kitchen sink. It drains normally so I am not concerned. I believe the way they have the plumbing routed, there tends to be a little more water in the P-trap.

[Long & Winding road]

Originally Posted by Judge

I believe this is working per the design of the plumbing. I can see water down the drain of my kitchen sink. It drains normally so I am not concerned. I believe the way they have the plumbing routed, there tends to be a little more water in the P-trap.

Ok, Thanks.

Yours was the response I expected from my fellow "Thor-ites" (or is it "Axis-minions? LOL).

Im not going to worry about it..... but when it cools down some in the fall I think I will remove the P pipe to satisfy my curiosity.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by cavie

The hair that used to be on your head is in the p trap. Easy fix.

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1594756188

[Long & Winding road]

Thanks Bob, I needed a good laugh today.

I dont wash my hair in the kitchen sink but if my shower has problems draining and I look in the mirror and look like Bob I think i can put Two and Two together.

[MaceMan]

it's just that the p trap is closer to the drain than the normal in a home. Closer so that's why you see it.

[alajeu]

Had the same problem a few trips ago. It was just a matter of the rig not being level. The water couldn't drain uphill into the gray water tank or it might be that the tank is to full to take any more water

Alajeu