Trapless Shower Drain - Anybody used one?

[flboy]

Has anyone ever used one of these or something similar in their camper? I am building a CTC and putting in a shower and grey water tank. I was thinking about using this instead of raising the shower floor up high enough for a traditional trap. These are suppose to prevent gas and backflow. In my case, I will have a gray water tank only connected to the shower and sink and the tank itself will be vented. I'd use this and let the water drop directly into the tank with no trap so save the expense and etc. of building a raised floor to mount the shower on. Thoughts? Bad idea?

Please comment. Thanks.

[Nobody]

I'm not familiar with the 'fitting' you show in your post. thus not sure how well it seals against back flow & odors, especially in a moving vehicle where you'll have vibration that might cause some malfunctions? We have a 2001 Casita 17' Spirit Deluxe camp trailer. It has the bath/shower in front & the grey water holding tank 'amidships', & came with a normal trap setup with on/off shower valve between the shower & the grey water tank. I didn't like the valve/trap arrangement hanging down at the very front of my trailer (tho it never caused problems) so I had it switched out to a Hepvo Valve (google Hepvo Trap) which eliminated the trap & the shower drain valve. We've never had any odor or problem & the Hepvo valve protrudes only about 3" below the floor. Using such would necessitate your holding tank being somewhat away from the shower instead of directly over so you might be better with the drain you show?? I think I'd check carefully to make sure that vibration of a moving vehicle wouldn't cause any malfunctions

[Iconfabul8]

Found this low profile unit from China.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/bathtub-and-sho ... Sw~otWgp4u
I'm kinda liking this one:
http://plumbingconnection.com.au/shallow-shower-trap/
There seems to be a lot of low profile traps from Europe but I have no idea if they will work with our stuff.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/WIRQUIN-MEMBRANE ... XQ1ZhTieMu

[flboy]

Found this low profile unit from China.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/bathtub-and-sho ... Sw~otWgp4u
I'm kinda liking this one:
http://plumbingconnection.com.au/shallow-shower-trap/
There seems to be a lot of low profile traps from Europe but I have no idea if they will work with our stuff.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/WIRQUIN-MEMBRANE ... XQ1ZhTieMu

All very interesting. Thanks! for the post.

[aggie79]

No pictures, but LivinLite uses the Hepvo trap on showers in the CampLite travel trailer line.

[flboy]

No pictures, but LivinLite uses the Hepvo trap on showers in the CampLite travel trailer line.

I think I am going to go the Hepvo route for the Shower and save the space. For the kitchen sink, I am going to use the Ptrap and the existing Air vent . I recovered all the sink plumbing in tact from the donor camper. For the vanity, I may go Hepvo as I will have a lot going on in that cabinet and may need the space.

Thanks for the info.

[bobhenry]

the cheap and dirty way is a running (or condensation) trap in line. It can even be dropped just a bit by adding a couple elbows at each end if room allows.

[Iconfabul8]

the cheap and dirty way is a running (or condensation) trap in line. It can even be dropped just a bit by adding a couple elbows at each end if room allows.

This is giving me an idea! This looks like a good way to go under a crossmember. Lets you keep the gray water tank as high as you can and creates a natural p-trap.

[flboy]

the cheap and dirty way is a running (or condensation) trap in line. It can even be dropped just a bit by adding a couple elbows at each end if room allows.

That is nice also. It still will take a vent somewhere between the sink drain and the shower drain else when I empty the Gray water or the sink down stream, the vacuum created could pull the water out of the trap leaving it dry.

My understanding is that what makes the HepV an advantage, you need no vent and it doesn't matter that it is dry. Otherwise, its a trap and a vent (air admittance valve - AAV) . It is a toss in terms of $$ with the advantage that you do not have to winterize a HepV (like I need to do that in Florida hahaha).

[Iconfabul8]

Referring to the Hepvo...

it's a trap and a vent (air admittance valve - AAV) .

You are still going to have to account for the water displacement in the tank and the hepvo won't allow for that, nor would you want it to (keep the stinky air in the tank or outside). You still need a vent for that. Dang, I was excited for a minute, I was hoping to get away from another tank vent. I am still hoping to do it somehow through only one hole in the tank.

[Camp Wags]

I keep hearing about vents? My main freshwater tank has the vent tube that attaches near the fill port and pressurized water hook up. What else needs a vent? My set up, No black water. Composting self contained potty, Shower with that trap-less thingy to a portable waste tank under trailer, and 2 sinks back to back. One in the bathroom and the other one on same wall but in the main trailer. I have a 15 gallon tank for the grey water from the sinks. So... Where do I need a vent?

And thanks for your help.

Any tips on working with pex?

Thanks,

Gary

[MtnDon]

I keep hearing about vents? ........................ I have a 15 gallon tank for the grey water from the sinks. So... Where do I need a vent?

When water flows into that grey water tank air in the tank needs someplace to go; out a vent. Similarly a vent is required when you want to drain that grey water tank; air needs to flow in as the water flows out. No vents means gurgles, slow flow, maybe no flow.

Any tips on working with pex?

How many fittings will be installed? For only a couple or so use the sharkbite toolless fittings. There are other brands as well. That type are expensive. Or buy / rent a PEX tool and use the crimping bands. There are also three types of these. Brand C tools are not interchangeable with Brand S, etc.

PEX tubing is NOT UV resistant. Should be covered.

[lrrowe]

I have one of the crimpers for 1/2 in pex and it is great. I have even learned how to remove the "unremoveable" crimp rings for rework jobs. But the Sharkbite fittings are great and certainly have their place in plumbing work.

[Camp Wags]

The grey water vent, does it need to vent out the top of the trailer? or can it vent out the side or bottom?...

Thanks guys.

[H.A.]

[qul.