A Trap in sink drains?

[walmsleyc]

Is it normal or recommended to place a loop in drain lines. 1 of 3 sink on my boat has a "loop" of hose that appears to have the effect of creating a water trap.They're not attached to a smelly sewer, so there's no need to keep the smells/gases out. Is there another benefit?I plan on replacing these hoses this winter.Chris

 

[bob G.]

Gray Water Tnk

You are correct in that the purpose of a sink trap is to prevent sewer gas from entering a building through the drain. Wouldn't be necessary if you have direct to the "sea" drains on your boat but might be there if you use a gray water holding tank. Usually there are check vavles, but who knows. More likley PO was lazy and didn't cut the right length hose. Need to empty loop before winterizing.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

No need for traps in any boat plumbing

Even if connected to a gray water tank. All you should need to do to get rid of the trap is remove the hose from the sink or the thru-hull (it'll be easier to get off if you warm it with a blow dryer first), cut off the excess hose, reconnect.

 

[Scott21120]

Depending on where the thru hull exits -

my surveyor pointed out to me that my head sink thru hull exits above the water line. In this case, he recommended a trap, because if someone next to you is running a motor, generator or whatever, the exhaust gases could enter the boat.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Commendable, but not worth much...

'Cuz the exhaust from an engine or generator next to you has just as good a chance of entering the boat through the bilge pump thru-hulls...and then only if the other vessel were rafted to you...in which case, the noise would prob'ly put an end to running the genset.Try as some people do, it's just not possible to protect everyone from themselves...and attempting to do so can create more problems than it solves.