Ben40 Shower Won't Drain

[tmatzzie]

I have a 2008 Beneteau 40 slipped near the Herring Bay on the Chesapeake.

Today after two weeks of absence we tried the shower and the shower basin immediately started filling with water--it didn't drain. I had the water pressure turned on.

Any ides for how to attack the problem? Some more information:

A few questions:

Is this just a matter of clearing/cleaning lines or is there a sump pump I need to troubleshoot? I think there might be because I've previously heard some noise from down there.

Is there a non-toxic way to test whether there is some growth to clean out?

Any other advice?

I'm half inclined to just call the local marine service.

Thank you!

 

[TAK]

May be a dumb question..is the overboard discharge thru hull open? On my B-381, the sink and shower sump use the same thru hull but with separate valves. Mine only drains with the shower sump pump. Just a thought.

PaulJ
Summerhaven
HHS

 

[tmatzzie]

I need to confirm but I think the sink and shower thru hull is open, but it may be clogged by some growth.

The toilet thru hull is closed per USCG regulations.

 

[Mike B]

There's a sump pump that should have run to remove the water. A quick way to check the pump function is to use the manual switch located in the sink cabinet. It's a small black rocker switch mounted in an open off white box. You may have to get on your knees to see it. If the pump runs with the switch on then the float switch in the shower sump could be at fault. If this is the case check with your dealer to see if the float switch is available. If not you'll need to buy a new sump,which isn't cheap. If it doesn't run then you'll need to troubleshoot the pump circuit and fuses. If the pump runs but doesn't empty the sump then you likely have a blockage in the discharge hose which you'll have to clear. Note that the hose runs to a manifold which then leads to the thruhull.
Good luck
Mike

 

[arf145]

From your description it sounds like you are expecting the shower drain to just, well, drain, but it does need a pump running to push the water out the thru hull. As others have mentioned, there will be a switch in the head.

 

[Dan McCall]

Shower pump automatic drain switch is voltage dependent. If the manual switch under the sink activates the pump when switched to the on position and empties the shower pan then the most commonly associated problem is decreased battery voltage. Not sure of the required voltage to activate the pump electronic drive board but when our batteries are low from anchoring out for a couple days the we have to use the manual under the sink switch. When batteries are fully charged the float switch in the shower sump activates the pump and all works as designed.

 

[Ron20324]

Bear in mind in 323's, you have to have the fresh water switch on also. Obviously, you'd have to have water going into the shower in order to pump it out. Perhaps your fresh water breaker supplies the 12 to the shower drain pump/switch?

 

[Mike B]

Dan if your batteries are that depleted you have to use the manual switch to empty the shower pan I suspect you're well below the 50% discharged level. The sump pump is on a simple 12v circuit. No circuit board is involved just the float switch in the sump. Don't know what your house bank's amperage is but I suspect it's minimal. The 40/43's are energy hogs and you'll easily use 100+ a hrs a day. If you have the stock house battery you'll use that up in the first day. While the battery(s) may handle it short term they'll likely die and early death.
Mike

 

[Mike B]

On the 40 there's no need to have the fresh water on. As long as the house bank is on it should operate.
Mike

 

[Dan McCall]

There is a circuit board that controls the relay timer sequence for the pump. When the pump is activated it runs until the sump is empty and for several seconds thereafter. There is a minimal voltage necessary activate the pump and timing sequence. Beneteau has placed a manual override switch under the bathroom sink as a backup.

 

[tmatzzie]

I figured it out. Some sort of scum had grown on the float in the sump and kept the float from engaging. A little cleaning and it was fixed in 60 seconds. Thanks to all from a new guy.

 

[Blue_Moon]

Shower Sump Intermitent

Blue Moon—a 2013 Oceanis 48—has a shower sump in the master cabin which is equipped with both a float switch and a manual button. As in the aft head/shower (which has no float switch) the manual button runs the sump for 15 seconds each time you push it.

The first time the master shower sump quit working, it was repaired under warranty. We do not know what was actually done. Now, six months later, it has failed again. Our attempts to tease out the origin of the problem reveal that it has failed in a rather odd way.

If you shut down power to that shower sump circuit by popping the breaker, as soon as power is reapplied, the sump runs for 13-15 seconds—then quits. The only way to get it to run again is to interrupt and reapply power to that circuit. We also did this by interrupting the entire 12V Domestic power circuit and then reestablishing it. Same result.

These tests were all done with water in the shower pan so the presumption is that it was the float switch that was making the pump run. The manual button was never pushed as a part of the testing other than after the pump stopped at which time it had no effect. Interestingly, the pump timing relay is programmed to apply power for 15 seconds in response to a button push. The float switch (when working correctly) will allow the pump to run continuously as long as water is present.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[Ron20324]

New problem, new size boat, you should have started a new thread with a new title.

 

[Blue_Moon]

Newbie

Sorry. I am new here. Thanks for the advice.