Open shower sump outlet?

4_Ever_Newbie · Sep 4, 2017

About 2 weeks into my "new to me boat"...and learning its systems.

I've read the boat's manual, many threads about shower sumps and I'm still unsure about the "unusued" outled out of the plastic box. I refer to the one in blue in enclosed pic, what is it used for?.

With current float switch there is always a bit of water in the box, and this only causes water to spill out of that outlet when cruising and getting the cabin carpet wet. I have just bought a new pump/float switch to be on the safe side but:

Anyone know what is the purpose of that outlet?, is it supposed to be plugged if unusued?, ..water spilled from there does not seem to have a way out anywhere else but the bilge and cabin carpet.

By looking at the boat's gray water system layout I'm suspecting that "unusued outlet" may be an inlet for the cabin's sink or wet bar, and the cilyndrical strainer would make sense to keep stuff out of the sum pump...

Unless I hear it should be actually plugged if unused, I'm planning to add a 90 degree connector and small pipe to raise it a bit to make sure it never overflows unless completely "full".

2004 Sundancer 28'

bahamabreisus · Sep 4, 2017

I am guessing that is an overflow exit for the sump. If the pump is working, it should not come out that fitting. Putting an elbow might help a little, but it will still overflow. Ours is very different, but same idea, water should not get high enough to come out overflow

Little Ducky · Sep 4, 2017

All outlets come blocked off when those boxes are purchased and you only open them up if something is attached.

Having an open outlet is not correct.

Plug it off completely and you will be good to go.

If the previous owner installed this box...... I wonder what else they hosed up.

fwebster · Sep 4, 2017

Where do the sinks drain into the sump box?

Little Ducky · Sep 4, 2017

fwebster said:
Where do the sinks drain into the sump box?

Sinks normally just drain directly overboard.

4_Ever_Newbie · Sep 4, 2017

fwebster said:
Where do the sinks drain into the sump box?

Not sure, but apparently not in the sump box, I can tell only about two connections, the shower drain and a/c condensation

gerryb · Sep 5, 2017

Normally the shower is the largest connection and the one used by the shower currently would be blocked off. No matter. If the shower is draining fine, leave everything as-is and block off the open connector port. None should be open. You might be able to get a black rubber cap from home depot or lowes that fits on the end with a o-ring clamp.

JimmyDubai · Sep 5, 2017

I have the same arrangement as your picture shows (one coming from the A/C pad, another one from the shower and a third one as discharge from the pump to the outside via thru hull. The additional line is plugged off from the factory. The only action I need to take if I want to have that area dry is to leave the battery switch on all the time since the sump pump is connected directly to the distribution panel, not to the batteries as the other bilge pumps are. Water flow from the A/C is significant due to humidity in my area.

outlaw32 · Sep 6, 2017

The big one is for the shower. That is also the one that has the plastic mess screen to catch hair.

4_Ever_Newbie · Sep 7, 2017

I think I know why they were selling the boat...shower sump box does not seem the issue but water pumped out seems to come back from wherever is going.

Is water from the sump pump supposed to come out of a water outlet to the ocean?...can't anything coming out when the pump is operating.

After a while bilge gets filled with water

Thinking the outlet is blocked

Any suggestions?

Thanks

NorCal Boater · Sep 7, 2017

4_Ever_Newbie said:
I think I know why they were selling the boat...shower sump box does not seem the issue but water pumped out seems to come back from wherever is going.

Is water from the sump pump supposed to come out of a water outlet to the ocean?...can't anything coming out when the pump is operating.

After a while bilge gets filled with water

Thinking the outlet is blocked

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Yeah....disconnect the output hose and dry and blow through it if it's clear you may need a new pump.

I think if I were in your flip-flops I would go to your local West Marine or wherever and spend the $125 and replace the entire sump. Might be time to quit screwing around with this thing.

wayne0 · Sep 7, 2017

4_Ever_Newbie said:
I think I know why they were selling the boat...shower sump box does not seem the issue but water pumped out seems to come back from wherever is going.

Is water from the sump pump supposed to come out of a water outlet to the ocean?...can't anything coming out when the pump is operating.

After a while bilge gets filled with water

Thinking the outlet is blocked

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Sounds like a broken discharge hose to me.

Lazy Daze · Sep 7, 2017

Did you physically look/check to see if that "un-hosed" nipple is actually open? You mentioned water spills out when cruising - but have you verified that, or are you making an assumption based on water showing up in the forward bilge?

In some '99-'04 260DA's, the galley sink was routed to the sump box, in others it was not. But that's easy enough for you to verify by pouring some water down the galley sink.

The pump outlet is routed to a thru-hull on the starboard side, approximately below the helm. Some water will come back down through the hose and back into the box after most is expelled, but if you're saying water is showing back up on the OUTSIDE of the box, then as others have said, either the output line is burst (freeze), has come off the thru-hull, or the thru-hull has broken.

4_Ever_Newbie · Sep 8, 2017

Thanks for the tips, NO water at all comes out of any of the starboard side discharge outlets when the sum pump is working, consistent with a plugged and/or broken hose.

I've read some sum pump outlets have flappers to prevent water flowing back, and if it breaks it may actually plug the discharge hose....but in my case water also back flows from the through hole that contains the hose, so as said here already it may be a broken hose. (I stopped the A/C to end the water condensation flow and extracted the water using a wet vacuum, this seems to have stopped it).

How difficult would it be to change the hose?....wondering if it is serviceable at all.....it is in the space between the cabin wall and the boat's external hull.......there is a door panel in the aft cabin, assuming boat survives the hurricane I'll try see if I can access the line ( 260 SUndancer, 2004).

I have already bought a new pump and float switch to be on the safe side.

LDB270 · Sep 12, 2017

That looks exactly like my sump. The large inlet on mine is blocked off. I have some water outside as well but I think it's rain water.

Lazy Daze · Sep 12, 2017

I can't remember from memory what access point works best. But I would also try looking through the access panel under the steering wheel (cabin door closed) - possibly use a mirror on a stick or your phone. Also, the cubby by your feet is only held in with a few screws.

4_Ever_Newbie · Sep 20, 2017

Mistery solved, the ac and bilge pump hoses were in one another's position. So the ac condensation was dripping into the bilge pump, and when the box became full, it pumped the water back into the ac system...until it eventually flodded and came down from around the ac pipe into the sum pump area.

This also explains why there was no water coming out of the through hole....

Swapped the hoses, now it all works, sum pump area is bone dry!

wayne0 · Sep 24, 2017

4_Ever_Newbie said:
Mistery solved, the ac and bilge pump hoses were in one another's position. So the ac condensation was dripping into the bilge pump, and when the box became full, it pumped the water back into the ac system...until it eventually flodded and came down from around the ac pipe into the sum pump area.

This also explains why there was no water coming out of the through hole....

Swapped the hoses, now it all works, sum pump area is bone dry!

Kind of stupid thing to have happen. Glad you figured it out.

JimmyDubai · Sep 25, 2017

Oh man.. just find out who did that installation so we all ban him/ her from the boating world LOL

Open shower sump outlet?

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