Shower Drain Slow

Gimme Time

Gimme Time

Active Member
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Jan 7, 2007
907
Charlottesville, VA./ Deltaville, VA. / Tidewater
Boat Info
2006 52SB, Ray Marine E120, Garmin 7612 through BOE site sponsor,
Engines
QSM11s
Shower drain is exceptionally slow in draining down to the sump pit/pump below. We clean the typical hair collection off the drain after every shower yet the drain seems to flow very poorly.

The sump pit is clean and free of debris and the drain line is very short to the sump. Sump never fills fully with water as the pump cycles as the float demands. It almost seems as if the holes in the drain itself are so small that it want allow the water to drain anywhere near as quick as the water flows from the shower head. The sump handles the condensate from the aft AC as well as an additional floor drain in the sink area floor. the sink drains by gravity over the side above the water line easily.

It almost seems as if the it's either to small of drain holes in the drain cover or the sump pit is air locking from the flow. Looks to me like the condensate drain line & additional floor drain would allow all the air to relieve it needs to have a good flow.

If you have experienced this issue and know how to solve the problem correctly, please respond.
 
Do you use your shower on a regular basis? My guess would be that you might have a soap build-up and/or hair in the line itself. Try pouring some boiling watering into the drain.

Depending on your access, you could try snaking from the sump.

Maybe some compressed air blown in from the drain?

Has it always been slow? If so, it could just be a matter of physics - how high above the sump is the drain? Does the drain hose look as if it's routed efficiently?
 
We have the same problem. I keep the sump clean and I'ver blasted water through the line from both ends! The shower in the forward head drains fine so there is no issue with the holes. I also think it may be some air lock problem. I've given up on it and just accept it.
 
Thanks for the comments and I as well believe it is a lock problem. Next time I clean the pit I'm going to run water in the shower with the pit cover off to see what affect the air might have if I remove the air lock blockage. Maybe within the next week or so someone will respond that hasn't logged on in a while that has solved this issues before.
 
Did you or anyone else ever solve this issue?

I have poured hot water, sucked at the sump with a shop vac and tried biological dissolver, all to no avail. It improved but still can keep up with the showr head. Maybe the are to many dips in the line.

I’m thinking about replacing the shower drain line but instead of cheap corrugated, I’ll use pvc spa line and make sure the slope is good all the way from the drain to the sump
 
Try this just to identify your problem. Take a cheap drinking straw and force it into one of the drain holes about an inch below the surface. Leave it there whilst you take a shower. If the shower drains faster then you have an air problem, much like a gas can without a vent. If it doesn’t change anything you have a flow problem.
 
Both of my drains were slow when we got this boat. I poured drano down each drain, let it sit 15 minutes, and flushed/rinsed well - they are working fine now - even cleaned up the shower sump! I just made sure to flush/rinse well to get it all out of the sump afterwards.
 
We have learned over the years that pouring a citrus based bilge cleaner down the drain every two weeks goes a long way towards keeping drains flowing. Also have added a cut to fit fiberglass window screen that is placed under the drain cap. When the drain begins to slow, we unscrew the cap and replace the screen. Not saying this will fix the OP's issue, but it works wonders for keeping sumps very clean without taking them apart to clean.
 
Sounds like the drain hose is partially clogged. Either try to clear it as others have described or since you described it as a short distance maybe just replace the hose.
 
I’ll try the straw, then drain-o and if all fails try new hose.
 
I had the same problem.
I popped the strainer cover off and found that when the drain was installed there was excess silicone on the inside blocking the opening of the drain.
I used a pair of needle nose and a razor blade to cut and pull the excess out.
It drains fast now.
 
carterchapman said:
Both of my drains were slow when we got this boat. I poured drano down each drain, let it sit 15 minutes, and flushed/rinsed well - they are working fine now - even cleaned up the shower sump! I just made sure to flush/rinse well to get it all out of the sump afterwards.
Click to expand...

After much fussing, I tried drain-o following same procedure as Carter. Sure enough...hair ball in the line. Draining like a champ. I was afraid of the drain-o but it works!

And for those of you that insist on a picture, or it didn’t happen...
 

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