Gray water shower box? reviews?

mnm99

Well-Known Member
Oct 2, 2015
2,445
Long Island
Boat Info
2004 340 SeaRay Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Merc
So far every season I have to replace either the pump of switch in my shower box. I co clean it and run fresh water through it often also. I see there are boxes with external pumps like in the pic. Does anyone have any luck with them? Maybe also installing a better switch/ magnetic in the box also. I would just like a reliable setup.
10286516.jpg
 
I read on line to put pine-sol down the drain once a week to break up the soap.
I did this last year and did not have to clean the box to the end of the season.
Worth a try I guess
 
Haven't used the box but have used that pump as aux bilge pump for years. Very robust and reliable in my experience.
 
I need to replace mine this spring. Already pulled the old one out
 
I installed this switch years ago and it has been bulletproof...

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mnm99 - what brand of sump pump is that? I like the external pump.

I've been looking at replacing mine as I too am constantly having issues with the pumps or the switches failing. Mine currently is an Attwood with an S750 pump which itself gets horrible reviews. Previous one was made by Rule, not as many issues (as the attwood) over the 10yrs I had the boat. I've been thinking about trying the Johnson version next.
 

Possible less expensive alternative:
Last season I switched to liquid body wash instead of soap and starting flushing a little bit of Noflex Digestor (use it in the heads) down the shower drains with some hot water once a week and it was the first season that I had no problems with the float switches in the sumps. Previously always had sump float switch issues on this and my old boat.
I opened them up several times over last summer to check on them and they remained clean throughout the season.
 
So far every season I have to replace either the pump of switch in my shower box. I co clean it and run fresh water through it often also. I see there are boxes with external pumps like in the pic. Does anyone have any luck with them? Maybe also installing a better switch/ magnetic in the box also. I would just like a reliable setup.View attachment 63734

It seems that no matter where the pump is located the products that cause issue with the pumps is still going through the pump. The junk on the outside does not cause issue. Do not see an advantage, but do see extra leak sources and connections.

MM
 
Mine is a real pain to get to so won't be checking it until it quits. My whole set of steps has to be removed. In fact it is out right now, the steps just sitting in place to be replacing my pump this spring.
 
It seems that no matter where the pump is located the products that cause issue with the pumps is still going through the pump. The junk on the outside does not cause issue. Do not see an advantage, but do see extra leak sources and connections.

MM
Don’t think the pumps themselves are the problem, so whether it was located inside or outside of the sump wouldn’t matter.
Never had an issue with a shower sump pump, but plenty with the traditional seperate float switches that sit in the sumps. They get coated with the soap scum and other crap that builds in the sump and won’t activate properly.
After replacing a few over the years I learned to clean out the sumps frequently.
I was seriously leaning towards the “Water Witch” electronic switch that The Bill Collector recommends, but this past year another member here suggested switching from bar soap to body wash and I figured I would give it a try before ordering and engineering a way to mount the Water Witch switches in my sumps. I coupled that members recommendation with using a bit of Noflex Digestor down the shower drains regularly as I detailed above.
So far, so good.
The other thing I do regularly is add tablets to the AC drip pans. They drain in to the same sumps on my boat. That might have had something to do with keeping the sumps clean all season too, but I don’t know for sure. Anyway, it probably didn’t hurt.
 
+1 on the liquid soap - I also check it regularly to make sure hair and sand are cleaned out too. I also make sure it gets a really good cleaning at the beginning of the season with spray9 using an old tooth brush.

-Kevin
 
Don’t think the pumps themselves are the problem, so whether it was located inside or outside of the sump wouldn’t matter.
Never had an issue with a shower sump pump, but plenty with the traditional seperate float switches that sit in the sumps. They get coated with the soap scum and other crap that builds in the sump and won’t activate properly.
After replacing a few over the years I learned to clean out the sumps frequently.
I was seriously leaning towards the “Water Witch” electronic switch that The Bill Collector recommends, but this past year another member here suggested switching from bar soap to body wash and I figured I would give it a try before ordering and engineering a way to mount the Water Witch switches in my sumps. I coupled that members recommendation with using a bit of Noflex Digestor down the shower drains regularly as I detailed above.
So far, so good.
The other thing I do regularly is add tablets to the AC drip pans. They drain in to the same sumps on my boat. That might have had something to do with keeping the sumps clean all season too, but I don’t know for sure. Anyway, it probably didn’t hurt.
I did have to replace my pump when I got my boat as it appeared to have overheated probably due to a stuck switch. Since then it's been good as long as I make sure to keep things clean as part of normal maintenance. On the 340sda it's in an easy place to get to work on in the sole and I am in there regularly storing overstock drinks.

I also think the liquid soap makes a big difference as the bar soap wants to harden or clump.

-Kevin
 
Don’t think the pumps themselves are the problem, so whether it was located inside or outside of the sump wouldn’t matter.
Never had an issue with a shower sump pump, but plenty with the traditional seperate float switches that sit in the sumps. They get coated with the soap scum and other crap that builds in the sump and won’t activate properly.
After replacing a few over the years I learned to clean out the sumps frequently.
I was seriously leaning towards the “Water Witch” electronic switch that The Bill Collector recommends, but this past year another member here suggested switching from bar soap to body wash and I figured I would give it a try before ordering and engineering a way to mount the Water Witch switches in my sumps. I coupled that members recommendation with using a bit of Noflex Digestor down the shower drains regularly as I detailed above.
So far, so good.
The other thing I do regularly is add tablets to the AC drip pans. They drain in to the same sumps on my boat. That might have had something to do with keeping the sumps clean all season too, but I don’t know for sure. Anyway, it probably didn’t hurt.

My 270 pump only had AC condensate through it so I did not check it often nor put anything down it. It plugged last summer with a light tan colored biological growth the consistency of a shucked oyster. I now am putting an anti growth in the AC pans.

MM
 
So far every season I have to replace either the pump of switch in my shower box. I co clean it and run fresh water through it often also. I see there are boxes with external pumps like in the pic. Does anyone have any luck with them? Maybe also installing a better switch/ magnetic in the box also. I would just like a reliable setup.View attachment 63734

Does the pump run every few minutes whether the sump is being used or not? I had a bad duckbill check valve that wasn't stopping the water being pumped up towards the thru hull from dripping back into the sump so the pump would run every couple minutes. Basically is was pumping the same water out and it was dripping back. This was burning out the pump. Those rubber duckbill check valves only last a season or two especially if any kind of bleach or strong cleaning product go through the sump. I think it's just outside the sump box if you take off the exiting hose.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/rule-industries--check-valve-for-shower-drain-box--4353553?mrkgcl=481&mrkgadid=3139896701&cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC>NonB>Product%20Type-_-4353553&product_id=4353553&adpos=1o2&creative=108421552684&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKCAiAyMHhBRBIEiwAkGN6fJVuC2pecbyHyvbhPXeJPJ-fOmlL-27NNszFxWXjZiV0HBec0Kjx0hoCxDkQAvD_BwE
 

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