Yet another "down under" related project and part of the soft hose replacement process. I figured this topic was worth it's own thread, thus here it is.
This time it is the black flush line. I have no intention of actually replacing the line but wanted it out of the way for other work. When I removed it from the back of the Nautilus panel and pulled the black water hose down under the trailer I got soaked with all the water in the line. I was surprised--I haven't flushed the black tank in months.
As I pulled (and pulled and pulled) the water line out of the camper's innards I eventually ended up at the bathroom knife valve. The flush line goes vertical at that point. My guess is this is where the atmospheric vacuum breaker/check valve is located. ( Diagram below is from Cate&Rob .)
The picture below is looking straight up from beneath the trailer underneath the bathroom. You can see the Bristol 1.5" bathroom gray tank valve. One black line is going up and one is coming down.
Look how close the black tank and flush connection is to the vacuum breaker location!
The connection on the Nautilus panel to the vacuum breaker is at least 1/2 the length of the trailer. Crazy long distance. No wonder water is retained in the line!
What I'm contemplating doing is relocating the black flush right below the vacuum breaker. The line will flush completely (like it should) due to gravity and the shortness of the line in this location. I don't like the connection on the Nautilus panel anyway, as when I disconnect it back flushes water into the compartment. Having a series of connectors to get a line outside is awkward and makes snaking a fresh city water line for water harder, too. (I know...1-800-Waaaaaa.)
I'll update this thread when I finalize the install with what I did. If you have a suggestion I'd appreciate reading it.
Also--if you don't winterize the black flush line--I suggest adding it to your regiment. May seem silly, and I know the water line will flex if frozen, but why chance it? Put a little antifreeze through the breaker valve and into the lines to remove all potential for damage. (Feel free to disagree--just my .02 based on what I found today.)
Howard
This time it is the black flush line. I have no intention of actually replacing the line but wanted it out of the way for other work. When I removed it from the back of the Nautilus panel and pulled the black water hose down under the trailer I got soaked with all the water in the line. I was surprised--I haven't flushed the black tank in months.
As I pulled (and pulled and pulled) the water line out of the camper's innards I eventually ended up at the bathroom knife valve. The flush line goes vertical at that point. My guess is this is where the atmospheric vacuum breaker/check valve is located. ( Diagram below is from Cate&Rob .)
The picture below is looking straight up from beneath the trailer underneath the bathroom. You can see the Bristol 1.5" bathroom gray tank valve. One black line is going up and one is coming down.
Look how close the black tank and flush connection is to the vacuum breaker location!
The connection on the Nautilus panel to the vacuum breaker is at least 1/2 the length of the trailer. Crazy long distance. No wonder water is retained in the line!
What I'm contemplating doing is relocating the black flush right below the vacuum breaker. The line will flush completely (like it should) due to gravity and the shortness of the line in this location. I don't like the connection on the Nautilus panel anyway, as when I disconnect it back flushes water into the compartment. Having a series of connectors to get a line outside is awkward and makes snaking a fresh city water line for water harder, too. (I know...1-800-Waaaaaa.)
I'll update this thread when I finalize the install with what I did. If you have a suggestion I'd appreciate reading it.
Also--if you don't winterize the black flush line--I suggest adding it to your regiment. May seem silly, and I know the water line will flex if frozen, but why chance it? Put a little antifreeze through the breaker valve and into the lines to remove all potential for damage. (Feel free to disagree--just my .02 based on what I found today.)
Howard
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