Herd Fan
West Virginia
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My parents have bought a FEMA trailer to use as a seasonal, full-hookup unit. Like most FEMA trailers, it has household frig, toilet, etc.. I haven't had time to look at it closely yet, but I was wondering..the current setup appears to be a shared drain line for ALL waste water. Should they be concerned since there is no shutoff valve (back-flowing odors)? I didn't know if there were sufficient traps in these trailers to prevent nasty, dangerous odor problems. I have this nightmare of sewer odors from the ground line coming up through the toilet and sinks. I could always install an aftermarket shutoff valve outside for when they aren't using the sinks or toilet, but it would be a pain to go out and open it every time they need to do something. Any thoughts or experiences with this? Thanks!
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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They don't have any holding tanks.......just like a house the drain lines go straight to sewer/septic system (WHEN YOU CONNECT THE DRAIN LINE)
Sinks/shower should have 'p' traps and if toilet is a residential toilet is has a built in 'p' trap (part of toilet)
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path1
seattle
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deleted
* This post was
edited 03/11/13 10:20am by path1 *
(To cheap to buy new)
1990 37 ft 5th wheel that hasn't moved since 1996 (our best home)
1997 33 ft trailer (winter home in much warmer climate)
2005 25 ft M/H (our "stand up B" for traveling)
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Perrysburg Dodgeboy
Perrysburg, Ohio USA
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I would install a check valve in line where it connects to the main line out to the park. Also have them install the sink and tub stops to keep the water in the traps from evaporating and letting odors in the TT.
Don
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HappyTrails2U2
Tennessee is home but being held hostage in GA.
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When FEMA set them up for people to live in they didn't do anything special other than just hook them to a sewer line. I've looked at some of these FEMA trailers before and they have "P" traps just like any other trailer or house so I don't see any need of doing anything other than just hooking them to the sewer line. The "P" traps are going to keep the odor out unless the trailer is not used enough to keep the traps from drying out which is not going to happen unless it's left setting unused for a long time.
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Perrysburg Dodgeboy
Perrysburg, Ohio USA
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HappyTrails2U2 wrote: The "P" traps are going to keep the odor out unless the trailer is not used enough to keep the traps from drying out which is not going to happen unless it's left setting unused for a long time.
That is the problem, it only takes a week or two in 90*+ weather for the water to evaporate and allow sewer gas to enter the TT. By installing drain stops in the sinks and tub along with a check valve you will not have sewer gas entering the TT.
Don
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dupreet
High Point, NC
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If it is stored for a long period of time, you can use a small amount of mineral oil to fill the trap. It doesn't go bad and it doesn't evaporate. Facility managers use it extensively in floor drains to keep them from drying out and stinking up the place.
Todd
Todd
1993 Ford E-350 pushed by a 1988 Wilderness 24' TT
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HappyTrails2U2
Tennessee is home but being held hostage in GA.
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Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:HappyTrails2U2 wrote: The "P" traps are going to keep the odor out unless the trailer is not used enough to keep the traps from drying out which is not going to happen unless it's left setting unused for a long time.
That is the problem, it only takes a week or two in 90*+ weather for the water to evaporate and allow sewer gas to enter the TT. By installing drain stops in the sinks and tub along with a check valve you will not have sewer gas entering the TT.
Don
Actually I've left my trailer setting for 4 weeks in the summer in Southern Mississippi in 100 degree weather and the traps didn't dry out. If I were going to leave it setting any longer I would just put the stoppers that came with the trailer in the sink and tub drains and they wouldn't dry out for an even longer period then. With an air tight stopper it would take a long time for the water to evaporate on the other side of the trap leading to the sewer.
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Lady Fitzgerald
Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth
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Where I live, a P-trap can dry out in less than a week in the summer, even if the A/C has been left on.
An alternative to P-traps that won't dry out is the HepoV that is starting to show up on this side of the pond and in RVs. It's a check valve that both blocks sewer gasses and allows air to enter the drain when a slug of water is going down; it replaces both the P-trap and the drain vent (along with it's pesky AAV). Although popular in Europe, it's been slow to be adopted here because of archaic plumbing codes and resistance to change.
Jeannie
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HappyTrails2U2
Tennessee is home but being held hostage in GA.
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Lady Fitzgerald wrote:Where I live, a P-trap can dry out in less than a week in the summer, even if the A/C has been left on.
What part of the Sahara Desert do you live in? Must be the southern part. 
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