Suspected mud dauber problem?

[Buly]

While at the Strawberry Festival Rally last week, I noticed the shower was draining slower than usual, so I poured two large pots of boiling water down the drain.
But later while dumping the tanks, the gray tank was draining very slow, and was trying to take air from the drain side, just like when you are pouring water from a bottle. Looks like my went tube is plugged?
I have seen wasp and daubers flying in the garage, but was not able to find their nest.
Now I'm trying to work up a courage and climb on the roof. At 71 year old and on the heavy side, it is getting harder all the time .
I wander if someone else had to deal with that?

 

[AbdRahim]

When I had my trailer, I put some screen material around the vent pie to prevent this. I have been meaning to do it on the MH, but never got to it. I also put it in the A/C cover and refrigerator vent on the side of the MH.

If you are uncomfortable getting up there, I would get a local mobile tech recommended by the campground owner , perhaps to get up there and take care of it. Chances are he has done it before and knows what he is doing. It may cost you 50 or 60 bucks, but it would be well spent. Have him check all of the roof and seals while he is up there.

 

[Jim]

While at the Strawberry Festival Rally last week, I noticed the shower was draining slower than usual, so I poured two large pots of boiling water down the drain.
But later while dumping the tanks, the gray tank was draining very slow, and was trying to take air from the drain side, just like when you are pouring water from a bottle. Looks like my went tube is plugged?
I have seen wasp and daubers flying in the garage, but was not able to find their nest.
Now I'm trying to work up a courage and climb on the roof. At 71 year old and on the heavy side, it is getting harder all the time .
I wander if someone else had to deal with that?

Even if you climb up on the roof, there's no guarantee you'll see anything to prove they are/were in there or not. Well, not unless they're flying in/out of the top of the tube. And if that's the case, I don't think you're going to want to be up there. That vent tube has a cap on it, so you'll not be able to look down inside anyway.

I used the vent tube as a way to channel my solar wires from the roof down to the basement of the motor home. And while I was trying to fish the wire up through the vent tube, it kept banging into something that stopped it from going any further. After a bunch more banging and jamming the wire, it finally busted through and a whole lot of mud dauber nesting (i.e. chunks of dirt) came down the tube.

So yes, the little buggers like an area like that and apparently neither Tiffin nor Newmar did anything to block them from gaining access. Jamming a 4 gauge wire broke through the nest(s) in mine but unless you have some laying around, it's a little expensive to purchase just to evict some daubers. I wonder if maybe pouring some water down that pipe might dislodge/destroy the nest?

 

[Buly]

Thank you Jim. I have electrician’s fish tape, that’s a very stiff steel rectangular wire that could work?
will let you know.

 

[Buly]

Update:
Managed to peek on top. There are two vents. One by the mid AC and one in the same location next to the aft AC. The one by the mid AC had the top knocked off. Tried to push down the fish tape, but will go only about 6". Tried to look in, but it is a black pipe and looks like there is a 90 degree elbow? I have no idea which one is which?
Looks like I will be replacing both vents? Wander if there are any better ones out there? These lasted 5 years and the plastic is disintegrating.

 

[NWIP]

Buly
Not suggesting you buy from CW but may want to use these instead of replacing the complete vent.

Camco Replace All Plumbing Vent Cap - Polar White

Shop the Camco Replace All Plumbing Vent Cap in Polar White for durable and reliable performance. Perfect for your RV or camper. Buy now.

www.campingworld.com

 

[Buly]

Thank you Bill. That may work, plus I will install some SS screen.

 

[NWIP]

I like the SS screen idea

 

[Neal]

This is what I used.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006JLW7K/?tag=rvf01-20

 

[RandyB]

Although I've not used one, I was impressed with this design. No moving parts, wind direction inconsequential, draws fumes out not merely allowing them out and already has a screen.

360 Siphon® Roof Vent Cap

Keep Your RV Smelling Fresh with Lippert™ The 360 Siphon® RV holding tank vent cap eliminates odors from the source — the holding tanks — and exhausts them out the roof vent before they have a chance to invade the RV living space. By design, the patented

www.lci1.com

 

[Buly]

If I go to total replacement, I will go that route.

 

[AbdRahim]

Update:
Managed to peek on top. There are two vents. One by the mid AC and one in the same location next to the aft AC. The one by the mid AC had the top knocked off. Tried to push down the fish tape, but will go only about 6". Tried to look in, but it is a black pipe and looks like there is a 90 degree elbow? I have no idea which one is which?
Looks like I will be replacing both vents? Wander if there are any better ones out there? These lasted 5 years and the plastic is disintegrating.

View attachment 1395

I know you are not on the roof much. I treat all plastic and rubber items with Aerospace 303. UV protection. I usually treat several times during the camping season.

 

[Buly]

As RandyB suggested, I replaced both vents with 360 Syphon model. The old ones were crumbling like soda crackers in my hand. The hard part was I had to work on my knees in the 4' space between RV roof and garage ceiling. While there, I noticed the Dicor sealant on the roof was developing deep cracks. So I ordered 5 tubes of the stuff and that's my new project. The very hard part is scrapping the old Dicor. In the mean time the temps here are pushing 90F.
BTW before installing the vent caps, I used the garden hose to reverse flush the vent pipes from the top. They were fine.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

The 360 Siphon vent looks interesting, but I'm wondering about the concave top plate. Won't it retain water?

I understand that when in motion, that wouldn't be an issue, but when parked it looks like it would retain water. Are there some drains that I'm not seeing in the photos?

TJ

 

[Buly]

TJ, That bothered me too, but what we can do? That's how they made it. There is no drain hole, and I have no idea why they dished it like that?

 

[redbaron]

I have an older version of the 360 siphon, and it is not concave. I would fill that area in with dicor.

2019 DSDP 4369 * Active Air * NHSO

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I have an older version of the 360 siphon, and it is not concave. I would fill that area in with dicor.

2019 DSDP 4369 * Active Air * NHSO

Great idea, @redbaron! And, maybe crown it just a little in the center. If I ever need to replace a vent cover, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

TJ

 

[AbdRahim]

From some of the reviews and looking at the new one, it appears that they really cheapened the product. The new on looks very flimsy compared to the original. How sturdy does it feel in your hand? I looked at it and decided to stay with the standard cap.

 

[Buly]

AbdRahim,
I found it to be ok. Of course, if someone kicks it, it may brake. On the original ones, the cap was held on by a single screw in a thin post. If you want sturdy, get the metal ones that are made for a gas heater I think?