My shower sump consists of a well in the floor of the shower (all fiberglass over styrofoam) with a perforated sheet (the screen) of stainless covering it. The pump - one of those square Rule pumps - and float switch are in the sump. I like this pump because it is square and so fits the square well well, and the pump motor/impeller is easily removable for replacement without disturbing the plumbing.
I clean the sump when the pump stops pumping properly and I have to go into it for service. I clean the screen whenever I notice debris (mostly hair) accumulating. Most of the trouble I have is with the float switch so I am adding a manual-off-auto switch (it's on the List). Another problem is that the sump is so small that the "fall back" of water returning to the sump after the pump shuts off raises the float to almost the point of turning on the pump again. A check valve (prone to fouling with hair) or larger sump (too much work) or manual switch (on the List) would be the cure for that. Norm S/V Bandersnatch Lying Julington Creek FL > [Original Message] > From: Lee A Licata <lazilic...@gmail.com> > To: <liveaboard@liveaboardonline.com> > Date: 4/11/2012 10:41:58 AM > Subject: [Liveaboard] How often do you clean your shower sump... > > Hi! > Two of us live on board and from July- September last year, we took showers frequently and have used the head's sink nearly continuously from July to present. > (After September, we took showers in the marina.....do not think we stopped taking showers.........!!) > All this water goes to a 687 liter black water tank. > While searching for a fresh water leak, come upon my shower sump that the head's sink and shower drain to. > Was with a friend who noticed that the water inside was bluish. > Admiral is away so he thought we should pop the cover and look. > The smell was NOT that BAD but the water was beyond words. > > Used a wet dry vac to pull the water out, cleaned the screen that protected the pump, flushed some clean water thru the sump and used a brush to break free the big chunks, and closed it all back up... > > So, what does this list say... How often should I do this? > > Lee > Cesme > > > And, got the following off the 'net and thought I would ask if doing this procedure below periodically might also be helpful... > > Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup of vinegar. > The vinegar will react with the baking soda causing it to fizz and dissolve the hair. > Allow the chemicals to combine and react together for 20 minutes. During this time, boil 6 cups of water. > Pour the boiling water down the drain to flush out the baking soda and vinegar, as well as any residual hair. > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > Liveaboard@liveaboardonline.com > To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to liveaboard-j...@liveaboardonline.com > > To unsubscribe send an email to liveaboard-le...@liveaboardonline.com > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/liveaboard@liveaboardnow.org > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list Liveaboard@liveaboardonline.com To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to liveaboard-j...@liveaboardonline.com To unsubscribe send an email to liveaboard-le...@liveaboardonline.com The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/liveaboard@liveaboardnow.org The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
