Reefer drain hose thingy ma bob

[Big_Katuna]

Had water on the floor under the fridge. Went outside to look at the drain line, cut the end off and a lot of war we came out.

I had heard of the little filter-plug thing clogging and intend to clean it and put it back
But I have to ask;

What does it do and what problem does it solve?

[vermilye]

One recommendation I've seen is to place a balloon with the tip cut off over the end of the hose (making the equivalent of a HepvO valve. Lets the water out, but keeps bugs and warm air from getting in. No idea if it actually works, but I've met a couple of people that swear by it. You might ask Doug if it is practical...

[enblethen]

Problem with the cup, is it can overflow and put water on the "floor" area of the refer causing it to rot out.
I would extend the hose, attach it to the vent cover so the end is sticking slightly out of the vent. Make sure it has a trap. It should be part of "start" of season cleaning.

[pnichols]

enblethen wrote:
The refer exterior access will get dirty from the roads. Dust and other debris can lay in bottom of the cup.
The water from the refer is not always the cleanest. It should be, but it is not always. Some materials fall off the cooling fins into the tray that ends upmin cup or inside the tube blocked by the "filter".

Thanks for the clear detail. That makes sense as to what could happen under certain conditions.

I'm guessing that Norcold engineering's reason for the collection tray is to keep water off the floor of the refrigerator cabinet (and maybe off of the RV's floor) by providing a tray to hold this refrig (defrost?) water for a bit until it evaporates quickly from burner warmth.

[enblethen]

The refer exterior access will get dirty from the roads. Dust and other debris can lay in bottom of the cup.
The water from the refer is not always the cleanest. It should be, but it is not always. Some materials fall off the cooling fins into the tray that ends upmin cup or inside the tube blocked by the "filter".

[pnichols]

Doug ... I don't argue ... I question statements that mislead unintentionally via not describing situations clearly enough.

I still wonder how the valve can get clogged up from laying temporarily in water that might collect from the refrigerator's interior in the Norcold drain cup before it soon evaporates due to warmth from being close to the burner?

What's coming out of the valve into the drain cup is water - not crud that can clog it. :h

[dougrainer]

pnichols wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
DO NOT allow the end to lay in the drain cup. lift it up a 1/2 inch and have it dangle just above the drain cup. That will allow the check valve to do its job and not get clogged up.

How does allowing the end to lay in the drain cup prevent the one-way check valve from letting water drain out of the line into the drain cup?

WHAT I am saying, is, to PREVENT the check valve from getting gummed up and NOT working, do not lay it in the drain cup. I did not say it would prevent the drain check valve from working. I guess you are just ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, has to argue everything:h Doug

[pnichols]

dougrainer wrote:
DO NOT allow the end to lay in the drain cup. lift it up a 1/2 inch and have it dangle just above the drain cup. That will allow the check valve to do its job and not get clogged up.

How does allowing the end to lay in the drain cup prevent the one-way check valve from letting water drain out of the line into the drain cup?

[dougrainer]

On Dometic refers, the end of the drain hose has a cap with small holes, that does 2 things, to prevent insects going up and to restrict a small amount of air from going back up into the refer. When installing the refer, they supply a LOT of extra white drain hose for the installer to either loop and make a P-Trap to stop air intrusion. I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN OEM INSTALL IT THIS WAY.
On Norcold Refers, they have a drain cup next to the burner flue with the drain hose installed in that cup. On the end is a plastic check valve that opens when water fills the drain tube. DO NOT allow the end to lay in the drain cup. lift it up a 1/2 inch and have it dangle just above the drain cup. That will allow the check valve to do its job and not get clogged up. Clogged up Norcold drain check valves are very common. Doug

[brulaz]

Our filter-plug also stops draining whenever the little tray it rests in fills up with water, which happens often when it's very humid.

So I pull the hose out the frig's side vent and let it drain outside at those times.

[enblethen]

What is "off" season?

[wnjj]

enblethen wrote:
You can also re-route the tube to put a small "P" trap in the line to prevent critters from entering.

What about when it dries out during the off season?

[mat60]

Reminds me that I should do something with my furnace.

[BB_TX]

I bought one of those plastic mesh-like dish scrubbers for a dollar or so, cut off a small piece, and pushed it up into the tube.

[Big_Katuna]

SAR Tracker wrote:
keeps bugs out of the tube. Yellow Jackets in particular.

Or, you can get a new one here.....

$11.00???
ROFL!

When I bought the RV new I added screens to all vents as Mud Daubers are a scourge in Florida.

If I can clean this one enough I’ll put it back on or add a screen.

Thanks all.