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Plumber repairing pipes with wrench

5 Common Mobile Home Plumbing Problems

We get a lot of questions about mobile home plumbing problems like slow drains, foul odors, and back flow. 

With the information below you should be able to better pinpoint what is causing your mobile home plumbing problem, why it’s happening, and what needs to be done to fix it. 

I’ll give you a hint. Every issue is usually caused by one of two things: material failure or venting issues. We’ll cover both culprits below.

5 Common Mobile Home Plumbing Problems

Most homeowners know about their home’s water supply lines and drainage lines but aren’t so familiar with their plumbing’s venting system.

In fact, the majority of questions that we get usually involves either a stoppage or a venting problem.

Thump, Thump, Thumping

Thumping sounds are usually a sign that a mobile home has a ventilation issue.

Unfortunately, these venting issues are complex and you’ll probably need to call a professional in mot cases.

When you hear thumping when a sink or washer is being drained you probably need to strap your drain lines better under the house.
mobile home plumbing problems -

Thumping when Water is Running

If you hear thumping when your water is running it is likely from your water lines not being strapped properly and it happens a lot. In lots of older mobile homes, you’ll find water supply lines run through cabinets or floor joists without straps.  

There is a product called hammer arresters that will help but a plumber will need to install it. This Family Handyman article can explain more. 

 

2. Slow Drainage

A slow drain in a bathroom sink will probably be hair build up on the popup. Check the drain plug and the metal bar attached to it. 

Snaking the Drain Lines

Snakes come in many different sizes but they all work the same: they snake through the drain line and pull or push clogs through. Hand snakes are great tools for a homeowner when there’s a small clog but there are some commercial snakes that professionals use that will clear anything. You can buy a hand snake for less than $30. 

plumbing snake - mobile home ventilation problems - ask a mobile home expert series
This snake is available at Amazon for $26.

Click here to learn more about unclogging a drain.

Be sure to snake out each point that you are experiencing issues.

3. Backflow into Bathtub when Toilet is Flushed

When water flows into the tub after flushing a toilet you are likely experiencing a clog in your drain line.

It backflows into the tub because your tub is the lowest point in your system. Water levels out and always find the lowest point first, that is usually a bathtub in a mobile home.

mobile home plumbing problems - toilet auger
Toilet Auger clears clogs easily.

To fix backflow issues that occur after a flush, you will need to use a closet auger. These are similar to a sink snake we mentioned above. It’s essentially a cable and rod system that works together to drill a clog out toward the sewer.

We also have an article about the basic of plumbing In manufactured homes. 

If the backflow problem is not caused by a stoppage, you may have a ventilation issue. Try adding an additional vent for the master bath sink, tub, and toilet (tie them together on a single waste line).

Another issue could be poor grade on your drain line. You’ll want to get the T-branched and graded properly. You need 1/8″ of a grade for every foot of pipe (if it is 3″ or 4″ pipe). Also. make sure it doesn’t have any dips in it. You’ll want to strap or hang it every 4ft, if possible, or build a stand every 4ft to keep a steady percentage of fall to the sewer tap.

ask a mobile home expert - mobile home plumbing ventilation problems -

 

3. Foul Odors

Foul odors can be caused by several things but it usually always means something isn’t working as it should.

Bad Auto Vent 

The most common is a bad auto vent. Older auto vent springs may stop closing themselves off properly which allows the foul odor through.

Bad Wax Ring

Wax ring under your toilet will be leaking but won’t be visible. If this is the case, unfortunately, sewer water is slowly building up under the home.

Dry P-Trap

A partial clog could be blocking a vent that is causing water in your sink traps to be sucked out. A dry P-trap allows the smell to come through.

If it’s coming from the drainage/waste line you probably just need to snake it out really well. 

Pipe Separation

You could have a drain pipe pulling apart and allowing leakage to collect under your home.

mobile home plumbing problems - aerator parts
The many parts of a sink aerator. (source)

 

4. Low Pressure

Aerator Clog 

Low pressure in a mobile home is usually going to be an aerator clogged in your sink screens. A quick clean or an inexpensive replacement should fix the problem. 

Pressure reducing valve may be partially clogged.

There are valves, whole-house filters, and screens that can get dirty or clogged in several places throughout a plumbing system. Be sure you understand where they are in your home and know how to clear them.

Galvanized Pipe 

If you have galvanized supply lines slowly close off with mineral buildup which causes low pressure. Replacement is about all you can do if this is causing a mobile home plumbing problem.

mobile home plumbing problems - leaks

5. Leaks 

Leaks aren’t just mobile home plumbing problems, they are common in all homes but because mobile homes tend to have cheaper materials they can be more common.

Shower Head Leaks 

Shower head leaks are a common mobile home plumbing problem. Moving a shower head around causes leaks that only occur when water is being run through the head so homeowners don’t catch them until water damage appears on the wall or floor below. Fixing it will require a professional so it’s important for homeowners to be aware of the problem and keep an eye on the shower heads.

mobile home plumbing problems - Old Style Utopia Stem & Bonnet

Faucet Leaks 

Faucet leaks in the kitchen are usually from the connectors where the faucet attaches to the main supply line. In mobile homes, these connectors are made of plastic which loosens up over time. They can get bumped under the sink a lot, too.

 

See how this mobile home bathroom wows. 

We Haven’t Forgotten Frozen Pipes

We have an entire article dedicated to frozen pipes in mobile homes because I suspect it is the absolute most common mobile home plumbing problems in the nation.

Inspect Your Entire Plumbing System Twice a Year

These 5 mobile home plumbing problems are fairly common in older mobile homes but they occur in newer manufactured homes, too. Inspecting your mobile home is important regardless of age. Use this mobile home safety inspection checklist as a guide at least twice a year. 

Inspect Under the Home

Being a proactive homeowner is vital for a healthy home. We should all inspect the entire plumbing system at least twice a year. A thorough inspection includes going under the home with a light and looking for loose pipes, drips or pools of water, and foul odor under your home. 

Inspect Around and Under Sinks, Toilets, and Tubs

Inspecting the walls and floors around your sinks, tubs, and toilets can save you a lot of headache in the future. Feel for wetness or softness. If you store stuff under your sinks make sure you stay away from the pipes.

Finally, you should make it a habit to check your sink aerator screens when you replace your furnace’s filter.

That’s our 5 most common mobile home plumbing problems and their causes and fixes.  While you should always call a professional before you do anything extreme, you may be able to save yourself a little money by doing simple things like snaking a drain or cleaning the aerator.

What Are The Costs To Fix Mobile Home Plumbing Issues

The total cost to fix any plumbing problems depends on the specific things you need to repair or replace and the size of your mobile property home. However, we have mentioned the average costs to fix some everyday things. Have a look –

  • Drain Line: If your plumbing task needs a drain line repair, you can expect to spend anywhere between $225 to $1,170. The cost will vary according to the complexity of the fixture and the material type used.
  • Lead-Pipes: If you live in an older mobile home, you must completely re-pipe it if your pipes are constructed of lead. The overall cost may vary depending on the size of your property and the number of plumbing lines that need to be replaced, but the average cost to replace lead pipes is roughly $2,500.
  • Floors: Plumbing projects involve more than just pipes; you might also have to repair or replace sections of your floor to make things appear brand new again. The total cost will be determined by the extent of the repairs and the kind of flooring used. However, repairing the flooring will typically cost between $7 and $30 per square foot.

Note: If you opt to replumb your whole mobile home, the average cost can range from $1500 to $4000.

Tips To Prevent Plumbing Issues & Reduce Expenses

Here’re are a few tips to minimize mobile home plumbing issues –

  • Use heat tape during winters to insulate water pipes.
  • Leaks in water pipes can lead to high water bills; if you notice any, get them fixed.
  • Avoid strong chemicals to unclog drains.
  • Place a thermometer on the heating tape; it maintains warm temperatures.

Turn To The Expert

Independent Service Contractor

Calling in a professional plumber to deal with a plumbing problem is the wisest thing to do when it comes to mobile homes. You can check reviews of your local plumbing services or ask for recommendations from your network to find a reliable contractor. 

Conclusion

These are some common mobile home plumbing issues and the costs of getting them fixed. Preventing a system breakdown is not so tricky but ensure that you follow these tips and instructions to use the plumbing parts properly in the long run.

Thank you for reading Mobile Home Living!

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55 thoughts on “5 Common Mobile Home Plumbing Problems”

      1. Looking for help. I have a 1996 16×80 Chandelier Mobil home. I have water pressure but when I flush I lose pressure until tank fills up. If I run shower and turn on another faucet it has no pressure. It worked great one day and started out of nowhere .

  1. Ritchie K Griffin

    I have a mid 80s Lancer moble home that had all water pipes freeze last winter during an unusually cold spell. I’ve had all piping replaced where needed. However, with skirting removed and main water valve turned on, I can still see water leaking right below the shower hot and cold supply,but cannot seem to pinpoint exactly where it’s leaking. It appears to be coming from somewhere below the bath tub/shower.Could there be something below the floor but unable to see from looking up under moble? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

  2. I live in a 2017 Mobile home, that I bought in 2019. Shortly after I bought it, the master free standing shower wouldn’t turn back on if you stopped it and then needed to turn it back on. Then it became where it wouldn’t turn on unless you flushed the toilet a couple of times. It would stay on for the duration of your shower though. Then it started turning off about 2 mins into you shower. Now, I can not get it to turn on at all except for a little trickle. Then recently my hall shower wont come on because there isn’t enough pressure. You can not even take a bath. All I have working in my house to bath in is the mast tub which so far works fine. Any ideas how to fix the showers?

  3. Cassandra Williams

    Hello. Own a 1987 double wide Skyline in Northwestern Pennsylvania, originally my grandmother’s. Always heard gurgling in kitchen sink when doing laundry. Years ago had our p-trap cleaned out which seemed to solve the problem at that time. Now my laundry drain is backing up again although the water does not seem to stay in the pipe. Was told to clean the p-trap, but I do not think that is the problem. You see, you can hear the water running, pushed out from the washing machine. Then we hear it coming up the pipe and then I stop the machine. Literally within 2 seconds we restart the machine and it starts flowing again and then starts to come back up. After stopping and starting the machine 2-3 times it is all drained, and it then does the same again for the rinse cyle. It does not appear to be an immediate clog as the water does flow out and just repeats like it was the first cycle running out. We have been using enzyme down all the drains for over a week, and replaced the air intake valves under kitchen sink and both bathrooms. There is no clogging in the bathroom sink or bathtub on the same side of the house either and we have been plunging as well, but not really getting anything, nor does it appear to be clogged when showering – in fact the drain runs fast there too. Thoughts before I have to either call in a plumber or the park owner to check further or for the sewer line? Lastly just a faint smell at kitchen sink for the first laundry drain, but thereafter none. I’m just perplexed. Thanks.

    1. Daniel Selvaggio

      I would check the standing drain pipe to your washer it needs to be at least 30 inchehes in height or just above the height of the washers basket

  4. Kathleen K OLeary

    What do you do when you get hot water from your cold water in the summer in your mobile home I thought about a container to put the water in that under that will go under the trailer but I don’t know how that would work because the water would have to be left on all the time do you know of any solutions to this problem I believe that the pipes for the water are not deep enough and that’s why it’s hot I live in Arizona

  5. Beverly Hodges

    We rent an older mobile home in a trailer park that’s started having a horrific stench coming from the kitchen sink and the bathroom, gurgling sounds in the water heater when the toilet’s flushed, a leak in the wall behind the shower head (may be due to tub installation by an inexperienced maintenance man) and a black sludge running from our trailer as well as the one in front of us. The site of the main behind us is always puddled. We are on the city’s sewer system. Could this be a vent problem, drain issue or do you think the sewer line has a break?

  6. I live in a mobile home which I bought new in 2016 & when my washing machine drains the water & spins, my kitchen sink drain makes a loud gurgling or bubbling sound. What do you think is the problem & what would you suggest I do?

  7. While success isn’t overnight, I was surprised how much better my drains worked after putting those Sani Sticks in every drain. The double kitchen sink would back up into the second sink when I’d run the disposal, about a month later I noticed that had ended. In fact all the drains, sinks, tub and shower greatly improved. Other advice, buy a plunger before needing it. Put a dish pan under the disposal because they will eventually leak into a big mess. If your cat or dog develops a sudden interest in the sink cabinet, grab a flash light and see why, you may not be happy with what you find but, it will be better sooner then later.

  8. Barbara Faulkner

    I have a new 2018 Cavco manufactured home. I purchased a Bidet to be installed on the water line of my toilet. I just noticed the water line is quite small and the Bidet high quality metal fitting to the water is a lot bigger than what’s on my toilet. Can this be installed with new larger plumbing lines? or do I need to send the bidet back to the manufacture. I watched a video and it is quite simple to install, until I noticed the small plumbing water lines. What do I do? ( it’s a Brass-core T-valve with pressure control and water shutoff for safety that I want to put on the water line)

  9. Welp…We’re on the city’s sewer lines – no septic tank to empty… But I wound up solving my problem… well, the plumber with his fancy little robot/camera-drone thingy did. It seems the sewer lines are really quite old and have dropped in places… creating pockets where they become blocker very easily and allow air into the lines where it shouldn’t be… so they come back up thru the lines and out mine and my neighbor’s toilets. And when it rains it just exacerbates the problem. So the landlord is going to dig up the old lines and replace ’em….eventually. So thanks for your help and best of luck to you.

  10. Sorry for the duplication but I want to make sure this is seen… and add a little more information.

    Hello… and HELP! I live in a 1983 Riviera mobile home and have this issue that’s pretty much vexed everyone I’ve involved. The toilet. Just out of the blue, it will start bubbling. This is just intermittently. It woke me up at 4:30 this morning bubbling away. Most of the time it works just fine. But… when it rains, I’ve noticed, it won’t flush. It just acts like it’s clogged up. The bowl fills just about to the over-flow point…. and then, 5-10 minutes later, it flushes itself and it works just fine again. I’ve had plumbers out… the landlord has has a number of guys out to snake the sewer lines… and that seems to help – until it rains again. Being I live in the desert, this only happens now and then. But it’s annoying. And like I said, frustrating everyone I’ve lured into the problem. Any clues, ideas or solutions would be GREATLY appreciated!

    It rained Friday and all worked perfectly. I had a friend of a friend who is a plumber’s helper out and he suggested my vent stack was partially plugged. He climbed up on the roof with a flashlight and peered all the way down to the bottom – nothing. Then, just to make sure, he ran a hose down and flushed it with clean water. Nothing. Everything worked perfectly. Then, a little after 7 this morning —- bubble, bubble bubble. Flash and the water rises all the way up to just below the overflow point and just sits there. 20 minutes later, I hear the toilet clearing itself. You see how and why this is driving me mad… Bwahahahahahaaaa!

    1. Hi Ken,

      I looked over your comment (I get lots of spam comments). I apologize.

      To answer your question we really need to know if you’re on a septic system or have a paid sewage service.

      We kinda assume you’re on a septic system based on a couple things you said. If so, this sounds like your septic tank is full and isn’t able to release seepage when it rains (the wet ground can’t absorb anymore moisture) so it backflows into your toilet.
      When it’s dry, your tank is functioning, but barely, because it’s able to release the excess moisture. If you get your septic pumped clean the problem will probably stop.

      We can’t really help if you’re on a paid sewage system. It could be a blockage close to your home.

      Hope that helps. Best of luck.

  11. One of my toilets, in my 1981 Cavco manufactured home never fills up with the proper amount of water. I have tried several times to find and fix the problem. The original toilets were replaced during renovation before I purchased the home. The toilets use to be plumed into the wall, the hole is still visible, the new toilets are plumbed thru the floor. The guest room toilet fills just fine. The toilet tank has plenty of water in it, but as I said, it never fills up the bowl. Nothing I try works. Any suggestions are appreciated, before I call a plumber. Thank you.

  12. I live in a 1970 Trailer home.my toilet gurgles up every time I flush it.I don’t know where to find the vent stack to flush it out and see if that is what is clogged.

    1. Hi Laura,

      A gurgling toilet can mean a clog or a partial clog in your drain line so I’d try snaking out or plunging the toilet first. You can buy a $25 snake at Lowe’s that typically works for residential plumbing. If it is a vent issue, look on the side of your home that has your kitchen, laundry, and bathroom and look for a white pipe sticking up about 1 foot from the roof. That will be your vent stack. Worse case, you may be able to tie an auto vent under your bathroom sink (assuming that toilet is tied into the same stack which it usually is) and that will stop the gurgling. Best of luck!

    2. Manufactured home wet under home where toiet is however no running water no increase water amount on meter .. no soft floors in bathroom around toilet seem like its possible under shut off valve ..

  13. We have a 2019 champion mobile home a septic system with a lagoon. There is a terrible septic smell outside by the back door. This is where the laundry room and kitchen is located. The smell is much worse at night.

    1. Hi Mary,

      It’s hard to say but it sounds like you may want to raise your vent stack that is near the back door. You can also install a larger vent stack at the end of the trunk. The problem is worse at night because the air is colder with moisture and weighs odors down.

      Best of luck!

  14. Hi! I am SO glad I found your site. I stupidly put potato peelings down my friends garbage disposal in his double wide mobile home and now his kitchen sink is clogged.

    No other drains are clogged.

    Plunging, no

    Manual snake? Tried that but I got about 20ft or so and it was so hard to push I had to give up.

    I am going to get a power snake tomorrow but I want to make sure I am doing the right thing.

    He has a double wide. His sink is about 30 feet from the street. If you were to be facing it from the street there would be a bathroom in the far right with a sink and a toilet and a bathtub. So, drain, sewer, drain.

    On the other side of the wall is the laundry, so drain.

    Looking to the other half, left, same thing. Sewer, sink, standing shower. So, sewer, drain, drain.

    Lastly, is back to the right and the most forward and closest to the street. kitchen sink.

    Is this going to work? Me renting a power snake? Is the clog indeed down that line?

    I drew it out and that is why I am confused. Apparently the main is not clogged as all other drains work so apparently the sink is on it’s own line. When I look under the sink and remove the trap there is the main pipe going into that “panelling” wall and I cannot see where it terminates. I assume it goes down, curves, blah blah blah. When I ran the manual snake down it had resistance and then went a bit and then resistance again. Then it snaked and snaked AND SNAKED until I really couldn’t push too much more. (manual snakes is hard. 🙁 ) 🙂

    I started to have visions that it was going the OPPOSITE way down another pipe.

    I have looked at diagrams for mobile home plumbing but apparently it is up to the magician doing it back in the 70’s 🙁

    Called a plumber….

    We want $750 to install an accessible drainout valve” or whatever they called it. They WOULD NOT SNAKE FOR ANY REASON.

    My friend is on a fixed income. Not possible.

    So, am I wasting my time renting a power snake? If “all drains lead to the sea” as Dory says, then why NO OTHER BLOCKAGE? All other stuff functions. Do these drains terminate after the blockage? If that is the case then if I snaked 25 feet and it is only about 30 feet to the street????

    I REALLY need help.

    1. No worries! This should be a much easier fix than you think. My husband has been a licensed master plumber for over 20 years now and he has never seen potato peelings put through a modern garbage disposal cause a clog. At most, it simply compounded the issue to the point of no return. It’s almost ALWAYS grease and I’d bet money that is the cause of your neighbor’s issue too. My husband thinks that you are snaking through the grease and as you pull out the snake the grease and goop just close right back up because grease is gross like that.

      My husband doesn’t think you need to rent a pro tool yet. He recommends you go to Lowe’s and buy a Drain King 1″-3″. Close off all the other drains as best you can so that the goop doesn’t come out of the tub or the other side of the sink and use the drain king as shown on the packaging.

      If the drain king can’t push the goop out you may need to go under the home and cut into the kitchen sink drain line and use the drain king from that point. It’s easy to reconnect the pipe after cutting (Watch a couple of YouTube videos and you’ll be good to go). Be mindful of where you cut – you want to be as close to the central point of the home so that you can use the access again should they encounter another clog. This is exactly what the plumber was going to do but you can do it for $20 instead of $750.

      HERE is what the drain king looks like. It’s $12 and will do much better than any hand crank snakes. You need high-pressure water to jet that junk out and not a ‘snake’ since they just weren’t made for grease or food goop (they are more for paper and solids).

      Let me know how it goes!

      1. Hi Crystal and thank you!! My comment didn’t get “approved” until after I already rented the snake. The snake with the automatic drive push thing didn’t work because it had a tip on it that would not allow for the feeding past the elbow joints. My bad for not noticing that. Had to take it back.

        So, I went to Home Depot today and got a 50 foot by 1/2 inch auger…completely manual. I got quite a bit down the tube before I was just unable to keep twisting while pushing, etc.,

        I did see the Drain King at Home Depot and had thought of that before but my friend has been in the hospital and I have been trying to do this on my own with no help. I am TERRIFIED to push that thing in the hole, turn on the water and pray it doesn’t pop out just making a HORRIBLE mess. I need a helping hand. I agree that grease is probably not helping things. When I got down a ways and pulled back out, ran some water down, I got a big potato peel that came back so I know I am hitting it.

        Your comments are right in line with what I had planned. His dad (who is 80) is coming Tuesday so I was going to take off work early and have him turn on the water slowly while I held the Drain King in place and then I could scream to turn off the water if something happened.

        The auger got past one rough spot and then after about 25 feet I hit another blockage. I’m confident it can be blown out as you say but I am unwilling to attempt it alone.

        Getting under the home is not possible for me as I am a 6’4 350lb guy. His dad is 80 so that is out and my friend is big as well.

        Please let me know any other thoughts or hints you have as I have to get this done or I am stuck.

        Thank you!!

      2. Oh. I forgot to add, so under the sink when the trap and everything is unhooked there is a (maybe 3inch) pipe that goes about 3.5 feet into the wall and then bends down. When pushing the snake I have to get past this bend. And then another bend and then another bend. Then it is a straight line.

        My question is….if I put the Drain King in that 3.5 foot section is that going to blow any elbow joints, etc?. Will it work from there and still have enough pressure?

        Mindful that I did get about 25 feet in with the auger snake so that blockage is right around the 20 foot to 25 foot mark.

        Thanks again Crystal!

      3. Hi Jeremy,

        You very well could blow out some joints. Just make sure you’ve capped off/clogged all the other sinks and tubs before you do it that way the pressure will go to the place of least resistance.

        Let me know how it goes!

  15. I have a 1970 sunflower trailer I put all new waterlines in the new water heater and new Fossetts been working fine until today
    today the hot water in the tub is a small stream cold water has presser Like it has always
    The bathroom sink hot and cold side has pressure like always can you tell me what my problem is

    1. Hi Jacob,

      It kinda sounds like your aerator is stopped up. When you changed out the water heater all the gunk was stirred up and your aerator caught it. If that’s not it comment again and we’ll go from there. Best of luck!

  16. Hi,

    I have an issue with my water having a dirt/misty smell(shower, wash machine, sinks). I tried doing some research as to what the cause may be, and bacteria in the pipes or water tank seemed to be a probable “cause”. Any ideas cause/fix?

    1. Hi Troy,

      It’s usually the water heater. It essentially acts as a filter system and collects all the goop and goo in the lines before dividing it out into your home. It kinds just sits at the bottom of the tank.

      Also, your lines may be caked and need to be flushed as well. Sometimes it’s best to call a company to have the water heater and the lines flushed but you can do yourself. This article may help get you started.

  17. Bathroom single handle faucet problem . When filling the tub the shower head drops water. Home is brand new Titian. Shower control is on the tub spout. Heavy water leakage from shower head while filling tub! As a shower only no problem.

    1. Hi Bill,

      It sounds like either the valve was installed upside down or the switch on the tub spout is staying partially closed. Either way, if it’s been less than a year make the builder fix it cause you’re still under warranty.

      Let me know how it goes!

  18. We have a brand new mobile home, and after having the tub, sink, and toilet back up twice in less than 2 weeks, we had our local sewer/drain company snake a camera through the plumbing. Unfortunately, we soon discovered the problem … two very large deck screws were driven through the floor and right through the pipe that our toilet drains through resulting in toilet paper getting stuck on those nails causing a backup. Two options for repair include cutting the vapor shield underneath the home to cut out the pipe and replace, or cutting out the floor above the pipe and going through the floor so as not to disturb that vapor shield. Concerns with cutting the vapor shield are that it will create a whole host of other problems from a shoddy repair that will make it an easy access route for rodents, and also we live in Summit County Colorado at 10,000 ft. where the temps are really low and we are buried in snow for 6 months. Your thoughts on the best way to repair this?

    1. Hi Tammy,

      You can buy patches for your belly board so I’d definitely go up instead of down as it’ll be a lot less work. Just have the plumber slice the bare minimum or cut out a hole the exact size as a belly board patch (they have patches with zippers on them so you can access the area again without having to cut the material again). You can read more about belly board repair here.

      Best of luck!

  19. Hi I have a double wide the master bathroom drains fine but everything drains slow or backs up and when use the washing machine or the dishwasher I backs up in one of the bathrooms. I’ve looked under the trailer and the master bedroom is on side of the line by itself and everything else is the other side together.

    1. Hi Justin,

      Your house probably has a 1.5″ stub up for the washing machine. Our new code requires 3″ so the small pipe size is making it airlock itself. Depending on your local code you may be able to get by with draining your to the very end of your drain line or completely separately and into your yard (if it’s legal to do so). Good luck!

  20. thomas robert jarmusz

    i have a leak underneath my kitchen faucet ,now i noticed one of the smaller pipes has a dripping i have buckets underneath pipes very wet under sink trying for help or advice?

    1. Hi Thomas,

      You will need to find the leak and replace the faulty part. The smaller pipes are your supply lines so I’d check the connection between the supply line and the faucet. The fittings can go bad. Usually, it’s less trouble to just replace the entire faucet if it’s something from the faucet. You’ll need to find someone that can do this for you because leaks can damage a home quickly.

      Best of luck!

  21. Hi Steve our kitchen sink is draining very very slowly. We thought it was clogged. We used draino and my husband also snaked it. No problems anywhere else in the house. Nothing helped, but… when he opens the vent underneath the sink the water drains down very fast like it should. When he closes the vent it does the same thing. So… we thought we had a bad vent. We changed it out with the bathroom vent to test it but it does the same thing. Do you have any suggestions. Seems like it’s some kind of vacume problem. Thank you.

    1. Hi Becky,

      It’s almost always grease and the snake doesn’t work because the goop just closes right back after the snake is pulled out. You can go to Lowe’s or Walmart and buy a Drain King that will create high pressure on your water hose. Close off all your drains (we’ve used dishcloths to close off sink drains more than once) and then start the process of shooting water through your pipe. The pressure should loosen the grease. YOu may need to go under the home and cut into the pipe to use the drain king from that point, depending on the location of the grease.

      Best of luck!

  22. I purchased a used mobile home and after installation we found that the drain pipe along with the cover popped up about an inch from the shower floor. Can I just push it back down?

    1. Hi Sarah,
      It depends. This could signify that separation has occurred. Is there any way you can get under the home and track that pipe? Or at least do a water leak test (drain water and then go under the home and look to see if there’s any water). You’ll need to cut the belly wrap but there are patches and tapes to fix them back. Some times the p-trap is directly under the tub and connected to the sink or toilet so a separation could be bad.
      Best of luck!

  23. I have a sewer smell in my 2016 doublewide mobile home. I have tried everything down all my drains. Checked under home and septic tank. Please i need help

  24. We just purchased a mobile home and while replacing the tub with a shower stall we noticed there was no P-trap under the tub or anywhere in sight. We are hesitant to install one, as we think it will freeze up with the cold Northeast nights, but wonder if we will have foul smells coming in through the line without one,
    Thoughts?

    1. Hi Tony,

      You def need a p-trap. If the home is original there may be an inline p-trap meaning it isn’t right under the tub but closer to the tie-in to the toilet before hitting the trunk line.

      Also, if possible use 2” to the tie-in (assuming the origittub has 1.5”).

      Best of luck!

  25. I live in a 2010 mobile home with a septic tank. When I use my toilet, I can hear water gurgling.
    There doesn’t seem to be any water leaking from the toilet. There is a second shower next to the toilet but is not used because there are two bath rooms in the house. We went away for six weeks and when we returned the gurgling started.
    Any suggestions as to what it might be causing it?

    1. Hi Steve,

      I answered your question but then my system said I didn’t so I’ll try again. I think the water in your shower’s p-trap evaporated and that airflow is causing an imbalance in your system. You should be able to get it equalized with by running water in the shower and letting that p-trap get full and balance out and maybe installing an auto vent on that part of the system (sink if it’s connected).

      Best of luck!

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