Why macerator pump? - Printable Version

Why macerator pump? - Printable Version

+- Newell Gurus (https://newellgurus.com)
+-- Forum: Technical Discussions (https://newellgurus.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Plumbing and fixtures (https://newellgurus.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+--- Thread: Why macerator pump? (/showthread.php?tid=2910)

Why macerator pump? - bikestuff - 06-12-2016

Gang,

I noticed a thread that talked about replacing a macerator pump....got me to thinking...

Please educate the uninformed. I am wondering what the benefit of these macerator pumps is. I looked on the FMCA forum and there was a lively debate. Some had them and loved them. Others did not have them and did not see the need. Finally others had them but had removed / stopped using them.

I know what they do, but cannot see the benefit. I know I am missing something, but cannot figure out what that is.

Pros: Can pump a great distance / up hill.

Cons: Cost, complexity, something to break.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
bill

RE: Why macerator pump? - whatsnewell - 06-12-2016

The benefit is simple.......when we are courtesy parking at someone's home and they do not have 'full hookups' for us we are able to usually access a sewer cleanout to dump our tanks. Typically the cleanout is not within reach of my regular sewer hose, so I need another way to dump my tanks. This is where the macerator pump comes in handy. I can pump my effluent up to 150 feet if necessary to the nearest cleanout and dump my tanks. When we first began visiting Tom and Darlene in Wittmann the Newell House was not built yet, and the nearest sewer cleanout was about 50 feet from where we usually parked the coach. We have used this method on numerous occasions over the years when visiting friends and staying on their property. This past winter we spent quite a bit of time in SoCal and parked the coach in the backyard of our daughter's property in Riverside.....we had grand babies being born, weddings, baby showers, etc. so we were in town for about 3 months. Having the macerator pump enabled us to stay there indefinitely.

If you only stay in RV parks, then the macerator pump has less significance, but for us we like the flexibility it gives us. On my 1982 there is a macerator pump plumbed into our gray tank.....that is the way it came to us. For the black tank I have a portable one like Tom.

RE: Why macerator pump? - Chester Stone - 06-12-2016

Clarke is correct. The only time I have needed or used a macerator pump is when parked where there is no RV dump available but access thru a household sewer trap. It seems to me that the disadvantage of using the pump on a regular basis is that the larger RV sewer hose does a much better job of flushing out the solids in the bottom of the tank.

RE: Why macerator pump? - pairodice - 06-12-2016

Good discussion, thanks for this!

RE: Why macerator pump? - whatsnewell - 06-12-2016

(06-12-2016, 07:41 AM)Chester Stone Wrote: Clarke is correct. The only time I have needed or used a macerator pump is when parked where there is no RV dump available but access thru a household sewer trap. It seems to me that the disadvantage of using the pump on a regular basis is that the larger RV sewer hose does a much better job of flushing out the solids in the bottom of the tank.

Chester is right......what I do to avoid that every other time I fill up the tank 2, or 3 times with fresh water after pumping out the initial effluent and then pump it out again.....it takes a little longer, obviously, but eventually I get all the solids out of the tank.

RE: Why macerator pump? - folivier - 06-12-2016

Clarke's classic I think has separate grey and black tanks.
Your '98 should have 1 large combined tank where all effluent goes into. It is usually sized a few gallons larger than your potable water tank.
You should also have a sight glass (probably just plastic tubing) on the curbside in the Aquahot bay. This gets dirty and needs to be changed out once a year or so. Easy to do, just dump, tilt the coach so passenger side is higher and change it out.