All about macerators
I really do not know how these things found their way to coaches and motorhomes, but they have. My experience with them has been in boating, when the Coast Guard decided that dumping effluent into the water was a no no some thirty years ago, manufacturers starting putting holding tanks into boats. Trouble was, the holding tanks were placed in the low parts of the boat (bilge area) and docks that would accept sewage were substantially higher. A regular pump would not work because of the solids, welcome to the birth of the macerator pump. A basic garbage disposal with a pump at the discharge port. The really good ones, like the better garbage disposals, had stainless steel impellers, the cheapos had nylon or rubber. Many yacht owners installed a Y valve that could be used beyond the 3 mile limit in order to avoid the pumping, but that is a different story.
All that being said, what purpose could they ever serve in a motorhome? To be able to dispose of both liquid and solid waste through a garden hose, why?
OK, so they installed one on your coach and you want to use it...first, because of infrequent use, as mentioned by other correspondents, it porbably won't, dried up seals, gummed up impeller. As Truk mentioned, his is located on top of his waste water tank, that's a convenient location for access, cleaning and repair! So you still want to use it....if it does not work go to West Marine (they are on the web) and you can order any part or component for nearly every macerator pump made, it is still a thriving replacement parts business for them. There are special slide on fittings and hoses that were designed specifically for use with waste and will never be confused with the garden hose that someone is going to accidently hook up to their fresh water system at one point.
Do not forget the paper disposable jump suit, rubber boots, nitrile gloves, safety glasses, hand sanitizer, soap, water, dust mask and a little Vics Vapor Rub....put a dab under your nose before putting on the dust mask and it will slow the gag reflex.
By the way, remember just one wad of cotton into the macerator, even the best ones, and it is gone...........
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