Have you ever been in a situation where you are having a hard time disposing of the wastes from your RV? Because you are too far away from a sewage system and going to the place isn’t so practical. This is a nasty and awful bit of situation, and to help you avoid that situation from ever happening again, you should know about Macerator Pumps.
In this article, we will share with you all about Macerator Pump; A brief definition of the pump, Types of pumps that you can choose, how can you use it, what are factors to look for when buying one for your RV and many more topics. This will help you get familiar with the tool as it is important for Waste Management for your RV.
In addition, this article is a list of the Top 10 Best Macerator Pumps for your RV that have been used by other RV owners too. We also reviewed the products for you to have insights about each one of them. And the reviews will help you decide which one you will have.
The Top 10 Macerator Pumps of 2020
A wide variety of macerator pumps are available in the market today for you to choose from. We decided to help you reduce the number of options to include only the best ones you can select. So, this list gives you the Top 10 Best Macerator Pumps and included a detailed review of each pump.
- Pros
- It includes a carrying case.
- Comes with a handheld switch for turning on or off the pump.
- It has run dry protection for 30 seconds.
- The pump is lightweight, weighing only 6 pounds.
- The pump can handle both the grey and black tank of your RV.
- This pump comes at an affordable price.
- Cons
- It needs to have a longer wire for the handheld switch.
- There some issues regarding is customer service.
- Pros
- The pump is affordably priced.
- The manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty for the pump.
- It offers a dry run protection feature.
- This pump has a double blade system that ensures no issue will arise with pumping.
- It also has thermal protection and ignition protection.
- Cons
- There is an issue on its durability. Some can’t last for three months.
- Pros
- This pump comes with thermal protection on its motor as not to let the motor burning out.
- It also comes at an affordable price while keeping its performance at peak.
- The pump has a dry run protection feature that also prevents your pump from overheating.
- It is also a portable pump that you can just connect to your RV waste drain and start its business right away.
- Cons
- You can’t buy this pump in full kit.
- Pros
- The pump comes with four blades that get its job done swiftly.
- Stainless steel is the main component of the motor of this pump.
- It is efficient in doing its job; it can empty a 30-gallon tank full of wastes in just under 3 minutes.
- It also comes with a run dry protection feature.
- The pump comes at an affordable price.
- Cons
- There are customers who complained about this pump making noise when running dry.
- There are some customers who have complained about the corrosion of its interior bolts, that starts just after a couple of months.
- Pros
- It comes with a hose inlet for easy cleaning of the hose.
- The pump can easily be connected to or remove from your RV waste drain; you can do it in just a few seconds.
- It can handle both the black and grey tanks of your RV.
- The pump comes at a cheaper price compared to the average priced macerator pump.
- The motor of this macerator pump has thermal protection.
- Cons
- There is durability concern regarding this pump.
- It doesn’t come in a full kit.
- Pros
- The pump can dispose of the wastes uphill and at a distance of 150 feet.
- Stainless steel is the material used to make the shaft of this pump.
- It comes with a full kit (hose, clips, adapters and a power cord).
- The pump is quick to finish its job and does it efficiently.
- This pump can be attached to 3 inches wastes drain of your RV.
- Cons
- The price of this pump is a bit expensive.
- The included hose of this macerator pump is a bit too short (10 feet only).
- Pros
- It can pump out the wastes uphill and even greater distances (up to 150 feet).
- The comes includes a full kit.
- It also lets you dump your RV wastes at the dumping station at your home.
- It is just easy to install.
- The pump is also easy to clean.
- Cons
- The price of this macerator pump is extremely high.
- Pros
- The pump can handle both of your RV’s black and grey tanks.
- It comes with a built-in device that protects the impeller of the pump and lengthens the life of the impeller and the pump itself.
- The pump can grind the wastes int smaller bits of pieces and dispose of them neatly and swiftly.
- The pump is easy to install.
- The price of this macerator pump is just affordable.
- Cons
- The is a concern about the pump easily gets too hot and frequently activates its thermal protection.
- Pros
- This pump comes with an anti-clog feature.
- It also has a triple sealed motor which prevents external and interior damages from happening.
- It comes with four chopping blades that significantly reduce the processing time of the pump.
- This pump has a dry run feature.
- The price of this macerator pump is just affordable.
- Cons
- This macerator pump doesn’t have the capability to pump out waste uphill.
- Pros
- This pump also comes with four chopping blade design.
- It has thermal protection.
- This pump has a waste flow rate of 12 gallons per minute.
- This macerator pump is easy to install.
- The price of this macerator pump is just affordable.
- Cons
- This pump produces an extremely loud noise.
- Unfortunately, this macerator pump doesn’t have the anti-clog feature.
GETTING STARTED WITH MACERATOR PUMPS
It is important to know the basics of these pumps so you will know the use of it and the benefits you can get from the tool. And knowing the basics will help you pick the right one for you that will help you manage the wastes on your RV.
DEFINING A MACERATOR PUMP
A Macerator Pump is like the waste-disposal tool found in your kitchen sink that grinds up the wastes into bits.
This pump will be connected to the waste container of your RV and takes its contents and grinds them up. The grounded wastes are then pumped out from your RV waste container through a garden-sized hose and into a proper waste dumping site that is even far from your RV’s location.
The tool is an efficient aid to the grey and black tanks of your RV when they can’t be easily emptied of the wastes they contain. Especially when you have parked your RV farther away from wastes dumping site, and you need to empty your wastes’ tanks; the macerator pump would be a great help to you in this kind of situation.
With the macerator pump, you can just easily get rid of the wastes into a proper septic system or the sewer as they are now turned into a mixture of liquid and grounded toilet wastes, also known as a slurry. It will just easily flow through the hose into the sewer.
Everything considered; the macerator pump is a great help to you in easily disposing of your wastes and saves you from an unpleasant waste dumping situation.
How do they Work?
As mention in the previous section, the pump will be connected to the black and grey tanks of your RV then takes the wastes they hold and grind the wastes into smaller bits of pieces. Then to complete the process, the tool will pump out the slurry through a smaller hose, the same size that is used in a garden, and into the sewer.
The pump doesn’t make you use that 3-inches hose, it just requires you to use a smaller one like a garden hose as only smaller particles will pass through it.
Another advantage of using a macerator pump, it can dispose of the wastes even if its uphill as they are electricity-powered devices. They are great at managing the wastes from your RV.
Why get a Pump?
There are times that you are put in a situation where you do not have easy access to a dumping site or no access at all, the macerator pump will help you in this situation by managing your problem about your RV wastes for you.
You can even stop using those dumping stations at all by using a macerator pump. They will grind the wastes into small pieces, which let you dump them just easily into the sewers, which you can’t usually do without the help of the pump.
In addition, macerator pumps make use of smaller-sized hose like a garden hose which lessens the smell produced by the wastes from your RV when you pump them out. This feature is another advantage of using macerator pumps.
It’s not mandatory to have a macerator pump, especially when you are frequent to stay in a camping ground. But it’s nice to have them around in case it will be in a situation where the dumping station is not easy to access.
DOES IT ALWAYS INCLUDE A HOSE WHEN YOU BUY ONE?
Buying one with a hose included will depend on the model you choose. But in truth, buying a macerator pump that comes with a hose is difficult and rare to find.
One reason for this is that manufacturers of these pumps presume that you have the hose you can readily use. And the purpose of these pumps is to grind your wastes and turn them into a slurry that only requires a small hose to pass through like a garden hose.
But you should not use the same hose for washing your RV with your macerator pump; it’s a bad idea. You don’t what the waste residue to be all over your RV; it will be nasty. What you should do is to buy another hose just to be used by your macerator pump.
How to Use One
Using the pump is straightforward. You can follow these steps.
- First, you should attach your macerator pump to your RV’s waste drain point.
- Then, you connect your exit hose to the pump.
- Run the hose to where you can dump the waste like an open sewer or even into the toilet.
- After that, you should connect your macerator pump to your power source or your RV’s battery.
- You need to pull the drain valve of your waste tank.
- Then you may now turn on the pump.
- Leaving the pump running until the wastes aren’t flowing anymore.
- Then you should turn off the pump.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MACERATOR PUMPS FOR YOUR RV
Every type of these macerator pumps works differently in certain situations. And for your RV, there are three varying types of these pumps that offer you different functions and advantages. These three RV macerator pumps:
PERMANENT
This type of pump will be attached to your RV all the time. There are some RVs that come with a macerator pump holder for you to attach the pump.
Some RV owners prefer this type of pump as this wouldn’t give them any hassle of installing them due to its one-time installation.
PORTABLE
As its name states, this type of pump is just easier to carry and move around because of its portability. And its flexibility will not make you worry about installation.
110V
This type of macerator pump is for RV owners who are not satisfied with the power provided by a regular 12V pump, as they think, it is not enough.
These pumps are AC powered. The electric current of these pumps is regularly reserving direction. They make the grinding process faster.
But these pumps come with high prices, though in turn they greatly improve the time it takes to complete the process which is lesser than a regular RV macerator pump. Additionally, this type of pump might be a bit powerful to use in some RVs.
What to Look for When Buying a Pump
There a lot of factors that you need to consider when looking for a macerator pump for your RV. So, in this section, we will share with you the important factors in choosing a macerator pump. This will guide you to choose the one that is perfect for your needs.
The Different Types
As mentioned in the previous section on the type of macerator pumps, there are three types that you can choose from. And each type of pump comes with features that different RV owners will like. And to name them; the 110V Macerator pump, Portable Macerator Pump, and Permanent Macerator Pump.
If ever your RV has a macerator pump holding place, then you should buy the permanent type of pump. And you should look for a permanent macerator tank that comes with a greywater bypass feature. This feature would not run your macerator pump to empty your grey water tank.
But if your RV doesn’t have a pump holding place or even a built-in pump, then the ideal type of pump that you should have is the portable macerator pump. This type of macerator pump is proven to be the best choice in these situations as it doesn’t require a lot of effort to install, you just have to attach it to your waste drain and let it work. It is also the cheapest type of pump of all three types.
And if ever you feel like these two types of macerator pumps (portable and permanent) take a lot of time to finish its grinding and dumping process, then the 110V macerator pump will rid of that feeling. But you should know that this type of pump will cost you a lot of money. And to note, there is a variation of this type that comes in a 115V.
All things considered, it all depends on your needs and preference. Just make sure that you choose the one fits your needs.
How much does a Pump Cost?
Having one of these pumps will cost you some money regardless of what type of macerator pump you choose for your RV. There is a wide range of prices for these tools and at an average of 200 to 300 dollars, you can already have a good macerator pump.
They are expensive, but they will be a great help for you, especially when you can easily access those dump stations when you need to empty your tanks. The price wouldn’t matter that much with the benefits they offer you.
Fortunately, you can have one from the cheaper options available, cheaper than the average 200 dollars pump. But there is a drawback to this option, they will only last for a shorter period which will let you spend more money to replace it.
To sum it up, your money spending will depend on how often you will use the macerator pump. If ever you are just having the pump just in case of an emergency, I advise you to look for cheaper pumps and buy one of those. In contrast, if you are going to use it all the time, you need to have those average priced pumps or even higher priced pumps just to ensure you have the best quality and durable pump.
What Else You Need to Know
When you have finally purchased your own macerator pump, there are still things that you need to buy so that your pump will work smoothly.
- Hose
The next thing you should buy is a hose, that same size as your garden hose. You should take note you should not use your regular garden hose in your pump. The waste residue will be in your garden hose, and you will be spraying them all over RV the next time you use it to clean your RV.
- Clear Elbow
You should also buy a clear elbow in which you will connect one side of it to the waste drain of your RV, and the other is to your macerator pump. With the clear elbow, you can see the wastes and liquid pass through.
It will also let you check if your tank is already empty as there would be no more wastes passing through. You might think it as gross, but it is necessary for you to check the flow of wastes, especially once it stopped to prevent damages happening to your pump.
You need to avoid your pump from running dry as this may cause your pump to burn out and damage it. That is why you should have a clear elbow to see if the flow of wastes has stopped for you to turn off your macerator pump to avoid dry running.
You shouldn’t worry to incur some extra costs in buying these items as they don’t cost that much. These two are both important for your RV macerator pump to run smoothly.
Additionally, the things you need to buy in addition to the macerator pump itself will also depend on the type or model of the pump. There are those that require you to buy switches, fuses, alligator clips, adapters, and other more. Or you can just buy one full kit to avoid missing out on some items.
Quality Indicators
You need to make sure that you choose a high-quality macerator pump and a durable one to ensure that you won’t have a problem using it.
You should also check for defects to avoid buying it; this will be a problem for you once purchased. And to avoid malfunctions in the middle of grinding the wastes as it will be a big problem, and the wastes get nastier than before.
Additionally, you can look for product reviews before you decide to buy it. Luckily, we have added a list of the macerator pump that you can browse and see which one appeals to you the most.
CONCLUSION
It is really up to you to decide whether to have a macerator pump or not. If you decide to push through in buying one, you should know the fundamentals of Macerator Pumps and know the types and the aspects to look for in a macerator for you to select the one that best fits your needs. If you haven’t read the detailed decision about the macerator pump in the above sections, you should read it first.
The section of the reviewed top 10 best macerator pumps in the market today will be a great help for you to select a macerator pump for your RV.
Just keep in mind, you should always consider your needs and personal preferences when choosing the item for your RV.
