Expandable hose with macerator pump?

[chriscowles]

I'm buying a macerator pump and would rather not carry yet another dedicated hose but that may be unavoidable. An expandable hose would be compact. I'd need more than 25' so the next size increment would be 50', adding to resistance to flow.

It seems to me that the ID when expanded would still be too small but I don't want to make assumptions. Does anyone have experience using an expandable hose with a macerator for a distance > 25'?

[bob213]

Look at "lay flat" hoses. May have to re-configure connection.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by bob213

Look at "lay flat" hoses. May have to re-configure connection.

Thanks. I hadn't heard of those. That may work. It looks like many come with a cam lock rather than a standard hose thread. That may be a good way to prevent someone using it for potable water.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by bob213

Look at "lay flat" hoses. May have to re-configure connection.

In reading comments about these hoses, one reviewer mentioned that they want to be straight when pressurized. That makes sense, considering the construction.

In this application, a 25' hose would be too short. From the sewer drain to a tank in the bed of my truck would be 30' - 35'. Would a 50' hose be a problem if I looped it in a big curl to maximize the radius of the curve?

[avid108]

The lay flat hoses kink easily, so you may do better to have multiple short ones to hook together when you need more length, instead of having one very long hose.

I got a 50’ hose off Amazon a few years ago and put my own fittings on it. I cut one piece the length of the RV plus enough to reach the hitch carrier on the Jeep, where we kept our dump tote. Even with very little extra hose, we still have to straighten it when pressure is applied because it will kink itself.

I would still rather deal with the minor kinks than a normal hose, though. The space savings are worth it to me.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by avid108

... I got a 50’ hose off Amazon a few years ago and put my own fittings on it. ...

What did you use for fittings? 1" ID is not exactly a standard size for a hose thread fitting. Many of the hoses that come with fittings have cam locks.

[avid108]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

What did you use for fittings? 1" ID is not exactly a standard size for a hose thread fitting. Many of the hoses that come with fittings have cam locks.

This is probably more information than you wanted, and without an exact part # for the fittings, but maybe it will be helpful.

The macerator I had used a barbed outlet, not a water hose fitting, so I was able to clamp the hose directly to the pump. (Link below)

For fittings, I found some 1” male and female barbed fittings (nylon and plastic) at Lowes and Home Depot in the irrigation section.

I was able to get fittings at Lowes to attach a 1” hose down to a 3/4 water hose bib. These were white nylon fittings, whereas the 1” fittings I got from Home Depot were blue, hard plastic.

For ease of use, I left about 1’ of hose clamped on the macerator and used a threaded fitting on the other end. Then I put threaded ends on the hose that is the length of the RV so I just have to screw it onto the 1’ section on the macerator.

For the septic end of the hose, I bought the Valterra Sewer Solution (link below), pulled their elbow out of it so I could add my own PVC section that threads onto the 1” hose, and I added a shutoff valve in the PVC section to stop the flow, in case of emergency.

Macerator (note: this pump died after 18 months of use - I have not set up a new pump yet):

https://smile.amazon.com/SewerFlo-Qu...bap_m_rp_29_sc

Valterra Sewer Solution:

https://smile.amazon.com/Valterra-SS...2C133&sr=8-114

[Chuck_S]

My macerator pump wants 3/4" hose which I use when dumping at home (into a toilet off the garage). Don't macerate when camping, the on-site sewer works just fine as do the dumpsites near the exits.

-- Chuck

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by avid108

This is probably more information than you wanted, and without an exact part # for the fittings, but maybe it will be helpful.

The macerator I had used a barbed outlet, not a water hose fitting, so I was able to clamp the hose directly to the pump. (Link below)

For fittings, I found some 1” male and female barbed fittings (nylon and plastic) at Lowes and Home Depot in the irrigation section.

I was able to get fittings at Lowes to attach a 1” hose down to a 3/4 water hose bib. These were white nylon fittings, whereas the 1” fittings I got from Home Depot were blue, hard plastic.

For ease of use, I left about 1’ of hose clamped on the macerator and used a threaded fitting on the other end. Then I put threaded ends on the hose that is the length of the RV so I just have to screw it onto the 1’ section on the macerator.

For the septic end of the hose, I bought the Valterra Sewer Solution (link below), pulled their elbow out of it so I could add my own PVC section that threads onto the 1” hose, and I added a shutoff valve in the PVC section to stop the flow, in case of emergency.

Macerator (note: this pump died after 18 months of use - I have not set up a new pump yet):

https://smile.amazon.com/SewerFlo-Qu...bap_m_rp_29_sc

Valterra Sewer Solution:

https://smile.amazon.com/Valterra-SS...2C133&sr=8-114

Thanks for the details. It led me to look at Home Depot for a 1" barb to hose thread fitting. I couldn't find any online. They may have one on the shelf but, if they don't, I can use barb-to-inside pipe and adapt from there to hose thread.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

My macerator pump wants 3/4" hose which I use when dumping at home (into a toilet off the garage). Don't macerate when camping, the on-site sewer works just fine as do the dumpsites near the exits.

My plan is to use the macerator only when I need to dump using my 35 gallon portable tank, and it's easier to carry it than it is to pull it.

I cannot justify the expense based on my 20+ years camping experience so far. We've always been able to use the dump station at the campground, sometimes with a portable tank. But we anticipate spending more time boondocking. The dump site may be miles from where we're camped.

[Flybob]

Might be unfounded, but I think a hose that kept its shape (round) would do a better job of completely emptying itself when done. I would be concerned a flat or expanding hose might do its thing once pressure was removed and trap waste.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Might be unfounded, but I think a hose that kept its shape (round) would do a better job of completely emptying itself when done. I would be concerned a flat or expanding hose might do its thing once pressure was removed and trap waste.

I agree an expandable hose would likely trap waste. They're too small, in my opinion, anyway. But I think a lay flat hose should drain as well or possibly more completely than a round one.

As with a gravity drain, I'll run some gray water after the black tank. If tank space and water supplies permit, I may also rinse it with fresh water. When done pumping and rinsing, holding it above the level of the tank while rolling it up should be effective in emptying it. We shall see.

This operation may be aided with a bobber gauge for the tank but from reviews, they seem fragile. Does anyone here have experience with one?

Amazon: Barker Tote-Along Bobber Gauge

[Phreak480]

There is this option for a hose that "expands" in use.https://www.amazon.com/Retracting-Sa...2015040&sr=8-2

It is designed for macerator use specifically. Sounds like you would need more than one or to see if they make other sizes.

[Alde]

tried expandable hose on my pump while staying at my brother's farm - drastically slowed down dumping due to restriction, ended up with 3/4 solid hose from harbor freight 24.00- definitely made a difference. its brown hose so no mistaking for freshwater hose

[ACE110]

You can get 1” x 65’ flat hose (without ends) from Amazon for $37. Does come with a couple of clamps. Just do a search (1” flat discharge hose), lots of options.

[chriscowles]

Do the blue vinyl hoses decay with age or UV exposure?

[D W]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Might be unfounded, but I think a hose that kept its shape (round) would do a better job of completely emptying itself when done. I would be concerned a flat or expanding hose might do its thing once pressure was removed and trap waste.

... and with an expandable hose you must have an adequate amount of internal water pressure to expand it.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Phreak480

There is this option for a hose that "expands" in use.https://www.amazon.com/Retracting-Sa...2015040&sr=8-2

It is designed for macerator use specifically. Sounds like you would need more than one or to see if they make other sizes.

Have you used it? Despite my original question being about expandable hose, I now think that's not such a good idea. It might not be long enough to reach from the pump to the tank until it's pressured. I cringe when contemplating the scenes that could result from mishandling the valves or connections of a hose pressurized with sewage.

[jimmoore13]

I have a macerator pump. For it I have a 3/4" heavy duty "industrial garden" hose. Smooth interior, large diameter, with minimal resistance. This is the RECOMMENDED hose for the job.

I also have a collapsible hose that I use as a "dirty" hose in camp...connected to a "Y" connector in parallel with my potable water hose on the park's hose bib.

Absolutely NO to the expandable/collapsible hose for the macerator pump. FAR TOO MUCH RESISTANCE, and this will strain the macerator pump. Macerator pumps are not "pressure pumps." They are "volume pumps" much like a sump pump. The hose diameter should be larger than the pump's output to minimize back pressure and maximize flow.

My experience with my collapsible hose is that it flows considerably less water than my same length potable water hose...a 5/8" hose. Furthermore, it takes about 30 to 60 seconds for city water line pressure to fully expand the hose....and that pressure does not exist with a macerator pump.

Do as you wish, but the macerator pumps call for a 3/4" "industrial" quality hose for a reason. A collapsible hose will significantly shorten the life of the pump, substantially increase its run times to evacuate your tanks, and, since the pump runs on 12 volts, if you aren't connected to shore power, it will connsume considerably more amp hours from your battery.

I don't carry my macerator pump or hose with me. If boondocking, there's no place to use it. If in a park with hookups, I use a stinky slinky. If you plan to use a sewer tote in the bed of your TV to receive effluent via macerator pump, cut a 3/4" hose to length, add a new hose end to the cut end, and live with having to tote a heavy duty hose with you.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by jimmoore13

... Absolutely NO to the expandable/collapsible hose for the macerator pump. FAR TOO MUCH RESISTANCE, and this will strain the macerator pump. ...

I ruled out a expandable hose. Do you include lay-flat hoses in that description? I've never had one but it looks to me like they don't present much resistance to flow.