Pumping Your Poo: How Macerating Toilets Make RVs Better!

RV toilets solve a unique problem, giving you a bathroom on the go. The challenge is what to do with the waste when there is no plumbing. An RV macerating toilet is a special type of toilet that gives you more options for toilet placement inside your RV and can make a stay in an RV more pleasant (i.e. no more toilet odors!). Read on to learn all about RV macerating toilets, and check out our recommendation for the best one on the market today!

What Is a Macerator Toilet? 

The most common toilet in an RV is the gravity flush toilet. This toilet uses gravity only to flush waste into the RV’s black tank. These toilets are very simple and work well; however, they have a few drawbacks. First of all the toilet must be located over the black tank or very close to it.

This can be a big limiting factor as to where a toilet can be placed in an RV. The second is that when the toilet flushes, it directly connects with the black tank and can belch sewer odors into the living space.  

Unlike a gravity flush toilet, a macerating toilet can be installed anywhere in the RV and is sealed from the black tank for minimal odors. A macerator toilet grinds up waste and paper, similar to a garbage disposal. These toilets have a pump that pumps the waste into the holding tank, so the toilet doesn’t need to be directly over the tank.

This makes them perfect for adding a second toilet to the RV or installing it where a gravity flush would not work. Examples of locations where a macerating toilet is required would be the forward area of a fifth wheel or over the Class A coach engine. 

How Do Macerating Toilets Work? 

Macerating toilets require electricity and work with motor-powered blades that grind up waste and paper at the push of a button. There are two different flush mechanisms on most RV macerator toilets: one for liquids and one for solids. The difference in the mechanisms is how much water is used for flushing the toilet. 

When solids are flushed, the macerator will grind them up before sending them to the holding tank. This makes emptying the black tank easier, promotes the breakdown of waste, and prevents clogs or build-up.

Pros and Cons

An RV macerating toilet has some great benefits but also some drawbacks.

Pros of RV Macerating Toilets

An RV macerating toilet typically feels more like using a residential household toilet. Instead of flushing with your foot, a button is used, and the bowl will automatically fill with water.  Another big benefit of macerating toilets is they help prevent clogs in the RV’s black tank wastewater system. Because waste is ground up, normal toilet paper can be used as well.

The biggest pro to a macerating RV toilet is the ability to install it anywhere in the RV. This gives the RV manufacturers many more options for design, and you may find a layout that is more preferable. 

Cons of RV Macerating Toilets

One of the biggest cons to an RV macerating toilet is that they are not as efficient on water.  This is because they need to have a certain amount of water to run the flush cycle, and you have no control over it. This is not a problem with hookups but can be a limiting factor if you want to use the RV off the grid.  

Macerating toilets also have more moving parts and could incur a more complicated and costly repair if something went wrong. Additionally, because the toilet requires power, you may not be able to flush it if the coach’s electrical system fails or your batteries die.  

Macerator Flush Toilet vs Exterior Macerator Pump

You may have heard of an RV macerating pump but not the toilet. An inline macerating pump can be used at the RV dumpsite and typically attaches to the exterior waste tank gate valve.

These macerating pumps allow you to dump on an incline because they actually pump waste. This is a popular modification many people make when wanting to dump their black tank at home. 

A macerating toilet will not pump your poo uphill, but it will grind your waste before it ever enters the holding tank. Inline pumps grind up waste as it leaves the holding tank. Dumping with an inline macerator pump is great for long-distance dumping or uphill dumping but almost always takes longer. 

Best RV Macerator Toilet: Thetford Tecma

Although pricey, this macerating toilet is highly recommended for RVers. It is convenient, quiet, and features a push-button wall-mount for flushing. The push-button panel also has a sensor to let you know when your black tank is empty, half full, and full. The Thetford Tecma RV macerator toilet is made with a porcelain base and feels like a regular household toilet. 

Thetford is also well known for its macerating products and makes a great macerating adapter for dumping. 

Are Macerating Toilets Worth It? 

There’s no doubt about it – there are many benefits to using a macerator toilet in your RV. It protects your black tank from build-up and clogs, it feels like a residential toilet, and it is very simple to use. However, they do have the drawback of complexity, so you tend to find them on higher-end RVs. Ultimately, whether or not this toilet is right for you will depend on your wants and needs.

Macerating toilets aren’t your only RV toilet alternative. Composting toilets are another great option. Learn more here: What’s So Great About RV Composting Toilets?

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