Winterized for the First Time Macerator Pump Issue

[MountainLife]

Hello All,

We have put some serious miles on our AI, but after returning from Texas decided to winterize since we have no planned trips until March. This was an adventure to say the least. The owner's manual was not always clear and sometimes conflicted with Airstream online instructions and videos.

We did manage and only came to a halt when the macerator pump blew a fuse. We found some help here on trying to free the pump blades by rotating them using a screw driver. Similar to clearing your garbage disposal by manually cranking. Anyway, we would get it freed up and put in a fuse only to have it seize up again and blow another fuse. My brave husband got under the AI and disconnected the line (Yuck! Thankfully we were at the flush out stage) and discovered a clump of "hair" as he described it. Since we have not taken showers or used the AI for very long I can only speculate this was left from the previous owners. Luckily that did the trick and we had lots of 20 amp fuses. Before you ask, we only use the RV toilet paper and no kids to blame for putting something down the toilet.

She is put to bed in our garage and feel the next time we winterize it will go much faster. Learning curves can be difficult. At least my husband and I did great team work and are not headed to divorce court.

Happy New Year to All. We are looking forward to 2021!

[wxbuoy]

Great to hear a potential problem solved! Having been in similar situations we are far more impressed you are still married than got the macerator working, LOL!

[Rig Rat]

If you haven't already thought of this, put a wire mesh drain strainer in the bottom of the shower. It will cut down on any hair flowing into the macerator.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Rig Rat

If you haven't already thought of this, put a wire mesh drain strainer in the bottom of the shower. It will cut down on any hair flowing into the macerator.

I really like these. I use them in the stick house too:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._al_bw_c_x_3_w

[rowiebowie]

My 3yr old macerator suddenly decided to blow 20A fuses. Zero possibility of any hair or other unusual obstruction, but I guess I could have the beginnings of a deterioration of the rubber impellar. It spins free and was never locked-up.

While not ideal, I went to a 25A fuse after all my 20A's were blown, and all seems fine. I tried again to go back to the recommended 20A fuse and it still blows immediately, without even the slightest sound or motion so I went back to 25A.

My macerator (Airstream Avenue) is readily accessible so after dumping I feel wires and connections and they are never hot so I will continue to monitor and stick with a 25A fuse until the problem gets worse. Then I would do a macerator replacement.