Everything you need to know about Saniflo toilets
Saniflo toilets are now very popular in a lot of people's homes. You’ve probably caught the adverts on television promising you can install one of these toilets in smaller spaces unsuitable for conventional sanitary ware. This is because Saniflo products work completely differently to normal toilets. This means you can have that downstairs loo you’ve always wanted.
You could even convert a small cupboard into a cloakroom or en-suite bathroom.
If you’re thinking of taking the step of having this sort of system installed, read on to find out what you’re getting for your money, and what is involved in getting a saniflo fitted as well as how much you might expect to pay and whether there are any regulations to take into consideration for your project. You might also want to consider a macerator and saniflo type toilet when you have a very low water pressure or if you have your toilet installation taking place beneath the normal sewer drain pipe line. Naturally a pumping mechanism is needed to take away the waste. We'll look at how these systems work more below:
How Saniflo toilets and macerators work
We all know what happens in a regular toilet; you flush all the waste and paper away, and it goes straight into the sewers. Waste is dealt with a long way away, at a sewage plant.
A Saniflo toilet works in a different way. Each toilet is fitted with a high powered macerator unit.
How does a macerator work?
A macerator uses a special mechanism in the toilet which uses a grinding or blender-type system to reduce down the toilet waste so that it becomes a slurry which is then taken through the toilet system with a further pumping mechanism. This breaks up solid waste and paper into much smaller particles. Combined with water the blended or grinded toilet waste is then mixed up and forms a slurry. This slurry can then flow away through a pipe with a much smaller diameter than a standard loo. More often than not, the macerator is hidden away from sight behind a wall.
This means it doesn’t smell. It isn’t noisy either when it is running. Macerators can only be fitted to toilets which have a horizontal outlet spigot. They also need to conform to relevant standards. Most people thinking about fitting this sort of system buy it as a kit from Saniflo or similar manufacturers. There are a few alternatives to Saniflo systems as well and you will usually find these when you look online for 'domestic sewage pumping station' for example. You will find a number of these systems. They also may be referred to as 'sump pumps'. Some of the other known types of macerator toilets include Zoeller.
Regulations and requirements for installing a saniflo system
Planning permission isn’t needed, but when you fit your Saniflo or other macerator system it will have to conform to Building Regulations. A professional builder or plumber should be up to date with these. There are also tradespeople who specialise in fitting saniflo systems. A good tradesperson will help make sure your installation is up to standard. The system also has a powerful pump which enables you to pump waste into the main drains. The pump could be s far as 50 metres away from the toilet. The system also allows you to pump waste upwards into the sewers. This then allows for nstallation of toilets in basement rooms. Saniflo's website offers comprehensive advice about where you can and cannot install their products. There are also instructions there to help you work out which product is most appropriate for your requirements.
Electrical work in bathrooms does fall under Building Regulations, so you’ll have to have the installation signed off by a qualified electrician.
Can I install a Saniflo toilet myself?
There are no laws stopping you from installing a unit yourself as far as we know. With reasonable DIY skills this is not a difficult task.
Nearly everything you need for the job is supplied with the saniflo toilet kit you can get from most DIY stores.
However, you will need to buy pipes and make sure they are the correct diameter for your unit.
Step by step guide to fitting a Saniflo toilet and macerator
- First cut into your existing soil stack.
- Install a Y shaped connector for your new macerator unit.
- Decide where you want to position your new macerator and toilet.
- Connect up the toilet to the cold water supply.
- Connect the macerator to the electricity supply and then connect everything to the soil stack.
