Saniflo Macerator Toilets

If you’re interested in macerating toilets, you’ve probably wondered about the best macerating toilets on the market. Luckily, you're not alone in this! In fact, many people want some guidance on buying the best macerating toilet out there. Fortunately, our team is here to help. In this article, we’ll guide you through the ins and outs of macerating toilets, helping you understand what makes each unique and why it could be a good fit for your home.

Let's dive in.

What are Macerating Toilets?

If you have a space where you want to add a toilet, but you don’t have the plumbing required to install one or the budget needed to add that plumbing, you might want to look into a macerating toilet. Clean, efficient, and easy to use, macerating toilets are an excellent idea for home remodels, adding a toilet to a basement, and much, much more. Macerating toilets are more expensive to purchase at the outset, but they’ll save you thousands on everything from plumbing to maintenance down the road.

So, what sets macerating toilets apart from everything else on the market?

While regular toilets have a drain line that drops down below the level of the flushing mechanism, to push the waste down the pipes with the help of gravity, macerating toilets literally flush up. That’s why they’re called “upflush toilets.” These toilets use a grinder and pump combination to send waste to a unit behind the toilet in a large container lodged either in the wall or just behind the tank. The blades in the grinder then turn on, grind the waste, and pump it out of the unit through a pipe.

Because of this unique mechanism, upflush toilets can be placed below a sewer stack. This makes them ideal for placement in a basement or other below-ground location.

Why Macerating Toilets are so Beneficial

Did you know you can put a Saniflo macerator toilet practically anywhere? While traditional bathrooms can cost between $10,000–$25,000 to install, Saniflo toilet systems don’t require complex demolition or plumbing, and can be installed as a DIY project in just a few hours!

For many U.S. households, a Saniflo macerating toilet system is the perfect solution to a wide selection of difficult toilet issues. Not only do these macerating toilet systems cost significantly less than traditional toilet installations, but they’re also ideal for older or oddly laid-out homes. When you install a macerator system, you afford yourself the happiness, peace of mind, and simplicity that comes with choosing an elegant, straightforward bathroom solution.

Where Can You Put a MaceratingToilet?

The beautiful thing about Saniflo macerator toilets is that they can go virtually anywhere. Because they don’t require custom piping or widespread structural changes, Saniflo macerator toilet systems can go in the laundry room, old closet, or temporary bedroom. To put it another way, if you can dream it, you can do it with a Saniflo macerator toilet. What’s more, since these systems are easy to install on your own, you won’t have to hire a plumber to help.

What do You Need to Install a Saniflo Macerator Toilet?

While the name sounds fancy, the tools needed to install these systems are plenty straightforward. Generally, you’ll need the following items:

• A Good-Quality Saniflo Toilet. Choose from one of our top models to get started.
• A Water Supply. This supplies the macerator and pump and keeps your system working.
• A Source of Electricity. Electricity powers the pump and macerator.
• A Discharge Pipe. This pipe can be small—between ¾" to 1"
• A Helpful Friend. To boost your confidence, find someone with basic plumbing skills.

Once you’ve gathered this simple assortment of tools, it’s time to get to work. Remember that you won’t need to tear out your flooring or overhaul your bathroom to install a macerator toilet. Instead, you just need someone who is comfortable with DIY plumbing and willing to help you put in your new macerating system. When you do it correctly, the process should only take a few hours.

The Case for Saniflo Macerator Toilets

While the price of a Saniflo macerating toilet might seem high compared to a typical toilet, it’s important to consider the whole picture. By saving yourself time, hassle, and trouble of ripping up your floor and installing new plumbing, macerating systems represent an elegant and intuitive bathroom solution. Don’t flush money down the toilet.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Macerating Toilet

With such a wealth of macerating toilets on the market, you have your work cut out for you when it comes to picking one. Fortunately, you can guide your choices by keeping a few things in mind when it comes time to pick your toilet. Here are a few considerations to keep top-of-mind as you shop:

Design

The design of the toilet is important. After all, it’s going in your bathroom, and you should like how it looks. The design and appearance of the toilet should be something you like. Today, there are a variety of toilet shapes, sizes, and colors on the market. Look for lid and toilet tank styles you like, colors that compliment your bathroom, and curves that look pretty against your decor.

Installation

The toilet you choose should be easy to install, especially if you intend to DIY the toilet project. Upflush toilets are luckily very easy to install, and few require any specific installation tools or instructions. Despite this, however, be sure you’re evaluating the installation instructions on any toilet you purchase.

Gallons per Flush

Gallons per flush is an important consideration for anyone looking to buy a toilet. As people turn their attention increasingly to water conservation, gallons per flush becomes an important part of the toilet selection process. As it stands right now, about 1.6 gallons per flush is a good standard to shoot for. This mandate went into effect in 1994. Before that, the standard toilet used about 3.5–5 gallons per flush. Luckily, most modern toilets are conservation-focused and use as little water as possible during operation. Not only is this excellent for your water bill, but it’s good for the environment as well.

Features

All macerating toilets have a few things in common: primarily, they all convert solid human waste to a sludge using powerful macerating blades and an efficient pump system. Beyond this, though, you might want to consider the features of your toilet. Look for models with things like heated seats, bidet toilet seats, and more.

Warranty

Look for an upflush toilet kit with a comprehensive warranty. While it’s very unlikely that anything will go wrong with your toilet, it’s still smart to ensure your warranty will cover you, just in case. You can learn more about the warranty from your manufacturer or from the distributor who sells your toilet.

The Top 4 Upflush Toilets

Interested in installing an upflush toilet in your home? Here are our top five favorite models:

 

1. SaniBEST Pro Upflush Toilet

The Sanibest Pro toilet is a durable, elegant toilet that blends well with virtually any bathroom design. The perfect go-to for any time you need to add a bathroom to a basement, renovated space, or office, the Sanibest Pro offers an extended 3-year warranty, so you can install it knowing it’ll keep working hard for years.

Like most Saniflo toilets, this powerful unit pumps vertically, up to 25 feet. If you’d like to install a full bathroom rather than just a toilet, you’ll be happy to know that this macerating pump can also support a washing machine, toilet, sink, shower, and/or bath. Simply use an extension pipe or pipes to connect other fixtures to the unit. Regardless of how you intend to use it, the unit is easy to install and won’t require the assistance of a professional plumber.

The Sanibest Pro kit includes the following:

• A macerating pump
• Tank
• Bowl
• A free soft-close toilet seat.

If you need an elongated or ADA-compliant bowl, you can choose one with this kit. Regardless of what you’re looking for for your bathroom, the ample choices, flexible options, and comfortable configuration make this toilet the obvious go-to for many applications.

2. SaniAccess 3 by Saniflo

One of the most advanced residential macerators in the world, our Saniaccess 3, is one of Saniflo’s top-selling units. Featuring a robust, durable ½ HP pump system, the Saniaccess 3 can also support a complete bathroom up to 15 feet below the sewer line, and up to 150 feet from a soil stack. The macerating system is ideal for handling human waste, as well as non-organic compounds, including toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, and greywater in a residential setting.

The reason this unit is so powerful comes down to the blades, which are fashioned from durable, hardened stainless steel. This material means they’re durable enough to last for a decade or more, without requiring replacement or service.

Whether you’re looking for a pump that will allow you to add a bathroom to a basement or you simply want to hook a shower, sink, or bathtub to a durable macerating pump, this option could be perfect for you. An ideal, accessible, affordable unit, this one's a winner for a wide variety of residential applications.

3. Saniflo SaniPLUS Toilet System

If you want to install a full bathroom, look no further than the Saniflo Saniplus macerating unit. This is the original macerating toilet for a full bathroom. Equipped with a ½ HP pump system, the Saniplus toilet can support the installation of a complete bathroom, as far as 15 feet below your sewer line, and a full 150 feet away from the nearest soil stack.

This ample range makes the Saniflo Saniplus one of our top-selling toilets and has secured its spot as a favorite among homeowners throughout the country. Durable, beautiful, and designed to work hard for you, your family, or your residential space, this whole-home toilet is made to last.

The Saniplus offers a durable macerating system designed to handle human waste, feminine hygiene products, and toilet paper, as well as virtually anything else you could throw at it. The blades of the macerating system are fashioned from stainless steel, which means you won’t have to service or replace them for many years.

If you are looking for a pump that can handle greywater, the Saniflo Saniplus is the ideal option. Designed to discharge gray water from your household’s sanitary fixtures, including the bathtub, shower, or urinal, the Saniplus is a functional, durable unit that works hard for you.

What many people love about this unit, though, is its built-in vibration absorbers. These unique fixtures help the unit operate more quietly by reducing transmitted sounds from the unit’s macerator. This, in turn, reduces the operating noise of this toilet system by about 10dB and makes your home a quieter place. Your guests probably won't even know it’s a macerating toilet!

Keep in mind that the Saniplus must be connected to a rear discharge toilet, which works in combination with all Saniflo systems.

4. Saniflo SaniAccess 2 Upflush Toilet

A complete toilet system designed to be used in a home or commercial setting, the Saniflo Saniaccess 2 is one of Saniflo’s most popular units. The kit is a great go-to for anyone who wants to add a half bathroom to their home. Designed to pump vertically, up to 15 feet, and capable of connecting to a toilet and sink, the Saniaccess 2 offers easy installation, modern looks, and long-lasting functionality.

Included in our kit is the following:

• The SaniACCESS2 macerator pump
• A tank and bowl
• A free soft-close toilet seat

Additional available options include a standard or elongated (ADA-compliant) bowl, an extension pipe that makes behind-the-wall installation simple, and a descaler to remove hard water deposits in the macerator.

The unit can install up to 150 feet from a soil stack and is perfect for handling the effluent from a toilet or sink in a residential setting. While it’s not designed for heavy commercial use, it will make an ideal addition to your home. The new design of the previous SaniTOP model, this unit offers more benefits than even its capable predecessor.

What About the Bowl Style?

Today, there are generally two go-to styles of toilet bowl: the standard bowl and the round variety. Round bowls are a more traditional style of toilet, and come with a smaller dimension. This is why they’ve been so popular for so many years—they used to fit in smaller bathrooms before the trend became larger bathrooms.

Elongated bowls, meanwhile, consume more space than larger bowls, but are widely considered to be more comfortable. This is especially true for ADA users, who will find it easier to slide onto and off of an elongated bowl.

Today, most macerating toilets offer a choice between round and elongated bowls, so you’ll have to decide which styles you prefer.

Should You Buy a One-Piece or Two-Piece Toilet?

Like there are two types of toilet bowls today, there are also two different types of toilets. They include one- and two-piece toilet bowls.

Two-Piece Toilets

In two-piece toilets, the tank bolts down onto the top of the main bowl. This is why they are considered, widely, more comfortable and easier to install than other styles of toilets. Additionally, this structure allows the bowl and seat tank to be replaced independently of one another, which is impossible with one-piece toilets. Two-piece toilets are also considered cheaper than one-piece toilets.

One-Piece Toilet

One-piece toilets are a single piece of equipment, unlike two-piece toilets. They are considered more sanitary than two-piece toilets, which can accumulate bacteria. They’re also widely considered more elegant and expensive than two-piece toilets.

Macerating Toilet FAQs

What does a macerating toilet do, again?

Macerating toilets convert human waste into a fine slurry, which can be pumped up into a soil stack, against gravity. This is ideal for anyone who wants to add a bathroom to a basement or other small space.

Can I install the toilet myself?

Yes, upflush toilets are very easy to install. You just need some simple tools and a few hours on the weekend or so.

Can I adjust the water consumption rate?

On some macerating toilets, water consumption rate can be adjusted. Simply adjust the fill valve to increase or decrease it to the rate of choice.

Is there a warranty on the macerating toilets?

Yes, although it depends on the unique toilet you buy. Be sure to check with the manufacturer to understand your specific warranty.

Can I hook other utilities to my toilet?

Yes. Some macerating toilets can also support a shower or sink, which makes them ideal for a full bathroom system. Look for pumps and macerators designed to support these things.

How does a macerating toilet work?

Unlike a regular toilet that push the waste down the pipes (with the help of gravity), a macerating toilet “upflush” or flush up; hence, the alternative name upflush toilets, or sometimes, flush up toilet. Macerating toilets are outfitted with a grinder and pump combination that pushes waste to a unit behind the toilet in a large container lodged either in the wall or just behind the tank. The blades in the grinder then turn on, pulverize the waste, and pump it out of the unit through a pipe.

How long do macerating toilets last?

Saniflo macerating toilets can last about 10 to 15 years if not longer. With proper care and maintenance, macerating toilets can keep working hard for a long, long time.

Conclusion

If you’ve always wanted to add a bathroom to your home, but didn’t want to spend thousands on additional plumbing, a Saniflo upflush toilet is your ideal go-to. Designed to install easily, avoid many of the bottlenecks of traditional plumbing, and provide years of powerful, reliable service, upflush toilets are the way of the future, as far as residential plumbing goes. While these four units are excellent places to start, our staff will be happy to help you find the perfect unit for your home today. Contact us now to learn more.