Macerator toilets allow you to add bathrooms in places below or above the main sewer drain pipe, using grinders to break down waste into a slurry that’s then piped through PVC pipes directly to your home’s existing plumbing stack.
These units make it possible to add a bathroom without ripping out floors or spending thousands on custom plumbing work. They’re quiet, sanitary and straightforward to install.
Choosing a macerator
If you’re renovating your home, installing a macerator pump could be worth considering. These devices connect directly to toilets and use grinding machinery to transform solid waste into liquid that can then be pumped uphill for disposal. Although more costly than traditional plumbing options, macerators pumps may prove less disruptive and more convenient than digging new sewer lines.
Macerators with small footprints make for discreet plumbing solutions, fitting easily behind toilets or concealed in bathroom furniture or walls for greater discretion than other forms. One popular brand, such as Saniflo’s Saniaccess 2 macerator, can even be integrated seamlessly into different toilet suite styles for added versatility.
Macerators are an excellent solution for RVs parked uphill or further from sewer hookup. Not only will it alleviate any odor associated with handling and disposing of waste, but it will also allow you to access locations you would be unable to with a 3-inch sewer hose.
Choosing a location
A macerator is an essential piece of plumbing equipment used in toilets or other parts of a bathroom to break down solid waste and foul water into an easily pumpable mixture that can then be removed with great force.
Slurry from the macerator is then pumped directly into an existing plumbing stack connected to the main drainage system, usually located in the basement; however, it can also be installed upstairs.
There are various Saniflo macerators available, and it is essential that you select one that will complement your home environment. Some models are small enough to be concealed behind walls while larger units may be better suited for commercial applications. It is also essential that you consider how much waste will need to be managed and whether the device will be used in either your shower or kitchen environment; your plumber should be able to recommend the appropriate model; some even come equipped with a 2-year warranty!
Installing the macerator
Saniflo macerators or grinder pumps are cutting-edge waste management appliances designed to make disposal simpler. This device softens human waste, paper waste and debris into manageable pieces for disposal; making this ideal for homes without sewer lines as well as basement conversion projects. Serviceteam Saniflo can install these devices quickly and with minimal disruption or hassle.
Macerator/pump systems connect toilet drains to an impeller-driven pump which reduces solids before pumping it through a 3/4″ discharge pipe to connect with the main drainage system. They may also be connected with shower and sink drains; however fused spurs must comply with UK regulations for connectivity.
The discharge pipe can be either vertically or horizontally positioned, but should have an upward slope of 1/4 inch per foot toward the soil stack. Furthermore, a non-return valve should be built into its elbow for added safety; finally all wastewater will be routed either into city sewers or your own soil stack if available.
Ventilation
Macerator toilets may come equipped with ventilation ducts for added odor-preventing benefits, including using activated carbon deodorization modules on top of pumps or connecting ventilation ducts to your home venting system. Such measures will help eliminate unpleasant odours caused by an accumulation of solids. To further minimize their occurrence, try implementing an automated home venting system to vent out excess gases instead.
Pumps must be powered with electricity and connected to an appropriately sized wall outlet with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). As with any electrical installation, only professional electricians or plumbers should perform this step.
Macerators make it possible to install bathrooms anywhere imaginable: attic, basement, under the stairs – even in garden sheds and garages! While noisy than traditional plumbing solutions and susceptible to blockages by anything other than loo roll, macerators offer an easy and flexible way of creating bathrooms anywhere on your property.