Macerators anyone ?

[masochists-r-us]

We're thinking of making use of a macerator when we install our downstairs loo and washing machine to avoid expensive and awkward ground works. Have heard lots of disparaging remarks about them, but wonder if anyone has had a recent experience as I'm hoping the technology might have come on a bit in recent years. Also, is it worth going for a top of the range model or are they all much of a muchness?

 

[mims&pip]

I agree, most people seem to hate them "work of the devil" etc, but if needs must then so be it.....

We installed one in 2012 - well, not personally......although we did most of the work on our project that was one thing we declined to attempt - in the large ensuite converted from a bedroom at our last house. We bought a Saniplus - it was required to run bath and basin as well as the wc - and had very few issues with it. I say "very few", because it wasn't completely without issues - although the only time it backed up (typically the week we were due to exchange on our sale :roll: ) was after we had a guest who I believe put a *wipe* into the pan......

We did then have to take the saniplus apart and clear the blockage - not nice as you can imagine - but afterwards it was fine.

They are a little noisy when running - and as our last house had floors that were the ceilings of the rooms below, it was always apparent for those using our snug, that someone had used the facilities above, but again that's the joy of old buildings :wink:

It's our intention to install one in our new period house - the room we are using as the master bedroom is on the top floor and whilst it has a small walk-in space with a basin fitted, we intend to add a loo to this configuration to save night time trios (not literally, hopefully!) down a steep flight of stairs to the family bathroom on the first floor. The only way we can do this is by means of a Saniflo......
Mims x

 

[Tony.]

Install them in an accoustic box/ enclosure and they make less noise than the cistern flushing.
The trick is to insulate the pipework to deaden the noise too.
I installed one in a shop last year and did this.

 

[malcolm]

There is a bloke on another forun I frequent who suggested if a house has a macerator the best thing is to burn the place down and start again.

I think that was down to the difficulties in cleaning them out when they get blocked. Worth an internet search.

 

[skier-hughes]

We installed a saniflo in our last (modern) house, we moved out 10 years ago, and we had it for 3 years prior to that, so I wouldn't count it as a recent experience, but we never had any trouble. It was connected to a shower, basin and toilet. We never had any blockages, but it was an en-suite in our bedroom, so no guests used it.
Yes, it is a bit noisy, but you can hear people using the facilities in our new (old) house, as our floors are our ceilings.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again, but I think I would buy a good quality one.

 

[Keithj]

The architect and the builder decided we needed one in our new downstairs loo because of the floor arrangement, falls, etc. The plumber and I worked out a way to avoid it, building regs agreed, and glad I am!

Look at all the possibilities: having six feet of soil pipe along the wall (boxed in) may be preferable to a machine that needs servicing and is thoroughly unpleasant to work on.

 

[steveb]

never owned one, but apparently if you are fastidious about only putting down "natural" things and toilet paper down the WC they work fine.

Anything labelled "flushable", like wipes, is a full on no-no. Put one through a washing machine cycle and they come out intact - so it's only going to end in tears.

worst case, you can pay someone to service them if they get plugged up, if you don't fancy the job yourself :twisted:

 

[DJH]

http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/humour.html#saniflo

Brilliant Steve. The whole page is worth a read... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Doug

 

[chuckey]

I installed a macerator in a new en-suite about 10 years ago. Has always worked, no trouble at all. I boxed it in because it looks awful. Other wrinkles?, the pan inlet is not central to the box, its offset by about 1 1/2" and if you are pumping downhill (most sewers being underground) its a pain to get the anti syphon device. It should be for 22mm pipe but I had to go to 40mm pipe before the anti vacuum valve could be fitted. It huge and awful, but its within the boxing in and it works.
Frank

 

[mims&pip]

Ooh yes, Chuckey, I forgot to add that we were fortunate in that our macerator actually sat inside a large walk-in cupboard (that we created when converting a bedroom to an ensuite) that was back to back with the loo itself. Therefore the unsightly Saniplus *box* was hidden from view unless you were in the cupboard fetching fresh towels etc :wink:

Not sure we'll have room for a similar set up here - so some strategically placed boxing will have to be constructed :roll:

Mims x

 

[Moo]

In our first Norfolk house we had to install a macerator in order to create a bathroom on the 'wrong' side of the house. Without it our lovely home would have ended up looking like the Pompidou Centre. The Saniflo coped with a bath, basin and loo and as far as I know is still going strong (I can check if you like - we're still in touch with the owners).
We had one in the cellar of our last house for over ten years, just for the sink and washing machine.
And we invested in a macerator here in SE22. It's called a Samson, and makes the most wonderful fruit juice.

 

[CliffordPope]

I once installed one for someone in an "impossible" location.

It worked well, but you need absolute control on what guests put down it. You would be amazed at what ordinary decent people put down loos. Matchsticks, old toothpaste tubes, nappies etc. They think it is a kitchen waste grinder or a wood chipper.

 

[Zebra]

Without it our lovely home would have ended up looking like the Pompidou Centre.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[JanieB]

I would love to put an ensuite in my son's bedroom but because there is a humongous beam in the way it would have to have a macerator. I worked for a company that ran residential courses in an old Georgian mansion. The bedrooms all had en suites and several of them had to have macerators. There were notices up in all these telling students (mostly elderly women) not to put anything but loo paper down the pan. The maintenance staff had to dismantle the systems most weeks as the instructions were ignored.

It has put me off putting one in my house as I know people ignore what they are told.

 

[Tony.]

Please have a look at the saniflo website, there are quite a few products on there that could help!

 

[philg25]

Going to have to go down this route for my bathroom fitment. Has anyone any experience of the Screfix version?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/turboflush-macerator-550w-240v/94490?kpid=94490&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&kpid=94490&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Plumbing-_-Shopping%20-%20Plumbing&gclid=CjwKEAjw3_ypBRCwoKqKw5P9wgsSJAAbi2K91qBTBkZpMIEr3LVL6SUDyPG9nHk2HgjlcH_6HwTFKxoC9tDw_wcB