Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Downstairs toilet - Saniflo

23 replies

Jollygoodride · 29/03/2022 16:30

We're looking at installing a toilet. We've been advised that a saniflo will need to be installed as there's no connection to the main drain. However the reviews about saniflow are mostly negative.

Is there any alternative e.g., is the connection to the main drain something a plumber can do, or is a saniflow the only option we have?

What are your experiences of saniflow?

OP posts:

whirlyhead · 29/03/2022 17:35

I have one. It is terrible. You can't do anything, erm, solid in it, and it's poured its contents through the ceiling a few times. Plus it's so noisy!

When we put in a new bathroom I insisted the installers put in the plumbing for a proper toilet. They are so much better. They moaned, it was extra work but they still managed to do it.

ginslinger · 29/03/2022 17:37

I have a saniflo and it's a nightmare - I spend more time with the plumber than I do with DH. Noisy difficult beast.I wish I had an alterntive

Shesaysso · 29/03/2022 17:39

Yeah we inherited one - despite being careful it was a nightmare, a tiny bit too much loo roll in and it jams and then you end up with it leaking or the motor being stuck on and you need a plumber out - wouldn’t recommend.

Beebumble2 · 29/03/2022 18:02

I would contact a good reputable plumber to work out a strategy for connecting to the main drain. Often this can be done under floorboards, it’s surprising what an inventive plumber can do.

Thunderpunt · 29/03/2022 18:51

We have one as our main drain is higher than the en-suite (house built on a hill) we paid top dollar for the most expensive one we could - it's housed in the built in vanity units so easy to access. It has been fine, it's quiet, only goes when the shower is on or you flush the toilet. But, you absolutely have to be careful about only putting loo roll and bodily waste down there! No wipes (flushable or otherwise) sanitary products, cotton pads down there at all. Otherwise you have to open it up and fish them out with tweezers and it's pretty grim (not envy) You'll only do it once mind you!
But for us it was the only way we could have an en suite and it's been fine - we've had it 2 years

hedgehoglurker · 29/03/2022 19:29

Also had ours installed 2 years ago. I think it is a Pro version to handle a shower and basin too. It is fine. Not very noisy. We make sure to use a proper macerator descaler each 6 months or so, and no bleach, just regular toilet cleaner.

Badbadbunny · 29/03/2022 19:31

We had one in our basement office. It was a nightmare. It was OK for number one's but not two's as it just constantly got clogged up, and as said by another poster above, you have to open it up and dig out the "hard" bits with solids solidifying over time. We got used to only using it for "water" use, but it got embarrassing when friends. family and clients wanted to use it and we'd have to warn them it was for wee-ing only!

Eventually, we got rid and turned the downstairs loo into a store room!

Badbadbunny · 29/03/2022 19:36

@ginslinger

I have a saniflo and it's a nightmare - I spend more time with the plumber than I do with DH. Noisy difficult beast.I wish I had an alterntive

You're lucky you could find a plumber to sort it out once clogged.

We had endless trouble getting one, hence why we tended to clear it ourselves when it got clogged. The moment you mention a blogged Saniflo, most plumbers we phoned suddenly decided they were too busy! (Not surprising, it's a horrible job to clean them out).

Fernsinthegarden · 29/03/2022 19:40

I lived in an annex with a saniflo for almost 5 years…I do not have any good memories of that goddamned thing! It did the job but was a lot noisier for longer than a normal toilet and yep, all the other unsavoury things that others have mentioned are definitely not to be taken lightly 🤢

Thunderpunt · 29/03/2022 19:42

@hedgehoglurker

Ooo I didn't know about macerator descaler but that sounds like a really good idea given the hard water around here!

Poshjock · 29/03/2022 19:51

I am genuinely surprised by the negativity for the Saniflo. My DF had one fitted so he could put a toilet downstairs. It's just recently given up the ghost (pump stuck on and it overflowed somewhat) but it was fitted well before my DM died and that was 12 years ago. I honestly think it was about 15-20 years old. It's been replaced directly with another Saniflo Up.

It's a bit noisy but this is about 5 seconds of a grinding nose, pause and another 5 seconds of grinding, pumping, sucking noise. Its right next to the livingroom so obvious enough, but by the time my dad is back in his chair it done. He's not the most gentle of fellows, and he's downstairs from 9 am until 11pm so it's the main use toilet. Someone mentioned descaler - he is in a soft water area so that might make a difference. Also he doesn't use wipes or anything like that. I can't imagine him being prudent with toilet paper use but then I don't exactly discuss these things in detail!

With this experience I wouldn't have any issues in recommending the Sanflow.

Longhairmightcare · 29/03/2022 19:57

We inherited one in our downstairs loo which has all the issues mentioned above.
We are having it replaced on Monday with a properly plumbed in toilet. It will involve drilling through the external wall and connecting to soil pipe which will cost a few hundred £ (on top of the cost of the toilet itself) but will be worth it to be rid of the noisy, temperamental, inefficient thing.

WombatChocolate · 29/03/2022 20:00

I’ve had one for 6 years. It is an en-suite and is the Pro version as also operates the shower.

It is a guest en-suite/office. This means the shower is rarely used (maybe 10 times a year) and the loo used perhaps a couple of times a day, but mostly just for wees. Although it is sometimes used for poos.

No problems. We have a tiny sign saying ‘human waste and loo paper only - macerator loo - will block with anything else’ and it seems to have done the job.

As others say, there’s a bit of a noise, but too be honest it’s not really worse than a normal loo flush, but I guess that’s a sound we’re all more familiar with.

Of course, if you can have standard plumbing thats better. However, for us it allowed us to have a 2nd loo and shower and has been trouble free.

ShakespearesSisters · 29/03/2022 20:36

We have one in our ensuite. It did get replaced after 5 years due to a fault but it works well. I buy the prokleen macerator cleaner as its cheaper than the official saniflow stuff.

WombatChocolate · 29/03/2022 20:43

I’ve used the prokleen stuff too. I use 2.5l for a through clean every 6-9 months. Don’t really know if it’s made any difference, but we haven’t had any trouble with ours.

DonGray · 29/03/2022 20:44

Really expensive - lasts 15 years at most. Avoid if possible

Goldrill · 29/03/2022 20:52

We moved into a house with one about 18 months ago. We are both water/aquatic scientists so no way we use wipes or put anything that's not really biodegradable down it.
It packed up in January last year.
We have not been able to find anyone to sort it yet.
Apparently there's no way round having one because downstairs is way below the sewer.

So we have no downstairs drainage. So we have to bail out our sodding washing machine using buckets.

I cannot put into words how much I wish we hadn't moved.

WhatAWasteOfOranges · 29/03/2022 21:06

A competent plumber will find a way to fit a proper toilet, it may just be expensive and a bit messy but they will be able to do it. So much better to have a proper toilet

PigletJohn · 30/03/2022 05:21

"So we have to bail out our sodding washing machine using buckets."

Washing machines have pumps to eject the waste water, if you have a single (long) waste hose with no joints.

I don't know what height they can manage but they are sometimes used in basements.

Or you can use a sump type pump with a catch tank. The water does not contain solids or detritus so unlikely to block.

Could be worth a try?

Original poster

Jollygoodride · 30/03/2022 06:56

Well, that's a (almost) unanimous NO. Guess we'll wait until we can get a plumber to connect the main drain.
Would have loved a downstairs toilet but not worth the hassle of a saniflo from what I'm reading.

Thanks all

OP posts:

MsTSwift · 30/03/2022 07:05

No. We inherited one in guest room and used to host international students. Bane of my life. Was a happy day redoing bathroom and putting in proper loo. Worth every penny. Friend of a friends leaked and soaked through a ceiling. Hearing that was the last straw as ours was in the attic.

MuchTooTired · 30/03/2022 10:59

Saniflo are utterly shit, and really expensive. If you must have a macerator, have a look at uniflo - half the price, and really great macerators with fantastic customer service and after care where you can speak to the technical team for help.

I don’t work for them btw, just had a macerator for 10+ years and ditched saniflo because they kept breaking really easily and not lasting the distance.

CrotchetyQuaver · 30/03/2022 11:11

Don't pooh in them, that's the big risk factor

Flip