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Original poster

Anyone know about macerators?!

15 replies

lumpybumper · 14/01/2025 18:16

I can't seem to find this answer online! If we have a bathroom with just a shower cubicle in it then could we add a macerator toilet (eg saniflo) to the same waste pipe that the shower is using?
Our soil pipe is boxed into a concrete wall (previous owners) and will cost a fortune to dig out so was wondering if we could just attach a saniflo to the waste pipe that is already there for the shower?
Does the shower waste empty into the same place as the toilet waste?
Will the saniflo back up into the shower?
Can anyone advise please?!

OP posts:
GasPanic · 14/01/2025 18:24

Will digging out the pipe cost more than constantly fixing the macerator when it clogs up ?

Unless it is a toilet where you can control how it is used then a macerator would be a big no no for me. So rentals, kids, no. En suite maybe.

ginslinger · 14/01/2025 18:27

I think my macerator is connected to the waste pipe for the sink but not the shower.
If you go down the macerator route then you need to have a long list of rules for what can go down there - loo paper and waste only. Nothing else - I have spent a lot of money on plumbers coming to unblock although I have got quite nifty with a mop and plunger now. Fortunately it isn't our main loo but it is in the guest room so guests are sometimes less careful than we might be.

JamMakingWannaBe · 14/01/2025 18:27

It depends on the size of your existing waste pipe. Grey water pipes are usually 40mm diameter. Soil pipes need to be 110mm to handle the solid waste/paper.

JamMakingWannaBe · 14/01/2025 18:29

Actually, if you are macerating the solid waste, yes I imagine you could use a 40mm pipe.
@PigletJohn - any advice?

Floralnomad · 14/01/2025 18:31

The only thing I know about macerators is the ones we used in hospital for the cardboard bedpans . They were very noisy and constantly either breaking down or getting clogged up .

InkHeart2024 · 14/01/2025 18:35

We have a macerator in our annexe. It's fine for light use. My DH fitted it as well as a shower and sink. All three pipes filter directly into the macerator and then one pipe comes outside the property and into the soil pipe. You couldn't join the outlet from the macerator to the shower waste. You'd have liquid shit flowing into the same pipe your shower drains into and you'd smell it. The macerater outlet has to go directly out and into the soil pipe.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 14/01/2025 18:40

That's high on my list of jobs never to apply for...
Macerator Service Engineer

just above...
Pig Inseminator

Original poster
lumpybumper · 14/01/2025 18:49

Yeah I did wander if it was ok to have shit going through the same pipe as the sink water. Although some websites say about a non return valve on the basin so nothing can come back up. I've had one builder round to look but he's not fitted many before and didn't want to do it!

OP posts:
InkHeart2024 · 14/01/2025 19:04

lumpybumper · 14/01/2025 18:49

Yeah I did wander if it was ok to have shit going through the same pipe as the sink water. Although some websites say about a non return valve on the basin so nothing can come back up. I've had one builder round to look but he's not fitted many before and didn't want to do it!

That's why my DH fitted it! I found one specialist plumber who would do it and wanted to charge £5k to fit the toilet, sink and shower. Unbelievable. DH has had to unblock it twice but that was when we had a couple staying for a few weeks and it was too much use. Touch wood it hasn't blocked again before or since in a year of light use. If you can stomach it, you can use a wet and dry hoover to drain the toilet and then you can get to the blockage in the pump manually wearing marigolds. Saves a fortune on emergency macerator plumbers too.

PigletJohn · 15/01/2025 01:53

JamMakingWannaBe · 14/01/2025 18:29

Actually, if you are macerating the solid waste, yes I imagine you could use a 40mm pipe.
@PigletJohn - any advice?

I'd suggest digging a hole in the garden and using a bucket instead.

Geneticsbunny · 15/01/2025 08:43

I agree with @PigletJohn . They block up all the time, they are noisy and you have to call someone out to unblock them. Honestly, don't, you will regret it and then you will have to remove it and access the toilet pipe anyway to plumb a new one in.

Joeninety · 21/12/2025 15:33

Good idea but eventually an awful lot of trouble, blockages etc. Run into a stack pipe if at all possible, even if it's more work.

Papyrophile · 21/12/2025 15:36

Number ones only in ours. Mainly because I loathe our local Saniflo engineer!

InkHeart2024 · 21/12/2025 16:42

We had a blockage in ours - some silly person flushed a panty liner 🙄 DH took the top off after disconnecting the power and removing the water from the pan with a wet and dry vacuum and removed the blockage. Icky but easy if you can get to the pump. He installed ours himself so he built a box over the pump with a removable top for this very reason. You don't want the pump hidden too much or it will be a nightmare to unblock. This is the second blockage in 2 years of pretty regular use (Airbnb)

PigletJohn · 21/12/2025 19:14

I have not changed my opinion.

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