Saniflo Installation and Repairs: Toilets and Showers Where Drains Can’t Reach

Want to add a toilet under the stairs, an en suite in the loft or a shower room in the basement, but there’s no drain nearby? A Saniflo, or another make of macerator, could be the answer. Here’s how they work, where they make sense, the honest pros and cons, and how we can help with Saniflo installation and repairs in Stockport.

What is a Saniflo?

Saniflo is a well-known brand of macerator pump. A macerator sits behind or next to a toilet, basin or shower. It breaks down waste and pumps it through a small-bore pipe to the nearest soil stack or drain. Because the pipe is narrow and the waste is pumped, it can travel along and even upwards to reach the drain. That means you can put a bathroom where ordinary gravity drainage won’t work.

Where a macerator makes sense

• A downstairs toilet under the stairs
• An en suite in a loft conversion
• A shower room or toilet in a basement or cellar
• A utility room or kitchen away from the main drain
• A garage conversion or garden room

The benefits

• Flexible. You can put fixtures where they suit the room, not just where the drain is.
• Less disruption. There’s no need to dig up floors to lay new large drain pipes to the sewer.
• Compact. The units and small pipework take up little space, which helps in small rooms.
• Quick to fit. Many installations can be completed in a day.

The things to know first

We’d always rather you knew the downsides before you buy:

• Only paper and human waste. Wipes, sanitary products, cotton buds and even too much paper will block or damage a macerator. Make sure everyone in the house knows.
• They need power. If the electricity goes off, the unit won’t pump.
• Some noise. You’ll hear the motor run for a few seconds after each flush.
• Servicing. Like any pump, it will need occasional descaling and maintenance to keep it working well.
• Not always the best option. If a gravity drain can be connected without major work, that’s usually more reliable. For larger volumes or a whole annexe, a pumping station may be better.

Our Saniflo installation service

We install Saniflo and other macerator systems for homeowners and businesses. We’ll:

• Look at where you want the fixtures and where the waste can discharge
• Recommend a unit that suits what you’re connecting
• Install the unit and pipework neatly and test it properly
• Give you a clear quote before we start, with no hidden extras

Saniflo repairs

We also repair existing Saniflo and macerator units. Common problems we’re called out to include:

• The unit won’t pump, or the toilet won’t empty
• The motor runs constantly, or keeps switching on and off
• Grinding, humming or unusually loud noises
• Water draining slowly or backing up into a shower or basin
• Smells or leaks around the unit

Very often the cause is a blockage from wipes or something dropped down the toilet, or a build-up of scale. We’ll find the fault, clear or descale the unit, and replace faulty parts where needed. If the unit is old and a repair doesn’t make sense, we’ll tell you honestly and quote for a replacement. You’ll get a price before we start.

If an existing toilet or soil pipe is giving you problems, our blocked toilet service can help, and our drain unblocking covers the pipes further down.

Need a Saniflo installed or repaired?

We work across Stockport, Cheadle Hulme and the surrounding areas. Call 07375 521027 or WhatsApp us a photo of the space or the unit, and tell us what you’d like to add or what’s gone wrong.