Macerating toilets, too good to be true?

Thinking about adding a basement bathroom and too many issues with the layout and existing stack position make plumbing this all out a very expensive proposition. I heard and read about macerating toilets and they seem to be a viable alternative. Does anyone have experience with these? Do they really work? Any trouble? The whole thing seems kind of gross, but I suppose all toilets are in general! :-)

See: http://www.saniflo.com/ or http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/artic...ticle_id=60333

 

I used a macerating boat toilet for years in a house with serious septic tank problems (septic was under water 6 months each year). It was a 12v unit so I had a large transformer, and it had a holding tank underneath the toilet. It worked very well, don't remember ever having a problem with it. I had to pump the effluent from the holding tank to an uphill located pit, 20-30 yards away. That part wasn't fun, but it worked. Didn't use much water because there was no trap, just straight into the pump chamber then to the holding tank. In my case I used a digesting enzyme in the holding tank, and the tank was larger than the one I see with the Sanflo unit. But then it had to be manually pumped out every 1-2 weeks so the Sanflo unit is much more sophisticated in comparison (and probably much more expensive).

The pump made a gnashing sound, but tolerable, and there wasn't a smell problem.

jc

 

just installed my saniflow in basement with shower with seperate sanishower box. wrks great so far. spent 900 to buy ship too house,didnt have too dig and wreck my basement floor no dust so far so good.great 2nd bath.

 

I've seen them used around here a lot in basements and they seem to be very effective. They pump right into the septic line on it's way out of the house and eliminates much, much work. Not a plumber so I can't help w/ any brand names right off hand, but I could ask if you'd like. The ones I've seen require no work below floor level as they pump directly out the back of the toilet @ 8"-9" above the floor to your waste line.

 

I had researched macerating toilets a bit last year and the only brand I could find was Saniflow. I have vague memories of a plumber telling me they are the only authorized brand in the US (not sure if this is accurate). I was quoted prices in the $800 range (no ship, no install). At the time, I wanted to hear one operate before purchasing it, to insure the noise level was going to be acceptable, but none of the showrooms I went to had a functional one.

JP

 

Sorry for the late reply. Can I ask another question please? I heard a macerating toilet needs its own vent and cannot be tied into the existing vent system. Maybe I am getting bad information, but adding a vent through two floors of house and an attic for a basement toilet makes just plumbing a standard toilet a better option. How did any of you vent this?