How does a SANIFLO Toilet work?

It can sometimes be difficult, if not impossible, to add a new toilet to your home the conventional way. Normally, if you don’t have easy access to a discharge pipe, the only solution is extensive remodelling and new piping. But you’ve heard that units like Saniflo and our exclusive WasteAway range can deliver you a much easier solution. So, how does a Saniflo toilet work?

Basically, how a WasteAway or Saniflo toilet works is through macerator technology.

‘Macerator’ means ‘chopper’, so Saniflo and WasteAway units first churn solid waste and toilet paper into a liquid. They then use their pumps to discharge this liquid through pipes as small as one inch (25mm) diameter. That discharge can be through distances of up to 150 feet (50 metres) horizontally and 15 feet (3 metres) vertically, or even more, depending on model chosen.

A basic walk-through of the process is:

Waste goes to the Saniflo or WasteAway unit when the toilet is flushed, instead of directly to an outflow pipe.
The macerator technology then kicks into action. A blade spins at up to 3,600 rpm to pulverise waste into liquid in a matter of just seconds.
The unit’s pump then comes to life. It expels this churned-down liquid waste along whatever outflow distance necessary.
When the process is complete, the macerating device deactivates, the motor powers down and the toilet refills as normal with clean water.

If a Saniflo or WasteAway macerator pump is installed correctly and used in accordance with the instructions provided, it will give trouble-free operation for many years. We offer a two-year guarantee on all units as proof of this.

Problems can arise however if certain other materials are flushed down the toilet. This is because domestic macerators cannot handle them. This includes, but is not limited to, cotton wool, cotton buds, sanitary items, and condoms.

Certain liquids should not be disposed of in a toilet or sink connected to a Saniflo or WasteAway unit either. These include white spirits, turpentine, other paint cleaners, and other chemicals.

These may be minor inconveniences from time to time, but they are far outweighed benefits that Saniflo and WasteAway technology and its proper use will bring.