Hi Everyone,
I have read various threads about the use of macerators and was hopeful of some constructive advice, from anyone in the know. I’m not a qualified plumber, but I am a good DIYer and fitted many bathrooms and kitchens, together with lots of other types of work, but I have no experience of macerators. My aged in-laws live in a bungalow and they have got to the point in their lives where they need to have more than one w.c. as they both have frequent visits and they also need to have a walk-in shower due to mobility problems. They have an existing bathroom, with bath, basin and w.c. (which they cannot lose the use of, whilst it is modified) and they have asked for an en-suite to be provided off, their bedroom, which means taking some space from their integral garage.
The building work is pretty straight forward, but there is no suitable drainage point nearby and it is impossible to get to the foul water drainage without the use of a macerator and pump. The en-suite will be fitted with a shower, basin and w.c. They are both aware that the only things that should go down the loo are wee, poo and toilet paper and as it’s an en-suite they are able to ensure that only the pair of them will be using it, so there will be no uncontrolled use by visitors etc.
The new wall that separates the en-suite from the remaining garage, will be where the w.c., basin and shower discharge towards, so the aim is to install a macerator on the garage side of the new wall, (for ease of access and also to endeavour to reduce noise impact in the bedroom and the other adjacent rooms) with the discharge route being vertically up into the roof space and then across to the gable wall, to ultimately discharge into the existing soil pipe, with all joints being solvent joints and any bends being 45 degrees, and there is plenty of room for a non-return valve on the riser, so from a discharge route point of view, things are reasonably straight forward. The maximum lift will be 3.5m and the max distance to the soil pipe (including the lift) will be 13.5m.
I have researched macerators on various forums and spoken to a number of suppliers and manufacturers and I think I’ve narrowed down the macerator choice to one of two, either a Grundfos Sololift2 WC-3 or a Sanipro XR UP, as both of these seem to have good reviews, the capacity required and also, importantly they both seem to allow the macerator to be fitted to the garage side of the wall. Unless I’m mistaken both have in-built vents as options, both also have the option of having an alarm fitted and both have very similar noise levels. There is a price difference between the two, but the cost of the macerator is definitely not the deciding factor.
From what I can gather, the Sanipro has a max incoming water temperature of 35 degrees (which I feel is possibly a tad lower than needed as one of them likes hot showers), and the Grundfos can deal with much higher temperatures at a max 90 degrees which is way above the safe water temperatures that are ever going to be in use, in the en-suite. From what I can see both can be fixed to the floor (concrete therefore hopefully less chance of noise transfer), and the Sanipro can also be fitted to the wall. Just on the noise, I think by placing the macerator in the remains of the garage, will help tremendously on the noise front, particularly if everything is mounted correctly (it’ll be reasonably straightforward to enclose and carryout further sound proofing within the garage, if needed once operational) but I’d be more concerned about noise transfer through the stud/block wall.
Sorry for all the detail, but if anyone has experience of either of the above (or perhaps can offer an alternative), I’d gladly like to hear your views. Also, if anyone has a view about whether an insulated stud wall or thermal block wall would be better, I’d welcome views on that as well.
I have read various threads about the use of macerators and was hopeful of some constructive advice, from anyone in the know. I’m not a qualified plumber, but I am a good DIYer and fitted many bathrooms and kitchens, together with lots of other types of work, but I have no experience of macerators. My aged in-laws live in a bungalow and they have got to the point in their lives where they need to have more than one w.c. as they both have frequent visits and they also need to have a walk-in shower due to mobility problems. They have an existing bathroom, with bath, basin and w.c. (which they cannot lose the use of, whilst it is modified) and they have asked for an en-suite to be provided off, their bedroom, which means taking some space from their integral garage.
The building work is pretty straight forward, but there is no suitable drainage point nearby and it is impossible to get to the foul water drainage without the use of a macerator and pump. The en-suite will be fitted with a shower, basin and w.c. They are both aware that the only things that should go down the loo are wee, poo and toilet paper and as it’s an en-suite they are able to ensure that only the pair of them will be using it, so there will be no uncontrolled use by visitors etc.
The new wall that separates the en-suite from the remaining garage, will be where the w.c., basin and shower discharge towards, so the aim is to install a macerator on the garage side of the new wall, (for ease of access and also to endeavour to reduce noise impact in the bedroom and the other adjacent rooms) with the discharge route being vertically up into the roof space and then across to the gable wall, to ultimately discharge into the existing soil pipe, with all joints being solvent joints and any bends being 45 degrees, and there is plenty of room for a non-return valve on the riser, so from a discharge route point of view, things are reasonably straight forward. The maximum lift will be 3.5m and the max distance to the soil pipe (including the lift) will be 13.5m.
I have researched macerators on various forums and spoken to a number of suppliers and manufacturers and I think I’ve narrowed down the macerator choice to one of two, either a Grundfos Sololift2 WC-3 or a Sanipro XR UP, as both of these seem to have good reviews, the capacity required and also, importantly they both seem to allow the macerator to be fitted to the garage side of the wall. Unless I’m mistaken both have in-built vents as options, both also have the option of having an alarm fitted and both have very similar noise levels. There is a price difference between the two, but the cost of the macerator is definitely not the deciding factor.
From what I can gather, the Sanipro has a max incoming water temperature of 35 degrees (which I feel is possibly a tad lower than needed as one of them likes hot showers), and the Grundfos can deal with much higher temperatures at a max 90 degrees which is way above the safe water temperatures that are ever going to be in use, in the en-suite. From what I can see both can be fixed to the floor (concrete therefore hopefully less chance of noise transfer), and the Sanipro can also be fitted to the wall. Just on the noise, I think by placing the macerator in the remains of the garage, will help tremendously on the noise front, particularly if everything is mounted correctly (it’ll be reasonably straightforward to enclose and carryout further sound proofing within the garage, if needed once operational) but I’d be more concerned about noise transfer through the stud/block wall.
Sorry for all the detail, but if anyone has experience of either of the above (or perhaps can offer an alternative), I’d gladly like to hear your views. Also, if anyone has a view about whether an insulated stud wall or thermal block wall would be better, I’d welcome views on that as well.
