Can I remover my Saniflo?

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Hi everyone! We have a Saniflo for a toilet that has not been used much. It started to smell - a sort of dank water smell that came out into the corridor - but not leak or any other problems, it seems. A plumber was at the property and I told him about it but he said there was nothing wrong ( though he just flushed the loo). The smell got worse. I put down half a container of the Saniflo descaler/cleaners product just 4 days ago. The smell is now back to just "dank". It has not gone away. The Saniflo was here when we bought the flat - so know nothing about it. Looking at the exterior wall the down pipe drain from that bath room looks to be only 2 meters away along the wall from where the toilet is situated. Do I need a saniflo at all? There is no gradient for the water to flow up. I don't want to spend money on a specialist Saniflo plumber - as is required I think to fix it - when we really would like to get rid of it. We want to rent the property so need to fix the problem. Thanks
 
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These things are the spawn of Satan and are up there along with Football, Keston boilers and Vauxhall Agila's in my shlt list.

Remove it regardless of the soil pipe location and crap in a bucket . Not will/be quieter, more reliable and less smelly.

Hateful things.
 
If you are planning to rent the property then get rid of the Saniflo, your money would be better spent getting the toilet put on a 4" soil pipe. Saniflo's wont handle anything other than human waste and tissue, anything else is likely to cause it to fail..... Tenants may not be the most considerate when it comes to what they put down the pan.... :eek:
 
Thanks Dan - but I don't think tenants would like a bucket! Also Council and Managing Agents etc. may not approve - this is central London - not Zimbabwe (where I used to live!).:D
 
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Thanks Hugh for the advice - will a 4" soil pipe help with the flow from the WC to the exterior down pipe? I'm not sure why a Saniflo was fitted in the first place!
 
Is it the only toilet? What happens if there's a power cut? Get rid and put a proper connection in.
 
Hi Jackson - I DO want to remove it - but was hoping for any technical information about what pipes ( or other plumbing "kit") should be installed that will allow the water and poo to drain away to the exterior pipe without flooding down to other flats when the Saniflo is removed - if you know what I mean?!
 
Saniflows are a good alternative to having to do (and pay for) major works to provide good 'soil product'drainage'.
I have fitted lots of them and have only ever had 2 problems in last 20 years.
Problem was -- a small teddybear' stuck in one pan and other problem was a 'not informed' 'newly''adolesent girl--not being informed just what she could and could not flush away.

You must realise- macerators -especially 'kitchen waste disposal systems' STINK if not cleaned on a regular basis .

I tell my clients this .

If one blocks-- first of all- put some bleach in (I know some macerator appliences people say 'DONT)--but just do it. Leave it overnight and try next day .
If dont work- Caustic soda is next--same proceedure .

99% of time-- this will work .

If not - any sort of handyman can sort it out.

Easy .
 
Golden rule with any macerator, is nothing is to go through it that hasn't been through you first! (Other than tissue!) They can and will go wrong, and are rather unpleasant to sort out when they do.... For this reason a macerator should never be fitted if there isn't another WC in the property on a conventional 4" drain. Putting caustic soda down the pan is in my view dangerous advice. If it doesnt solve the issue then the unit and/or pipework is now full of a chemical solution capable of causing nasty injuries..... :eek:

Any qualified plumber will tell you a 4" drain is superior and should be used for a WC whenever possible, fit once and forget it. OP, a 4" soil pipe is standard practice for connecting a WC to the drain, provided it can be run on a suitable fall to a convenient soil stack or drain then that is the way forward. Without seeing the site it is impossible to say what could be done, but a decent plumber would soon be able to advise. Saniflo may have been a DIY job, done for ease at the time. :confused:
 
Golden rule with any macerator, is nothing is to go through it that hasn't been through you first! (Other than tissue!) They can and will go wrong, and are rather unpleasant to sort out when they do.... For this reason a macerator should never be fitted if there isn't another WC in the property on a conventional 4" drain. Putting caustic soda down the pan is in my view dangerous advice. If it doesnt solve the issue then the unit and/or pipework is now full of a chemical solution capable of causing nasty injuries..... :eek:

Any qualified plumber will tell you a 4" drain is superior and should be used for a WC whenever possible, fit once and forget it. OP, a 4" soil pipe is standard practice for connecting a WC to the drain, provided it can be run on a suitable fall to a convenient soil stack or drain then that is the way forward. Without seeing the site it is impossible to say what could be done, but a decent plumber would soon be able to advise. Saniflo may have been a DIY job, done for ease at the time. :confused:
With respect Hugh-- I agree with you on most points . 4'' drain is always best choice.

BUT-- sometimes (most times for consumers) the cost is paramount .

Last one i put in for a client was because he lived in a house with a shared drive.
in order for me to install a new WC the conventional way- I would have had to dig up the neighbours newly paved drive-- to pick up the main drain.
My other alternative was to dig up clients side of drive and go 'backwards for 5 metres-- in order to 'T' into the soil pipe which goes forwards..
Rule of thumb--is - dont turn shirt (dirt) 180 degrees.
Hence saniflow .
Guess it saved him £800 ish .
He was happy .
 
Just to revive this a little - I've been googling and now think the Saniflo may have been installed because there is a joist obstructing the direct flow from the WC to the down pipe which is only about 2 meters away. Originally this old mansion flat problably didn't have loo where saniflo is now - which means the Saniflo probably pumps the sewage up and over the joist under the floor boards.
 
Just to revive this a little - I've been googling and now think the Saniflo may have been installed because there is a joist obstructing the direct flow from the WC to the down pipe which is only about 2 meters away. Originally this old mansion flat problably didn't have loo where saniflo is now - which means the Saniflo probably pumps the sewage up and over the joist under the floor boards.

Most saniflows are designed to pump approx 4 meters vertically and 20 meters horizontally.. Pumping up is not a problem that is whty they were invented .
Please study the replies you have had and act accordingly. It's your choice. We are always here to help you achieve what you want to achieve.
Good luckin whatever direction you choose to take .
After all- ALL advice on here is free .
 
Thanks - I really do want to REMOVE the Saniflo!
If a steel joist is discovered to be the reason the Saniflo was installed - can a high disabled toilet be used or a raised up toilet bowl so the soil pipe can go above the steel joist? Is the outlet ( P pipe?) in back of the raised disabled toilet higher than in a normal toilet? If so - shall try to install this.
It's Ok to box the waste pipe in above the floor boards.
 
Thanks - I really do want to REMOVE the Saniflo!
If a steel joist is discovered to be the reason the Saniflo was installed - can a high disabled toilet be used or a raised up toilet bowl so the soil pipe can go above the steel joist? Is the outlet ( P pipe?) in back of the raised disabled toilet higher than in a normal toilet? If so - shall try to install this.
It's Ok to box the waste pipe in above the floor boards.

Go for it .

Any problems get back to us on here .
We will help you
 

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