Saniflo USA | Mini Case Study | Buckingham Residence | Saniaccess 3

Saniflo USA | Mini Case Study | Buckingham Residence | Saniaccess 3

Macerating pump system withstands two decades of everyday use by 13-member Maryland family

The Buckingham family—two adults and eleven children—happily depended on their Saniflo Saniplus macerating pump for 20 years. Deciding to continue their trust in Saniflo, Daniel Buckingham recently upgraded to the newer Saniaccess 3 model.

Problem

OAKLAND, MD — When Daniel Buckingham, a family physician, purchased his home in 2005, he encountered a plumbing fixture he — like so many Americans — had never come across before: a macerating toilet pump system in the basement bathroom.

The Saniplus full-bathroom macerating pump is designed to efficiently handle waste and gray water in spaces where traditional below-floor plumbing drainage does not exist, nor is cost-effective to install. In the United States, such applications are frequently in basements, like Buckingham’s, that sit below the home’s main drainage line, rendering conventional, gravity-driven drainage unworkable. But the Saniplus and other Saniflo macerating systems can also be installed wherever a homeowner wishes to locate a new bathroom or powder room, and where no below-floor drainage exists.

Saniflo systems handle wastewater from up to three fixtures in a bathroom. Instead of routing waste and gray water through conventional drainage lines under the floor, these systems move the effluent to a macerator sitting on top of the floor and attached to the rear of the toilet.

The term “macerate” means to soften or break up. The Saniflo macerator, which can be concealed behind a wall, uses a fast-rotating, stainless steel cutting blade to reduce solids and fluids from the toilet, sink, or tub into a fine slurry. This effluent is then immediately discharged upward, and therefore under pressure, through small-diameter plastic piping (¾-inch or 1-inch) connected to the main drainage line in the home. The latter completes the drainage process by emptying into a municipal sewer or, as in Buckingham’s case, to the home’s septic system.

Because Saniflo macerators can be installed atop any finished floor, they facilitate the creation of a new bath wherever it is most convenient. Whatever the placement, it can be accomplished without the need for a below-floor drain line and the cost, mess, and hassles creating one can entail.

Over the years, the Buckingham family put the Saniplus through rigorous daily use, and what was sent down the drain wasn’t necessarily confined to waste and gray water.

“I feel like I have a special bond with that old Saniflo machine!” explains Daniel. “I have 11 children, and you can imagine all of the LEGOS and silly items that have found their way into my macerator over the years. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve taken that thing completely apart.”

As time passed, and five years became 10, and 10 became 20, Daniel couldn’t help but notice the wear on the Saniplus. After an impressive 20 years of service, the time had finally arrived to replace the aging unit. Needing a reliable and easy-to-service solution and given how durable his Saniplus had been, Buckingham readily opted for a newer generation Saniflo macerator pump, the Saniaccess 3.

Solution

Daniel’s decision to go with another Saniflo product was influenced by his appreciation for the durability, serviceability, and ease of obtaining parts for Saniflo pumps. He also appreciated the four-year warranty and the fact that Saniflo customer service is based, not overseas, but at company headquarters in New Jersey.

A natural fit for his basement’s layout, the Saniaccess 3, like the Saniplus, can handle drainage from three different fixtures and therefore, can accommodate the creation of a full bathroom suite.

The system discharges waste through a ¾-inch or 1-inch rigid plastic pipe, with a non-return valve on the discharge elbow that can be rotated 360 degrees for flexible installation. The macerator requires connection to a 1-1/2” vent system, adhering to plumbing codes that mandate a two-way air vent. The Saniaccess 3 also handles gray water through two, 2-inch inlets, each equipped with built-in check valves.

Note: A macerator system does not require daily, weekly, or even monthly flushing to remain effective. The stainless steel blades are not in continuous contact with wastewater, which helps maintain their efficiency and longevity.

“My physical site where the piping was connected to the Saniplus was already set to accept another Saniflo pump, which was very helpful,” says Daniel.

The installation process, which Daniel took upon himself, took about four hours, including removing the old Saniplus. Despite not being a professional contractor, Daniel’s basic understanding of plumbing allowed him to install the unit without any major problems.

Saniflo’s rear discharge toilet, bathroom sink, shower, and tub all drain into the macerating pump. The discharge connected to the top of the macerating pump pipe runs approximately nine feet vertically and two feet horizontally before connecting to the main septic drain, which discharges into the home’s septic system.

Results

Daniel compliments the Saniaccess 3, saying that the engineering is impressive; specifically, the ease of servicing the unit. Unlike the older Saniplus model, the newer generation unit allows Daniel to remove and service the macerator motor and pump without disconnecting the entire unit from the plumbing.

Daniel also notes the drastic reduction in noise and the improved performance of the half-horsepower pump: “The machine is drastically quieter, and the pump seems to be much more efficient.”

Daniel mentions how opting for cheaper macerating pump systems could lead to dealing with a defective product down the line. Next steps would likely be to call the manufacturer’s toll-free number to try to sort it out. However, users may be met with customer service based in another country, one that is unhelpful, unreliable, or just plain hard to communicate with.

In contrast, communicating with Saniflo’s U.S. or Canadian-based customer service agents ensures quicker responses, more reliable problem-solving, and more effective communication. Overall, Daniel enthusiastically recommends the Saniaccess 3 to others.

“I wanted to give positive feedback for Saniflo because this is a company where you can truly rely on real support. When you call, you talk to someone who genuinely knows the products and will send you the replacement part you need. Unlike so many companies that just make things and don’t bother to stock actual replacement parts, Saniflo stands behind what they make.”