Many people add Upflush toilets in the home’s basement area, so you do not have to connect the extra plumbing pipes. These have a grinding pump that breaks the waste material into small pieces and transfers them into connected pipes and septic tanks.
Upflush toilet problems include high power consumption, noise, unpleasant odors, pump failure, difficulty cleaning, macerator issues, and high clogging chances. In addition, you can also see leakage in toilets, malfunctioned switches, and limited capacity.
Saniflo first discovered these toilets in European countries, but these now common in American states for decades. These are designed for small spots, so you do not have to add extra plumbing lines to the home.
| Problems | Solutions |
| Need power supply | Use generators during a power outage |
| Noisy | Call service plumber |
| Unpleasant odor | Use descaling agent |
| Pump failure | Replace pumps |
| Difficult cleaning | Use warm water and non-acid base cleaners |
| Macerator issues | Open the lid for inspection |
| High clogging chances | Avoid flushing hair, diapers, and thick tissues |
| Malfunctioned switch | Replace the switch and damaged rubber seal |
Need power supply
The Upflush toilets are different from the conventional ones because the water moves on the upper side of the pre-existing plumbing system.
These do not work on the gravity principle that flushes the waste to the lower side of the sewer lines.
These types need electricity to run pumps and electric macerators. The macerator contains a blade to grind the large waste material into small pieces so they can move easily through the narrow pipes.
These grinding pumps need electricity for spinning, and installing them near electric sockets is necessary.
In addition, the working of the macerator also increases the electric bills of the buildings and is not a cost-effective solution.
It is better to connect them near the power socket of the bathroom for an electric supply. Ensure the electric supply when these are not working rather than inspecting the pump.
You can also use generators in case of a power outage for their functioning.
Noisy
These are the economical options and save the plumbing cost of people, but they have to bear something in return.
These are pretty noisier than traditional gravity-based toilets. The spinning of the macerator and its grinding action produce noise. As a result, it is problematic when people are sleeping in the bedroom and you press the flush button.
These can also produce intense vibrating noise when something gets stuck in the blade. These can only grind the waste material, and the situation worsens when you put other waste things in them.
It does not work for pampers, diapers, wipes, tissues, and hair. It can also produce gurgling noise because of loose bolts and low water pressure.
Cover the bowls adequately so small rocks and debris cannot enter them and cause an issue in the movement of blades. Call the service plumber to inspect the tank area instead of making your hands dirty and unsanitary.
Unpleasant odor
All type of toilets produces mild smells because of the poop and waste materials, but macerating ones produce stinky odors that can make the bathroom unappealing.
The tanks of these toilets always contain a small amount of water to make the procedure easy. The water, when mixed with wastewater, produces terrible smells.
You can feel odor from your bathroom because minerals from water react with the toilet waste.
The issue comes because the water and waste solution remain in the tank longer for grinding. The limescale also builds on the side walls and produces a bad aroma when you enter the bathrooms.
Using the descaling agents after several weeks is better for removing the limescale buildup. Use the descaling technique according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Pump failure
Upflush toilets are not designed for installation in high-traffic areas of your home. In addition, these have a limited work capacity, and overworking can cause pump failure.
The pump can also break and fails to perform grinding action. You cannot use them frequently like you are flushing the traditional ones.
The system will stop working after the failure of the macerator or pump because it is the integral component. You cannot remove the waste into the septic tank and pre-existing drain lines.
Calling the plumbing expert to replace pumps and their cleaning is better.
Difficult cleaning
Cleaning the water tank and macerator is difficult because of their interlinked connected parts. Avoid touching them when electricity is on because it can produce electric shocks.
These need cleaning after several months, and you can make them clean according to the instruction in the given manual.
You cannot use any unauthorized products for their cleaning Upflush toilets because they can damage the motors and make them overheat.
You cannot use any foaming and toilet cleaners because these can cause the foam to come from the vent pipes and motor failure.
Avoid using bathroom cleaners because they contain bleach and other harsh chemicals. Instead, you can flush them with warm water and use non-acid-base toilet cleaners.
However, you can also clear them with Upflush descales for limescale remover.
Macerator issues
The macerator is the grinding machine and contains a sharp blade to cut the waste material and give them a slurry texture so it can easily go through the narrow plumbing pipes.
Sometimes the macerator keeps moving even when there is no waste in them. The problem comes from the damaged pump and microswitches that cannot signal the grinding machine.
Moreover, they can start randomly and independently when there is no waste in the tank. However, these can also get stuck and stop functioning when there is no power supply, and something cuts the electricity from the circuits.
Open the lid of the Upflush toilet tank and hire an expert for their inspection. It is also better to inspect the power outlets and connections of the switches in the outlets to ensure a continuous power supply.
High clogging chances
The clogging chances in the Upflush toilets are higher than the gravity-based ones. This is because the blades are specifically designed for grinding human waste.
The macerator can block, and the motor fails to work when you flush the non-grindable items in them. People mostly add thick tissues, diapers, baby wipes, and hair to them.
The macerator cannot grind these things, affecting their functioning and clogging issues. In addition, the waste comes into the bowl instead of moving into the plumbing pipes because of blockage.
Avoid flushing the other things in them instead of thin tissues because it can clog the macerator and motor. Add trash cans near the toilets so people can add waste material.
Malfunctioned switch
The micro switch is in the macerating unit and inside the pressure chamber. The switch is wrapped in rubber seals for their protection.
The switch allows the grinding action of the macerator after detecting the presence of flushing water in the tank. The switch can fail to signal the macerator when its rubber seals get damaged.
The rubber membrane is susceptible to leaking because of its less strong material and water pressure.
The water and waste can enter the electric switch and cause misfiring. In addition, the blade cannot grind the waste material; it remains in the tank and causes more damage.
The damaged membrane and microswitches also increase the risk of leaking because the slurry solution cannot move into the drains and come out from the vents.
Replace the microswitch and rubber membrane to solve this issue and the grinding of waste product that travels into the Upflush toilet tank.
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