Saniflo bathroom

Kinverkid

These things (in my opinion) are the work of satan.
In my last house it blocked at least twice a year. You don't want to know how its unblocked and the mess involved.

AlexMac

I don't like saniflow, having lived in a flat underneath one- so there was a grinding noise every time anyone used it.

The questions you ask are -1. A problem? 2. Difficult /costly to replace.

Its hard to estimate costs to replace it with a more traditional, unpumped gravity flow khazi without knowing more, but when you consider that in the 1st part of the 20th Century, thousands (if not millions) of Victorian houses had their old outside loos replaced by indoor ones, usually upstairs, you can see that it's possible.

Two of my past experiences might be reassuring on the money front;

- in the 1st case, about ten+ years ago, we moved into a flatted house (the grindy one) where our upstairs neighbours had been persuaded to install a saniflo; for no obvious reason other a lazy plumber (?) as the loo was only 3-4 metres from the Soilstack (the large 4-6 inch diameter pipe, usually running vertically down the outside of the house which takes the cr00p to the sewer). Presumably said idle plumber perceived the narrow gauge saniflow pipework to the soilstack was easier to fit than the the usual wider gauge pipe which has to run at a slight 'fall' to the soilstack. But because the loo was fairly near the soilstack, our kind neighbours ripped the whole lot out and replaced it with a conventional set up at a cost of only a few hundred pounds.

-then - more recently, we renovated a long, narrow top-floor flat, and wanted a second loo at the front; about 15-18 metres from the soilstack at the rear. I rejected the advice to fit a saniflow, and simply found a way to run a very long 4-inch pipe through the house- in part along a deep, false boxed-in skirting. It only needed a slight 'fall' to operate but we put 'rodding eyes' in each bend just in case.

So the only challenge is finding an imaginative solution- or you could re-locate the loo to a rear bedroom above the kitchen as an ensuite?

Or buy a different house?

VfM4meplse

I had no idea there was so much to consider in purchasing Saniflo - but having read this thread, feel myself enlightened about such matters now

GDB2222

I'd say a Saniflo is a definite disadvantage. So much to go wrong. And the noise - remember it will start to run every time you wash your hands/brush your teeth, as well as when you do a poop. If you get up in the night to pee, there's that noise again....

I might still buy a house with one, but I'd be put off.

nisnooz

A lots is said on this forum (and the net in general) about misuse (putting unsuitable things down the saniflo-ed loo) but what about the system itself? Ours is simply not going off - not when we run a shower, not when we use the sink, and once in 4 times when we flush.
Any idea if this is common? or what the issue might be?

The plumbers are doing the usual where they start sucking the air and suggesting it's too complicated and subsequently quoted £700! Saniflo themselves were soooo unhelpful, they were getting rid of me as soon as they took the call.

The unit is 2 years old and nothing has been put down the toilet.

PS. out of interest, should something have gone into the loo, would replacing the unit fix the problem?

NeverEnough

Our Saniflo unit lasted about 5 years - only 2 adults using it, no inappropriate objects flushed down it etc - and as you have experienced, when it stopped working Saniflo were less than helpful and the so-called Saniflo approved plumber just charged us over £300 and still no working unit. We replaced it with a new unit, but the thin pipework had apparently blocked somewhere (previous plumber seemed to have installed it with 90 degree bends instead of the "swept" bend joins) so repairing it would have meant ripping up most of the floorboards in the house which we simply cannot do at this time. Luckily it was only for the en suite toilet, the shower drained via "grey" waste pipes to a different drain - so we put a portable loo in the en suite which only gets occasional use if either of us have to use it very late at night (bathroom a long way from bedroom).

I absolutely hate Saniflos after our experience with them - hugely expensive and the after care and service is completely pathetic, they have no interest in customers from the UK, probably as its a company of French origin!

nisnooz

NeverEnough, I'm both glad and disturbed to hear about your experience.
Glad because I'm not on my own, disturbed because I can neither afford a major change nor have the possibility of installing a portable loo..

You see, I recognise the grey pipes you mention (for shower, sink, and toilet) and, interestingly, I recall seeing a 90-degree bend in 2 places!
The toilet flushing system is built into the wall too!!

Anybody recommend a conscientious, reliable plumber?
Pls remember, the main point of my problem being tha the saniflo is not starting at all when using the shower and sink and is very intermittent when flushing the toilet.

ethank

Saniflow = vile.