Buying a flat with Saniflo system?

sxp842

Hi all, does anyone have experience of Saniflo system?!

My partner and I had an offer accepted on a 3 bed ground floor flat last week in a converted house. The flat has 2 bathrooms - 1 large ensuite and 1 small bathroom in a communal area.

We took my partner’s brother to see the flat at the week be and he pointed out that there was a Saniflo system. He said it was likely this was for the small bathroom because it’s not next to an exterior wall. We didn’t know what a Saniflo was so I’ve done some research on it anencephaly I’m a bit worried now!

Ideally we will rent the property out for a few months, or at the very least get a lodger in, and that would be their bathroom. From what I’ve read this might not be a good idea? What do you guys think?

We’re already paying a premium for the place because the current owners have recently remodelled and in theory it doesn’t need any work doing. I’m a bit worried that this Saniflo is going to cause extra expense / hassle (possibly affect resale?) or am I just worrying over nothing?

Would be helpful to hear people’s opinions!

Thanks

sxp842

Soz for the typos - predictive text gone wrong!

ProDave

I would be very concerned if all toilets used the saniflow.

It it were my own home and it was only 1 toilet using the saniflow then I might accept it, and use that toilet only for "No 1's" But renting or getting a lodger you are asking for trouble. There is no knowing what some people will do, e.g when we ran a B&B we had a guest that would regularly use one whole toilet roll every night. One can only imagine what that might do to a saniflow.

hazyjo

I'd also be very worried re female sanitary waste. What you do yourself is one thing, but a lodger? I'd not trust them to have the same respect or appreciation. One pad/towel/tampon could block the system.


They used to be incredibly noisy but I think they've improved that and other things a lot. I'd still be very cautious though if relying on someone else respecting it!

davidmcn

I can do no more then suggest you read this:


http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/humour.html#saniflo

david1951

They are a real pain.

If you can't control what goes in (e.g., you have a lodger) then it will most likely be a constant source of annoyance. A single wet wipe can cause it to break. I have heard horror stories of pipes coming unstuck and the Saniflow blasting the contents of the toilet across the bathroom.

Having said that, apparently they have improved in the last few years. If you can control what goes in, then they will probably 'only' break every few years and cost about £500 each time.

Doozergirl

We have one in our ensuite. It isn!!!8217;t ideal but the fact is that it enables us to have an ensuite where we otherwise would not. For that simple reason I am glad it exists. For you, it enables you to charge more to a lodger and you both have private space.

You only make a mistake once. If you explain how the thing works to someone, they won!!!8217;t be putting anything down there that they should not. If they do, then it will be obvious as the thing will get stuck and be perfectly visible within the mechanism. The solution is usually just pulling it out.

We have only had one issue and that was a toddler putting a jay cloth in the loo. My husband pulled it out (in pieces) and that was the end of it. My kids have grown from quite small with it and never caused an issue.

They need to be serviced once a year and they do not last forever but they are useful in the right place.

Margot123

Mmmmm, we went to view a house with a downstairs bathroom but with one of those Saniflo 'jobbies' (excuse the pun!) in the bedroom.

The owner had passed away at the grand old age of 91. On showing us round the daughter told us 'I don't know if the loo works, Mum never used it, never trusted it and always used the downstairs one'.

If a frail old lady would rather risk the dangers of a flight of stairs at 3am, then that told us all we wanted to know about Saniflo.........

PS she died of natural causes, not by falling down the stairs.

bouicca21

My friend has one for the downstairs loo. She's adamant it's for liquid waste only.
.

betsie

If you use it in the middle of the night expect to wake the whole flat up as it sounds like a train going through.
You also have to have a big sticker on the loo as can’t put anything down it other than a small amount of loo paper.
I might consider it ok if it’s only in the ensuite of a guest room if it’s the main bathroom I would avoid it.

Doozergirl

bouicca21 wrote: »

My friend has one for the downstairs loo. She's adamant it's for liquid waste only.
.

She can be adamant, but I can confirm otherwise! :rotfl:

My husband can go through half a roll of paper in one sitting.

Lots of opinions on the Saniflo, but I seem to be the one with practical experience. I have never put a sticker on ours. It is an ensuite, not the loos at Euston. Yes, the macerator makes some noise, so does a toilet flushing.