What's The Best Upflush Toilet?
3 Top Macerating Systems Reviewed
Okay. Today we’re going to talk about toilets. And not just any toilets. Macerating toilets.
Although they might be more expensive than your regular toilet, it is much cheaper and more convenient to attach a macerating unit and connect a small-diameter pipe to an existing system than it is to redo the whole thing.
This also makes upflush toilets a very good option for any temporary situation that you know might change very soon.
All in all, upflush toilets tend to be quicker, cheaper and more hassle free, with no plumber ripping up your floors and working for days on end.
With that, we’ll be looking at 3 of the most highly rated upflush toilets for you to consider:
The 3 Best Upflush Toilets
Product | Features | Details |
|---|---|---|
#1 Saniflo SaniAccess 2  | Type: One piece | |
#2 Liberty Pumps Ascent II  | Type: One piece | |
#3 Saniflo SaniPLUS  | Type: Two-piece |
This is far and away one of the best macerating toilets currently available in the market. The pump can discharge up to 15 feet upwards and 150 feet horizontally. One of the nicer things about this product as well is the relative simplicity of installation. Although, if you are not an experienced DIY builder, you may be better off using the services of a plumber, considering the possibly pungent consequences.
Another big factor which favours installing the Saniflo Saniaccess 2 in your home is the minimal power consumption, meaning your visits to the toilet are not harming the environment. Saniflo systems also minimize water usage, which once again can only be a good thing.
In fact, this unit only needs 1.28 GPF (gallons per flush), unlike others which use up to 1.6 GPF. You can have your choice of a round bowl, or an elongated bowl. Parts can easily be found online, and meet all American and Canadian certification standards.
However, as we mentioned before, these units can be a bit pricey, which puts a bit of a damper on the potty party.
What We Like:
What We Don't Like:
Again, this is touted as one of the finer toilets which you can invest in. Again, you have your choice between a round and elongated toilet bowl. This unit performs very well when called upon to flush your doo-doo, using 1.28 GPF (gallons per flush).
As with any macerating toilet, the Liberty Pumps Ascent II requires regular maintenance, and it’s nothing too fancy. And if you do run into any trouble, Liberty Pumps is known for its incredible customer service that can guide you through any issues you may face. This macerating unit is able to pump up 25 feet vertically and 150 feet horizontally.
However, although it is cheaper than the Saniflo SaniAccess 2, it seems that Liberty Pumps are not nearly as consistent at producing high quality products, as many people have left poor reviews on Amazon, saying that the units they received were unreliable.
Now, it is unclear whether or not these are installation errors or whether the units they received actually were faulty, so it may be more prudent to do some more research before pulling the trigger on this specific purchase.
What We Like:
What We Don't Like:
Another one of Saniflo’s flagship products, and for good reason. This upflush toilet is one of the most highly-rated products currently in the market. Available both in a circular and an elongated bowl, the SaniPLUS is very similar to the SaniAccess 2, save for a few mechanical details.
It uses the same power consumption measures, but unlike the Saniflo SaniAccess 2, the SaniPlus uses 1.6 GPF, meaning the SaniPlus uses more water per flush, which may be a problem if you live in water-restricted areas.
The SaniPLUS is slightly more expensive than its counterpart, the SaniAccess 2.
What We Like:
What We Don't Like:
How Do Macerating Toilets Work?
While the word macerating sound ominous, almost like the toilet wants to kill you, the truth is a lot more pleasant than killer toilets. But to explain how a macerating toilet works, we first have to explain how a regular one works.
Regular toilets - When flushed, a regular toilet sends waste through a trap, into a waste line and into a sewer or a septic tank, relying heavily on gravity.
Macerating toilets - When flushed, macerating toilets, also known as ‘upflush toilets’, send the waste to a macerating unit located behind the toilet or inside the wall, which liquefies the waste by using powerful blades and then pumps out the waste and into a small pipe[1], which is then tied to the main pipe. These toilets are especially useful for toilets that are below the main pipeline, and will therefore be fighting against gravity in order to reach the main pipeline.
Like we mentioned before, there are plenty of benefits to installing a macerator toilet instead of a regular bathroom.
Installation - It is installed much quicker than a regular toilet, meaning you won’t have to deal with plumbers and contractors and a bathroom that looks like a tiny warzone.
Flexibility - You can also add a macerating toilet anywhere in the house, unlike a regular toilet.
Maintenance - What is more, they require minimal maintenance throughout the rest of their lifetime - their life spans around 10-15 years before their components have to be replaced.
Obviously one of the first things you look at in an upflush toilet is the price. But other factors that you might want to consider are:
All three units we have mentioned are worthy investments, and are definitely worth considering if you are looking to install macerating toilets.
However, if we had to choose one ,our recommendation would have to be the Saniflo SaniAccess 2. We believe it is simply the highest quality product and best value for money of all the upflush toilets in the market.
Saniflo is one of the pioneers in upflush technology and is continuously seeking to improve its products and make them more and more environmentally friendly. In fact, this is one of the factors that we have accounted for when making our decision - the SaniAccess 2 uses less water per flush than the SaniPLUS.
However, by all means feel free to do your own research and decide on your own which toilets is the best fit for you.
SANIFLO SaniAccess 2
Our #1 Upflush Toilet Choice
