The day you sign the papers to finalize the purchase of a property, the planning of what you wish to remodel to make it feel your acquisition feel like home begins. There are plans made to move walls and paint, and sometimes to add a bathroom to an existing basement to increase family living space. Many homeowners know to do so will not only make their home more comfortable and convenient but also that they will increase their home’s value by adding a bathroom. However, in many cases, homeowners find the unforeseen costs involved in making this change daunting, as one of the most significant hurdles to adding a basement bathroom to any basement is the existing plumbing. This fact is especially true in older homes, where the layout of the plumbing does not accommodate the installation of regular commode. Luckily there is a solution, the installation of a macerating toilet

Macerating Toilets

Macerating Toilet

To help, there are reviews of macerating toilets for the basement  available listing the costs and advantages of these devices which range in price from around $800-$1,500. While this may seem a significant amount of money to invest, it is far cheaper than the cost of a major overhaul of the plumbing of your home. Such remodeling may involve paying for excavation and the high costs of hiring professionals to do the work involved in digging up the foundation or basement floor, and plumbing new pipes.

Macerating Toilets

A macerating toilet is a two-part waste disposal system involving a grinding/blending mechanism (macerator) and an electric pump. The macerator uses sharp stainless-steel blades to chop up human waste and toilet paper into a liquid sludge, then the hydraulic pump propels the slurry up and through a pipe and into either the sewer line or into a septic tank. This procedure is referred to as “rotary biological contactor process.” The beauty of this system is that the pump can be easily hidden inside a wall, and the system overall takes up a small amount of room making it great for reclaiming tight spaces.  Because of these features, a macerating toilet is considered one of the simplest and least expensive solutions to adding a basement bathroom to a home

Macerating Toilets

Macerating Toilets

In the following section, we shall explore some pros and cons of installing a macerating toilet, mentioning both the costs involved and the ease of installation of one of these units. It is crucial at this point in our adventure together to state that hiring a licensed plumber isn’t a necessary step to this installation, but it is always wise to examine carefully the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

Hiring a Professional Plumber

There are two significant advantages of hiring a professional plumber.  One is that they are highly knowledgeable of the installation of a macerating toilet’s components. The other advantage is their professional willingness to comply and know the regulations and safety measures involved in their work. To become a licensed plumber, a person must prove their dedication to these important factors, and they often will guarantee their work. In this way, if something isn’t right after the installation, they will fix it for you. The only real disadvantage is the obvious factor of cost. Licensed plumbers will charge between $45-$150 per hour but the time it takes to install a macerating toilet is only around four hours so as you can see, this cost is minimal.

Professional Plumber

Professional Plumber

Pros and Cons of a Macerating Toilet

There are many benefits to installing this type of toilet in your basement. One greatest is the cost. While, as has been stated, they cost a significant amount more than a regular bath, the savings are also enormous when considering the price of a considerable plumbing renovation. If you were to put in a bathroom containing a regular toilet when the plumbing needs changing, the cost can be as high as $10,000, so the possible price for a macerating toilet of $1,500 is much more appealing.

The main disadvantage to using a macerating toilet is that it isn’t as easy to clean as a regular one. It is essential to remember not use harsh cleansers as they will wreak havoc on the seals that keep the pump seals tight allowing for water to flow only one direction in the pipes. If this seal is compromised, then leakage of some pretty nasty waste can escape into your bathroom. You also cannot use a plunger to clear a clog; you must disassemble the unit to remove any obstacles that are preventing the toilet from grinding correctly. Yes, that is as nasty a task as it sounds. Luckily there are some simple tricks to avoid clogging such as making sure you only flush human waste, and that the only toilet paper ever put in the bowl dissolves quickly after use. A monthly insertion of enzymes and using a de-liming product are also simple maintenance tricks to keeping your macerating toilet functioning well.

What’s Available

The most popular and most accessible to find brand of macerating toilet on the market today is the Saniflow option. This toilet is easily installed and is perfect for those locations in your home that are small and not slated to as use for the primary toilet. The product uses 10 PSI water pressure, and because it doesn’t weight very much, around 100 pounds, two people can quickly move it down a steep flight of basement steps. Because your floor and foundation need no excavation, the installation takes only hours, and the toilet can be used immediately.

Whether adding a bathroom to an existing home or one that has just been purchased, installing a macerating toilet can save a lot of time and money. For a relatively small investment, homeowners can take a space that has been under-utilized in their home and make it into the family/extra bedroom they have always craved. So, take a look another at your existing basement and allow your daydreams of a fully functional bathroom to thrive then get to work making your plans to make those wishes come true.