FAQs
- Conventional plumbing uses gravity to allow drainage to conveniently sited pipework and sewers. In many scenarios, gravity drainage isn’t always possible or cost-effective to build. Saniflo works where convention doesn’t and allows you to install a toilet or bathroom in any part of the house, and pump away the wastewater efficiently in small bore pipework towards the main soil stack.The advantage of Saniflo is therefore the flexibility to renovate your home according to your precise requirements, as well as the avoidance of expensive building works. A macerator/pump is also often the only plumbing solution possible in projects such as basement renovations and garden rooms.
SFA Saniflo is the manufacturer, and does not make direct sales. We are therefore unable to provide retail prices. You must contact your nearest retail outlet for information. Click here to find a Saniflo stockist.
- The basic 2-year warranty for every device covers parts and labour, subject to proper installation and use of the product. You can contact the after-sales service team on 020 8842 0033 (option 1), from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, to find out how to obtain a replacement for a defective part.The Saniflo Up, Sanitop up, Sanipack Pro Up, Sanipro Up, Saniplus Up, Saniwall Pro Up, sanivite +, Sanishower + and Sanispeed + all have extended 5 year warranty option when you register your product within 3 months of installation.
- If your Saniflo macerator is under warranty and you're experiencing an issue, we're here to help! Simply contact our dedicated Technical Support team with your unit's serial number, date of purchase, and a brief description of the problem. We'll guide you through the process and connect you with your nearest Approved Saniflo Engineer. They will arrange a convenient time to assess the issue and cover any applicable call-out fees.Alternatively, for added convenience, we offer a BT LINK line. If you’re calling from a landline, dial 08457 650011 to be connected directly with your nearest Approved Saniflo Engineer.Please note: The BT LINK line is free from landlines. If you're calling from a mobile phone, please check with your provider regarding call costs.For further assistance, you can also search for your local Saniflo engineer at Find a Saniflo Engineer.And, of course, if you’d prefer to speak to us directly, our support team is available from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Just give us a call on 0208 842 0033, option one.
To buy spare parts for your Saniflo unit, visit spare-parts.saniflo.co.uk
Since SFA Saniflo is the manufacturer, we do not make direct sales to domestic customers. We are therefore unable to provide retail prices and delivery times. You can purchase our products through all Independent and National merchants and through our main distributors. We strongly recommend you contact your nearest stockist, who may have the product you are looking for in stock. Click here to find a Saniflo stockist.
A Saniflo macerator may indeed be installed, even if you have a septic tank. The macerator's action on waste materials is mechanical (maceration and pumping) only, with no chemicals involved whatsoever. It can therefore be used with a septic tank.
The discharge piping can be done with standard PVC pipes.
- One of the great advantages of Saniflo macerators and pumps is being able to discharge at a very small diameter (22-32 mm for the vast majority of products, with some large pumps like the Sanicubic or the Sanifos line using DN50 and DN100), thereby avoiding major remodelling.The recommended discharge diameter may vary by device. Please check the site's different product pages to find the most suitable discharge pipe diameters for your project.
The minimum water pressure for operating a Sanicompact is 1.7 bars. If your water pressure is lower than this, we recommend you install a traditional toilet bowl, behind which you can install an adaptable macerator like the Saniflo Up, Sanipro Up, etc.
The Sanishower + is a lift pump that evacuates the wastewater from a shower or a washbasin. For the device to operate properly, the axis of the shower trap must be located at least 130 mm off the ground. Non-compliance with this height requirement may result in water flowing back into the shower tray. We also recommend that you install a check valve on the outlet of any other sanitary fixtures connected to the Sanishower + (on the outlet of a washbasin for example). For more information, you can download the manual for this device from the product page or contact our technical support service team on 020 8842 0033 (option 4). It is open Monday to Friday from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm.
Water supply for all Sanicompact works using a solenoid valve. There is therefore no need for a reservoir. The quantity of water used per cycle is 1.8L/3L or 3.8L/5L depending on the Sanicompact model. The water pressure must be at least 1.7 bars to ensure that the Sanicompact is properly rinsed.
- Legislation requires that appliances equipped with a macerating system discharge into the black water network; whereas a simple lift pump can discharge into the grey water system.In addition, the macerator/pump's discharge pipe must be connected directly to the main waste water pipe (large diameter).
- The macerator does not require any special maintenance; however, to ensure many years of good service, we recommend that you clean and descale your macerator regularly.Saniflo descaler is designed to remove scale while preserving the internal workings of your device. This should be done more or less frequently depending on the hardness of your water. If you have an adaptable macerator, you can use standard products to clean your toilet bowl (similarly for the Sanicompact range). Please note, however, that unblocking products or any other acid should not be used as they may damage the internal elements of your adaptable macerator.
The flush discharge generally triggers 2 to 3 cycles lasting 1 to 2 seconds each. If your device runs for longer periods than previously, it may be that the rubber membrane system of your device requires cleaning/descaling. You can also use white vinegar or preferably, Saniflo descaler to do this: disconnect your fixture from the power supply, then pour 1 litre of product in the bowl of your toilet. Leave it to work for a few hours and then reconnect to the power supply and flush.
- The Saniflo macerator is no louder than a toilet flushing. The sound volume emitted in decibels may vary from one installation to another, depending on the product and especially the surroundings (tiled room or not, size and shape of the room, etc.). That is why we do not provide a value in decibels for our devices. However, the new silence range emits 10dB less than the previous version. Furthermore, it is crucial to follow the installation instructions to avoid the propagation of sound vibrations (no contact between the macerator and the wall, place the anti-vibration pads under the tank, mount the piping at intervals, etc.).You can also opt to lay a layer of sound insulation between the macerator and the floor and/or wall for even better soundproofing.
Saniflo units are designed to provide reliable service for 8 to 10 years with proper installation and maintenance. Regular servicing can extend the lifespan even further, with some units lasting over 20 years. Warranty data shows that most issues arise from improper usage, emphasising the importance of following usage guidelines.
You can find and download manuals from the product's page on our website. For older units, you can request the manual by contacting us.
Check whether the device is properly connected and whether the power supply is working properly. A foreign body may be blocking the device. You may be able to remove the foreign body by yourself. To do this, disconnect the power supply - IMPORTANT - before you begin, separate the macerator from the toilet. Using a screwdriver, remove the obstruction that is preventing the blades from rotating. For all other issues, please contact your nearest authorised service technician.
Check that the sanitary fixtures connected to the macerator are not leaking (toilet, faucet, etc.) - The device's check valve (located in the macerator's discharge elbow) may be leaking. If this is the case, clean or change the check valve.
We recommend that you contact our technical support service team on 020 8842 0033 (option 4).
If the macerator is going to be on the same floor level, then yes but no more than 200 mm away. If you are installing a Sanipack Pro Up unit with a wall hung WC, the Saniflo unit can be up to 500 mm away.
You can use a Sanipro XR UP for the WC, basin, and shower and a Sanivite+ for the bath. We do not supply a product that can accommodate a WC and bath together.
You can use small amounts of bleach or disinfectant etc. on a regular basis. However, if the customer is in a hard water area we would recommend the use of the Saniflo Descaler/ Cleaner every three to six months. We do not recommend the use of strong drain cleaners such as One shot etc.
The water is detecting a rising water level and activating. The cause may be various things such as a leaking non return valve, the toilet cistern leaking into the unit or the solenoid valve on a Sanicompact letting by. An engineer visit is advised.
The only units we recommend using outside are our Sanicubic range if protected against frost etc, the Sanifos range and the Zehnder range, this is because of the IP rating. We do not recommend the use of the domestic range outside a building.
Yes, you can but we would recommend increasing the pipe size and insulating the pipework.
The best thing to do is contact your local approved Saniflo service agent on 034 5765 0011 using a landline.
This will depend on what unit you are going to use and how far you are pumping the waste. Refer to the installation instructions.
Either by calling 03457650011 from a landline or by visiting the engineer section of our website and putting in your postcode.
You can visit our spare parts website spare-parts.saniflo.co.uk or call 0208 842 0033.
Unfortunately we do not recommend this, using a domestic product in a commercial property can invalidate the warranty on the product. We have an array of suitable heavy duty products that would be more suitable for the installation.
Some Saniflo’s come with a 22/32 mm European adapter, to use this we recommend to secure the smaller end inside the discharge hose with the metal adjustable clip, the larger end is designed to be solvent welded inside 32 mm pipe, apply adhesive to the outside of the European adapter and push it into the 32 mm pipe and wait for adhesive to set.
No, building regs do not allow for the potential cross contamination of black and grey water waste in a domestic unit also the potentially higher temperatures coming through may cause the thermal cut out switch on the unit to activate and cause a flood. However, if using a commercial unit such as a Sanicubic etc. then it is permissible.
That will depend on how the discharge pipe runs away from the unit. If at any stage there is a vertical drop on the discharge pipe of more than a metre then one may be required. By increasing the diameter of the discharge pipe at some stage you may negate the need for an AAV. An AAV should not be fitted to the air vents on Sanicubic and Sanifos units as this will hinder the operation of the unit.
5-amp fuse
Because they are pumps and not macerators so the output from them is higher than a macerator.
Please contact our technical team and they can try to assist this question.
To find out how to use the Saniflo Descaler, please refer to the Descaler instructions guide.
- Sanicubic motors have had 3 generations (apart from the Sanicubic XL/VX), the standard Sanicubic started in 2008 code MPR3NM until 2013 and it switched to MPR4NM. The only difference was the white plastic cowl with the handle on the top held on by 4 screws, so essentially the motors were interchangeable. In 2017 (MPCUBIC1) the motors have changed shape along with the casing they sit in and have a blue handle and are not interchangeable with the two previous motors.The Sanicubic XL/VX motor which has a choice of either single or three phase motors. Single phase is 2000W power, three phase is 3500W power, MPR3 and 4 are 1500W power. The other main differences are the physical size of the motor (bigger) and they do not macerate, they are vortex pumps that have large impellors that discharge the waste out without macerating which is why the Sanicubic XL/VX discharge pipe needs to be larger 80 mm or 100 mm.
If this is a new installation, then check the venting of the unit, if an AAV has been fitted to the unit then that is more than likely causing the problem and needs to be removed. If it has been installed a while, then recommend a visit from an engineer as it may be a number of causes.
50 mm o/d and we recommend the use of PVCU.
The only units we recommend using outside are our Sanicubic range if protected against frost etc, the Sanifos range and the Zehnder range, this is because of the IP rating. We do not recommend the use of the domestic range outside a building.
This will depend on what unit you are going to use and how far you are pumping the waste. Refer to the installation instructions.
Either by calling 03457650011 from a landline or by visiting the engineer section of our website and putting in your postcode.
Unfortunately we do not recommend this, using a domestic product in a commercial property can invalidate the warranty on the product. We have an array of suitable heavy duty products that would be more suitable for the installation.
That will depend on how the discharge pipe runs away from the unit. If at any stage there is a vertical drop on the discharge pipe of more than a metre then one may be required. By increasing the diameter of the discharge pipe at some stage you may negate the need for an AAV. An AAV should not be fitted to the air vents on Sanicubic and Sanifos units as this will hinder the operation of the unit.
Please contact our technical team and they can try to assist this question.
That will depend on what you want to pump away and where the nearest drain or SVP is in relation to the unit, if you contact our technical team on 0208 842 0033 and they can advise you.
You can visit our spare parts website spare-parts.saniflo.co.uk or call 0208 842 0033.
Why use a Saniflo?
