A Saniflo toilet system is a method to vent your plumbing components without running a pipe down through the roof or the side of your house.
A pump drives wastewater up a tiny pipe into the city sewage system. Venting a Saniflo Upflush toilet is a straightforward process. This article will give you a sensible idea of how to vent a Saniflo Upflush toilet properly.
In A Nutshell
To vent a Saniflo Upflush toilet:
1. Start by creating (drilling) a hole at the unit’s top.
2. Insert the vent pipe into the hole, ensuring it is tight and secure.
3. Connect the other end of the vent pipe to the city sewage system.
Why Is Venting Important?
Venting is crucial because it prevents the system from being overwhelmed by too much water. When you flush a toilet, a lot of water gets sent down the pipes. This water must go somewhere, and if there isn’t enough venting, it can back up into your home and cause a flood. You’ll need to vent the macerator pump into your home’s vent system.
The biggest perk of a Saniflo installation is that you can vent the toilet anywhere. To clarify, as long as your home meets the minimum requirements for airflow and the vent system is up to code, you should be all set.
How Do You Properly Vent an Upflush Toilet?
Urine is emptied from the bowl and into the main waste line by urethane-coated polypropylene. To vent an upflush toilet, you must first locate the vent pipe and connect the venting hose to it. You should keep the venting hose away from your house to prevent unpleasant odors from entering your living area.
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Determine the Best Location of the Vent
The first step is to determine where you’re going to vent the toilet. If you’re unsure where the vent pipe is, you can always ask a plumber or look for it yourself. The easiest way to find the vent pipe is to look for a PVC pipe sticking out of the ceiling. You can also look in the basement or crawlspace directly under the home. Each home has them in different places.
Ensure the system will be located no more than 12 feet below sewer level or 150 feet from the soil stack. If the system is going in a basement, remember that the pump will need to be primed with water before it will work. Doing this will ensure effective performance.
Also, ensure you have an electrical outlet within reach of the system as it won’t work without electricity.
Step 2: Attach the Venting Hose
Once you’ve located the vent pipe, it’s time to attach the venting hose. The venting hose should be made of a flexible material so it can easily route to the desired location. You will need to use a clamp or other fastening device to secure the hose to the vent pipe.
Step 3: Route the Venting Hose
The next step is to route the venting hose to the desired location. The hose should travel away from the home so that the smell of waste does not enter your living space. You must use clamps or other fastening devices to secure the hose to the ceiling, floor, or walls.
Step 4: Test the System
Once you’ve installed the venting hose, it’s time to test the system. Flush the toilet and make sure that the waste is properly discharged. If everything is working correctly, you’re all set!
Tips for Effectively Venting a Saniflo Upflush Toilet
Below are tips on how to correctly vent a Saniflo Upflush toilet system the first time. Read this section before installation.
General Tips
All fixtures connected to the Saniflo system must sit on the same level.
The vent system needs to be a free air vent because mechanical vents only allow air to flow in. They do not allow air out. Therefore, the pump must breathe in and out for the system to work optimally.
If your unit has legs, install them before setting up the unit. The legs keep the unit stable and secure. It also minimizes the noise level.
If your unit has a hole at the top, plug it with the clear plastic stopper that comes with it. If you don’t do this, odors will enter the living space through the hole.
Discharge Line
The discharge line cannot have any 90-degree angles. The pump will not be able to move the water if there are any 90-degree angles in the discharge line. Use a flex line and create a sweeping line instead of a 90-degree curve. If you must create a 90-degree angle, use two 45-degree elbows instead of one 90-degree elbow.
Ensure the discharge line gets pitched correctly so the water will flow properly and not cause any backups.
The system must have at least three feet of discharge pipe before transitioning to a larger pipe size. It allows the toilet to run long enough to break down waste materials effectively.
Test the system with a few quick flushes before use to ensure the waste gets appropriately discharged and that there are no leaks. It will help you troubleshoot effectively and prevent further issues.
Venting Hose
Don’t connect the upflush vent to the lowest wastewater drain connection below, as doing so may result in sewage backflow.
Make sure that the venting hose is not kinked or obstructed in any way. It can prevent the system from working correctly.
Ensure the venting hose is made of a flexible material so it can easily route to the desired location. Use clamps or other fastening devices to secure the hose to the ceiling, floor, or walls.
Not directing the hose away from the home will cause the smell of waste to enter your living space. The smell will dissipate over time, but it’s still not pleasant. To avoid this, always direct the hose away from the house.
Regularly check the venting hose for leaks. If you find a leak, you will need to repair it immediately. Leaks with the Saniflo Upflush system can damage and cause extensive flooding.
If you’re having difficulty routing the hose, ask a plumber for help. They will be able to advise you on the best way to vent your toilet.
Pan Gasket
Understand how the pan gasket works. It has two sides, a stretchy side, and a stiff side. The stiff (this side is always smaller than the flexible side) side goes into the pump. The elastic side goes into the toilet bowl. Be careful with the gasket because once it gets ruined, you’ll have to replace it, which is expensive. Always secure it in place with the retaining ring.
Pipe Freezing
Pipe freezing can happen. If this is a concern for you, insulate the pipes. Insulate the pipes by wrapping them in foam pipe insulation. It will prevent the pipes from freezing and avoid any damage that frozen pipes could cause.
Wrapping Up
A Saniflo Upflush macerating toilet is the ideal go-to setup. It works for those who don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on extra plumbing. Macerating upflush toilets are the future of residential plumbing.
Its design is simple to install, and its versatility allows you to install it in locations that wouldn’t be possible with a standard toilet, such as in the basement or under the stairs. It avoids many bottlenecks in traditional plumbing. Last, it gives years of robust and dependable service. Upflush toilets are the way forward when it comes to home plumbing.
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