Upflush toilets are absolutely worth it if you need to add a bathroom to a basement, attic, or remote space where breaking through concrete floors or adding gravity-fed plumbing is prohibitively expensive or physically impossible. They save on labor but require regular maintenance and electricity.
The following are cons of upflush toilets: Higher maintenance costs: They have more moving parts that can wear out or become clogged over time, requiring more maintenance than simple gravity-fed toilets. Repairs can be more complex and expensive.
Whether a 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) toilet is better than 1.28 GPF depends on your priority. 1.28 GPF toilets are better for water conservation and lowering utility bills. 1.6 GPF toilets are historically better for heavy-use bathrooms where flushing power and clearing solids on the first try is the absolute priority.
Upflush Toilet Pros and Cons
You can also expect these toilets to last around 10 or 15 years. One of the disadvantages is that a macerating toilet has more moving parts that need to be repaired or replaced. On average, an upflush toilet only needs additional maintenance once every 10 years, depending on use.
The best toilet for a basement bathroom depends on your plumbing setup. If your basement has below-floor plumbing (roughed-in drainage), a pressure-assisted or gravity-flush toilet is ideal. If not, an upflush (macerating) toilet is the best choice because it grinds waste and pumps it uphill to the main sewer line.
These toilets, also known as up-flush toilets, break down waste and toilet paper into a fine slurry, which can then be easily pumped through narrow pipes. This cutting-edge technology is perfect for installing bathrooms in basements, garages, or even attics without the need for major plumbing renovations.
Macerating (or upflush) toilets grind human waste into a slurry and pump it through narrow pipes. They offer a cost-effective, non-invasive way to install a bathroom where gravity-fed plumbing is unavailable (e.g., basements or attics), but require electricity and strict maintenance to avoid clogs.
Yes, traditional upflush toilets require venting. Because they rely on a macerating or grinder pump to push waste upwards, the system builds positive air pressure and requires a way to intake and exhaust air. Venting prevents airlocks, eliminates strain on the motor, and stops the suction that drains other P-traps in your home.
Dish soap has the ability to lubricate and break down the bonds of fats and grease. When poured into the toilet, dish soap helps lubricate the waste causing the clog, while also breaking down its structure, allowing it to easily flow down the drain.
Macerating toilets need more upkeep than traditional toilets. You'll need to flush them regularly to prevent buildup and monitor the pump to make sure it doesn't run dry. Over time, the impeller can wear out, slowing the system down.
Plumbers recommend sticking to three major brands: Toto, Kohler, and American Standard. They value these brands for their durable parts, reliable flushing mechanisms, and the ease of sourcing replacement components years down the line.
The average medium-sized toilet leak wastes 250 gallons of water a day. That means a running toilet cost for a medium tank leak can add an extra $100 a month, or $1,200 a year.
People typically put stockings, pantyhose, or long athletic socks over a toilet seat for one main reason: to stay warm in the winter. By slipping the stockings over the ring of the seat, you create a soft fabric barrier that shelters your bare skin from the cold plastic or porcelain.
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.
Yes, a basement toilet absolutely requires a plumbing vent. Without one, a flushed toilet will create a vacuum that siphons the water out of the trap. This allows dangerous sewer gases into your basement and causes slow or gurgling flushes.
An upflush toilet (like a Saniflo) keeps running because the pump's activation system or internal valve has malfunctioned. Because these macerating systems rely on pressure, water levels, or microswitches to turn the motor on and off, continuous running usually points to one of three common culprits:
People put aluminum foil in the toilet as an internet-famous cleaning and maintenance hack, though its actual effectiveness is highly debated. The reasons for doing it generally fall into two categories:
Tackle severely stained toilet bowls by emptying the water to expose the stains, then applying a strong acid (like hydrochloric acid or vinegar) or a pumice stone. The most effective approach depends on the stain: mineral/limescale rings require an acid to dissolve the buildup, while organic stains respond well to bleach.
Leaving dish soap in the toilet overnight is not a miracle cure, but for soft clogs and slow drains, it is one of the simplest, lowest-risk fixes to try before calling for help. It didn't just clear the clog, it reduced the chance of a messy backup, and that alone made the experiment worth it.
Unlike traditional toilets, upflush toilets don't rely on gravity to take waste down into plumbing through the floor. They're a good option if you're unable to install plumbing underneath the toilet. They can also help you save time and money if you're building a bathroom on an existing concrete floor.
Yes, you can vent a bathroom without an outside wall by using options like a recirculating exhaust fan, inline exhaust fan, dehumidifier, or an air purifier. These methods help manage humidity and odors even when outdoor venting isn't possible.
Macerating toilets do not inherently smell when properly installed and maintained, but they can produce severe, sewage-like odors if neglected. Odors usually stem from trapped waste, limescale buildup, or, frequently, failure to regularly descale the unit to clean the 2–3 inches of water always left inside.
Here is a list of some toilets and models that plumbers and plumbing Market often recommend:
The most advanced washlets can mix the water jet with soap for an improved cleaning process. The washlet can replace toilet paper completely, but many users opt to use both wash and paper in combination—although use of paper may be omitted for cleaning of the vulva.
If you are avoiding a macerating (upflush) toilet, your best alternatives depend on why you are avoiding them (e.g., maintenance, noise, or power needs). The top three alternatives are grinder toilets, sewage ejector systems, and waterless/composting toilets.