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Water doesn't naturally flow upwards. We have gravity to thank for that. This isn't a problem today, however. In actuality, most plumbing systems have taken advantage of gravity and used it to work in its favour. However, there are times when natural forces such as gravity just work against you. For instance, you may need to install a new toilet in a low-lying area, or in the basement. And a lot of issues can arise from having a toilet placed lower than the sewage pipe.
One of the best workarounds is to use a pump that can get the wastewater to the sewage pipe. That way, instead of worrying about the plumbing, you can worry about the decor instead.
Upflush toilets
The earliest upflush toilets used household water pressure to move wastewater to the level of the sewer pipe. However, solely relying on pressure was limited in its use and yielded disappointing results. Subsequent upflush toilets have fixed most of the problems related to its operation. One of the biggest improvements is the switch to electric pumps.
Electric pumps allowed upflush systems to move wastewater as far upwards as required and made them more practical for widespread use. One of biggest advantages of upflush toilets is you don't have to destroy a wall to install new pumps, making them perfect for old and existing homes. In the last few years, more and more upflush toilets have a found a place in private homes.
How toilet pumps work
While electric pumps can easily deal with gravitational forces, dealing with solid waste is much more difficult. This is why an upflush toilet uses a macerator pump. The macerator pump utilises sharp blades to process toilet paper and solid waste into an easier to move slurry. Water is then pumped through the pipe to the sewage outflow system, transporting the wastewater away.
Upflush toilets, pt. 2
Upflush toilets come in a wide variety of sizes, from compact units to commercial toilets. Compact upflush toilets are designed to be installed in small bathrooms and in any place where space or water is limited. They also tend to be standalone units.
On the other hand, standard upflush toilets look like your average toilet with an upper tank and the macerator pump underneath it. They are the most common upflush toilets and can lift wastewater up to 15 feet. Standard upflush toilets can also handle the outflow from showers and sinks if they are connected to the same system.
High-end upflush toilets are designed for commercial use but have also found a place in residential use. Instead of a macerator pump, high-end upflush toilets use a grinder pump for processing solid waste. Grinder pumps can process hardier waste, making them ideal for public and commercial toilets.
How to install an upflush toilet
You can't install an upflush toilet without at least a macerator pump, and there's no point to installing a macerator pump if there's no toilet. One of the first things you should do is turn off the water mains. New upflush toilets should ideally be installed before turning the water mains on.
A standard toilet has four connections: one for power and the rest for water. There's a separate connection for wastewater outflow, one for clean water, and one outlet connection. You also need to have a ground fault circuit interrupter or GFCI to power the macerator pump. Connect the water connections and the waste outlet to the sewer outlet. Once the pipes have been connected, connect the GFCI and turn on the water mains. Don't forget to flush the toilet once to check for any leaks in the system.
