Upflushing toilets have plenty of advantages. A few examples of these being that they're flexible, portable, can help you save money, and are water efficient. However, there are some disadvantages too. Namely, they can be expensive and noisy. We outline each of these in more detail below.
ProsFor home owners, macerating toilets offer a level of flexibility that standard models can't match. Because the majority of toilet flushing systems utilize gravity, they aren't suitable for building below the sewer line, in the basement for example. With a pump system in place, you'll be able to send waste upwards far easier.
You'll not need to worry as much about where your plumnbing fixtures or drainage system are in the home as you would in a more traditional installation. That's why they also make them great for attics and temporary solutions where you don't want to drill into the floor or completely re-design.
Expanding on the flexible nature of upflush toilets, they are also somewhat portable, allowing you to move it around the home fairly easily. This will depend on the type you have installed, but there are plenty of all in one products that can be moved around by simply unscrewing a few bolts.
There are a few ways in which they can save you money. The first, and probably most important of which is they remove the need of digging and breaking things in the home. That's something that may require professional help, which can get expensive fast depending on the current plumbing set up you have.
Secondly, they tend to be very water efficient. These days, most upflowing toilets use up to 1.28 gallons, saving you money on your water utility bills. You can calculate the differences between units that use 1.6 gallons, and those that use 1.28 gallons here. The bigger your household, the more money you'll save. Per person, you could potentially save 70% of the water you're currently using.
Other commonly used bathroom hardware such as showers and sinks can attach to the same drainage system providing they are compatible and installed correctly. There are specific design considerations to take into account to achieve this, but it is possible and very useful.
These products are built to last just as long as standard toilets. Especially the well known brands such as SaniFlo and Liberty Pumps. Infact, SaniFlo are said to be flushed up to 50k times to ensure the required product quality is there. If we were to give you a ball park figure, we would say you can expect at least a decade out of most of them. This will ultimately come down to how well they are looked after, cleaned, and maintained.
ConsIf you're looking for something with a quieter flush, this may not be the best option for you. Traditional units are less noisy due to the fact the tank with a macerator needs to churn the waste up ready for it to pump. It has similar steps in the flushing process, but this extra grinding step can produce extra noise, which may be uncomfortable to some.
The upfront cost will generally be more expensive, especially iof you're going with one of the more well known brands such as SaniFlo. For example, a standard gravity fed toilet will rarely cost you more than 600 dollars, often a lot cheaper. But those with a macerating pump system in place can cost more than 1000 dollars.
If you're off the grid, or simply suffering from a lack of electricity due to a power cut, it'll not be able to utilize the pump. The same applies to any hardware attached to the same drainage system. Portable generators can be a decent solution to solve this.
This list hopefully helped you make a more informed decision about whether a toilet with a macerator is right for your home. Just make sure whatever your choice is, that you follow the correct building and plumbing codes.