Unless you build your house, it’s rare to find a sewage pump that checks every box on your list. Sometimes you sacrifice your dream bathroom to stay within budget. That’s why many homeowners purchase houses with the plan to upgrade them later to suit their tastes. Unfortunately, the average cost of a bathroom remodel is over $11,000, and can be even more if you use high-end finishes.
Homeowners can expect a 64% ROI for an upscale bathroom addition, but this doesn’t help with the astronomical initial costs. One way to save money on your bathroom upgrade is to look at your toilet.
Standard toilets require you to tear down or cut into your walls or floors to connect them to your sewer system. You may have to buy additional piping and adjust your plumbing system.
Upflush toilets provide the perfect solution for homeowners. You can install an upflush toilet almost anywhere without cutting into your floors or walls — unless you want to by connecting it to your existing drainage system. Choosing an upflush toilet gives you the bathroom of your dreams at a lower cost.
What Is an Upflush Toilet?
Up flushing toilets, also called power flush or toilet pump systems, are more than your average toilet. They get the job done exceptionally well with fewer clogs and cleaner bowls. Perhaps the biggest perk of upflush toilets is you can install them anywhere you want with little effort.
Standard toilets rely on gravity and water to dispel waste through the piping and into the sewage system when you flush. Upflush sewage systems release water and air into the toilet bowl when you flush to push waste up and out with greater force. The air and water come from a sealed, pressurized tank connected to the system.
After the waste leaves the toilet, an upflush toilet grinder or macerating pump pulverizes and processes the waste before sending it into your sewage system.
How Does an Upflush Toilet System Work?
When you flush the toilet, the macerator pump motor turns on, and the water level rises. The waste flows to the tank with the macerator, and the blades grind the contents into particles in a few seconds. Once ground, the pump sends the waste through a pipe.
Sometimes plumbers install the pump behind the wall, connecting it to the toilet with an extension pipe. Other times, they place it behind the toilet as a unit.
Upflush Toilet Pros and Cons
Upflush toilets are ideal for basements, garages, workshops, cabins, additions, commercial buildings, pool houses and more. The many pros of upflush toilets include:
- Flexibility: Standard toilets are ineffective in rooms below the sewage line, like basements, because they rely on gravity. You also must drill through your walls or flooring to install the system. Since upflush options rely on a pump, you can install them virtually anywhere without putting holes in your walls and floors or remodeling your plumbing system.
- Affordable to install: Upflush toilet installations are more affordable than standard toilets. They connect to your existing drainage system, lowering installation costs. If you install an upflush yourself, you can save money on plumbing and remodeling fees. Plus, upflush toilets are more water-efficient, saving on monthly water bills.
- Portability: You can move your upflush toilet to other areas of your home, if needed.
- Versatility: Easily connect your upflush toilet to your shower, bathtub or sink — as long as they use the same drain system and are compatible.
- Durability: Upflush toilets can last 10-15 years with cleaning and maintenance. These toilets rarely clog, but you do have to clean the macerator. Shut off the power and pour toilet bowl cleaner with descaling fluid into the macerator, turn it on, then turn it off and let it sit for two to three hours before starting.
- Comfort: Upflush toilets provide the same level of comfort as standard toilet systems. The fixtures are almost identical, and you can install the pump behind the wall for a more polished look.
- Minimal maintenance: Upflush toilets can resist stains to stay clean longer.
Upflush toilets do have a few cons, such as:
- Noisy: The pump makes some noise as it pulverizes the waste.
- Higher upfront cost: An upflush toilet can cost more than a standard toilet because it’s an all-in-one system.
- Electricity requirements: The system relies on power to function, so it’s most suitable for households with a steady power source.
- Possible pump failure: The pump can fail if strained. For that reason, upflush toilets aren’t ideal for homes with many residents.
About the Powerflush Optima and Powerflush Optima Pro Upflush Toilets
The Powerflush Optima is a one-size-fits-all toilet solution that mounts on your floor. It can vertically transfer wastewater up to 20 feet high to your existing sewer line. You can connect it to your shower, bathtub or sink to dispose of used water. Choose from an elongated or round bowl and freestanding or extension kit installation to hide the pump behind your wall.
The Powerflush Optima Pro is a powerful system with a ½ horsepower grinder pump. The grinder pump has two blades to pulverize tough solids and send them to your septic tank or system. It can move waste up to 20 feet high to reach your septic system or tank. Like the Powerflush Optima, you can choose between an elongated or round bowl and install it practically anywhere.
Powerflush vs. Powerflush Optima Pro
The main differences between the Powerflush and Powerflush Optima Pro are the type of pump and its horsepower.
The Powerflush Optima uses a ⅓ horsepower macerator pump to cut any material that flows through it. It can’t run dry and is best for small solids like hair, plastic and wipes.
The Powerflush Optima Pro has a ½ horsepower macerator pump that uses two blades to grind solids and move them through the system. Unlike the Powerflush Optima, it can run dry and handle medium to large solids.
Upgrade Your Home Today with a Powerful Upflush Toilet
Upflush toilets are a convenient solution to add a bathroom to your home without tearing down walls or floors. You can install them on the floor and connect them to your drain system. They have the same look and style as standard toilets, except for the pump, which you can hide behind the wall with an extension pipe. Overall, these options help homeowners save time and money while still being able to take care of business.
Find a dealer near you to shop easy-to-install upflush toilet systems from Star Water Systems. Don’t hesitate to contact our team with any product questions!
