A macerator is a small pump behind or below a toilet that breaks waste down and pushes it through a narrow pipe to the nearest soil connection. It solves a real problem: rooms where a normal gravity drain cannot fall to the stack. It should still be the second choice, not the first.
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Why gravity comes first
A conventional toilet relies on the waste pipe falling steadily to the soil stack. When that is achievable it is the best option by a distance: no power, no moving parts, no noise beyond the flush, and it will still be working decades later. So before we suggest a macerator we look hard at whether a gravity route can be found, even if it means a longer run or a boxed pipe.
When a macerator is the right answer
- No nearby waste stack. The room is too far from the soil pipe for a gravity fall.
- Under stairs cloakrooms. Common in terraces and semis where the stack is on the opposite wall.
- Basements and rooms below the drain. Gravity cannot push waste uphill.
- Flats. Where floor build ups or neighbours below limit how pipework can run.
- Loft or garden room conversions. Where a new drain would be disruptive or impractical.
What an installation involves
- Confirming the waste route: gravity, branch pipe or macerator.
- Choosing a unit sized for what it must serve. Some take only a toilet, others also take a basin or shower.
- Running the small bore discharge pipe to a soil connection with the correct fall on the horizontal sections.
- Providing a dedicated, correctly protected electrical supply.
- Boxing in with an access panel so the unit can be serviced without breaking tiles.
- Testing under load before handover.
We install macerator and gravity fed systems to the relevant standard, BS EN 12050, and treat the drainage and the electrics as one job.
Building regulations
New or altered drainage, including a macerator run, comes under building regulations, as does the electrical supply in a bathroom. Our building regs guide explains when approval is needed and how it is handled.
Living with a macerator
Be realistic about three things. First, noise: the pump runs briefly after each flush and you will hear it. Second, what goes in: toilet paper and waste only, never wipes, sanitary products or cotton buds. Third, servicing: they need occasional attention, and a unit boxed in without access becomes an expensive repair. None of these are reasons to avoid one when it is the only way to get a toilet where you need it.
Cost
A macerator is often cheaper to install than a brand new drain run, but it adds servicing over its life. On our cost by room type guide, a downstairs loo is usually the cheapest room to add where there is a soil route within a few metres, and drainage is what decides the price.
Get the route checked
We will look at where your stack is, tell you honestly whether gravity is possible and price the options. Book a free survey or call 01782 901390.
Common questions
Can you put a macerator toilet anywhere?
Not quite anywhere. It needs a power supply, a route for the small bore discharge pipe to reach a soil connection and access for servicing. Within those limits it opens up rooms gravity waste cannot reach.
Is a macerator better than a normal toilet?
No. Where gravity waste to the soil stack is achievable we always choose it. It is silent, needs no power and lasts. A macerator is the answer when gravity is not possible.
Do macerators need building regulations approval?
New or altered drainage, including a macerator run, falls under building regulations. We cover what applies in our building regs guide.
Are macerators noisy?
They make a short burst of noise each time they run. Placement, boxing in and pipe fixing all help, but they are never as quiet as a gravity toilet.
Do macerators need maintenance?
Yes. They need occasional servicing and must only take toilet paper and waste. Wipes and sanitary items are the usual cause of failure.