Macerator toilets remove waste when it is flushed from below the drainage line. They are quiet and powerful toilet systems, but, as with any other toilet, problems can sometimes occur.
If you have a macerator toilet in your home, it can be worrying when a problem occurs because they operate differently from typical toilets. Do you know what to do if your macerator toilet pump fails, blocks, or even completely breaks?
This article is a comprehensive guide detailing the most common macerator toilet problems, and how you can deal with them in the most effective ways.
Although some of these tasks can be carried out by yourself, we do recommend getting in touch with one of the fully trained team members at Blockbusters to prevent any potential injuries from occurring and to avoid potentially making the problem worse.
Do you need assistance from one of the teams? Contact Blockbusters today.
The Macerator is Still Running but Wonât Turn Off
One of the most common macerator toilet problems is that their macerator keeps running even after turning off. This problem is caused when the pump has already completed a flush but continues even when the macerator is clear of debris.
There are a number of reasons why this could happen. These include, but are not limited to:
- A blocked macerator or blocked pump
- The rubber membrane within the toilet has become damaged
- There is a blockage outside of the outline pipe
- Your microswitch is misfiring
Below, weâll detail how to deal with each one of these macerating toilet system problems. However, if, after completing the correct troubleshooting, the problem still occurs, please do get in touch with the team here at Blockbusters.
Blocked Macerator or Blocked Pump
When it comes to unblocking a macerator, we highly recommend getting a professional in to complete this job as you will be dealing with sharp blades otherwise. This will involve the technician turning off the power supply, removing the lid of the macerator itself, and discovering what has caused the blockage within the macerator blades.
To remove this waste, pliers will need to be used in order to turn the macerator blades in a counterclockwise motion followed by the careful removal of any waste causing the blockage. Typically, this kind of issue will be caused by a buildup of toilet paper or other waste within the blades.
If the problem lies within the macerator pump, the motor will need to be entirely removed from the toilet in order to access the pump. The system will need to be turned upside down to make the impellers within the pump visible. In a similar fashion to the macerator blades, pliers will need to be used to remove the waste, followed by the reinstallation of the motor into the toilet.
A Misfiring Microswitch
This is another of the most common problems with macerator toilets which occurs when waste becomes stuck between the switch and the tank floor. When this happens, the switch becomes confused and acts as if the tank is full. To solve this, an engineer will need to clear all of the waste by hand and manually restart the pump.
A Damaged Rubber Membrane
One of the main drawbacks of rubber is that it can become damaged over time due to water applying pressure. If the rubber membrane is damaged in your macerator toilet, waste has the potential to get into the switch. If this happens, the only effective fix is to completely replace the system – which can only be done by a registered engineer.
Macerator Toilet is Vibrating and Making a Loud Noise
If your macerator toilet is vibrating and making loud noises, then the likely scenario is that something has become lodged in the blade mechanism of the macerator. This can be solved by rotating the blades counterclockwise while the macerator is turned off and removing the object.
Why is My Macerator Toilet Leaking?
If your macerator toilet is leaking from the vent, a big build-up of the waste inside can be the cause. Naturally, this will have to be manually removed.
Alternatively, the issue could be caused by a worn out microswitch or rubber membrane. If this is the case, water wonât be able to be pumped out of the system quickly enough. When it is finally triggered, the water will escape through the vent instead of the proper channels. Normally this can be resolved by replacing the rubber membrane, however, the entire microswitch will need replacing if this doesnât work.
It is also possible that the motor operating within the toilet is nearing the end of its life if youâve had the system for a while – meaning that it canât work as effectively as when it was first installed. If this is the case, the entire macerator system will need to be replaced.
Finally, the rubber waste outlet could have shrunk due to an overuse of toilet cleaner; which could also cause the same problem. If you find that water is spraying out of the vent, the rubber water outlet will need to be replaced.
These are quite common macerator toilet problems, but they can be tricky to fix by an untrained hand. Because of this, we highly recommend contacting the skilled engineers at Blockbusters to help.
My Macerator Toilet is Blocked and Keeps Backing Up Into my Bath/Shower/Sink
In these instances, it may be the case that power isnât actually making its way to the toilet itself. This could be because the macerator system has been accidentally disconnected from its power supply, or there could be a fault leading to the power being disconnected.
If this is not the case, there may be an issue with the motor which is preventing waste from being pimped out. To check for this, listen for a buzzing noise – the toilet will also be warm to the touch. In these cases, make sure to disconnect the power and inspect the motor to see if there is anything caught within the internal workings.
Alternatively, the problem could lie with the microswitch or the rubber membrane which would be preventing the motor from actually turning on. If the motor has completely stopped, this will mean that the entire macerator will need to be replaced.
There is also the potential for there to be an obstruction within the water pipe due to incorrect installation. Installing these pipes at the incorrect angle is a very common macerator toilet problem, as these pipes should be installed at a 45-degree angle – anything else can cause waste to become stuck.
If there isnât any waste to remove from the tank to solve the problem, then youâll have to contact a certified Saniflo engineer from Blockbusters to remove the pipes and clear them out in a safe manner.
The Macerator Pump is Starting on its Own
If the macerator pump keeps automatically starting, then there is a high probability that there is a problem with the microswitch. Problems with the microswitch of macerator toilets only happen when there is a fault, such as a misfiring microswitch as detailed above, or a damaged rubber membrane as mentioned previously.
If your microswitch is misfiring, then the macerator will believe that it is full when it is empty. This will mean that the microswitch needs replacing so that the pump can reset.
A damaged rubber membrane will cause waste to get into the switch itself and cause problems to the entire system. In this case, an engineer will need to fit a new switch and rubber membrane in order to solve the problem fully.
My Macerator Toilet Keeps Tripping the Electrics
Additional macerating toilet problems can include continuous tripping of your electrics – and this is something that will need to be dealt with and handled with care. This problem typically occurs when water is getting into sensitive areas, which means the circuit will be cut off in order to prevent further damage to the system.
Because of the obvious dangers that come from mixing electricity and water, we highly recommend not attempting to fix this kind of problem yourself. Rather, enlist the help from one of the properly trained engineers at blockbusters in order to correctly and safely repair the macerator.
In the event the macerator has become damaged or is faulty, a specialist Blockbusters engineer will need to install a new macerator due to the irreparable issues occurring within the motor.
Foul Smells are Coming from the Macerator
If youâve had your macerator operating for a long period of time and youâve begun to notice foul and unpleasant smells coming from the toilet, it is highly likely that it is in need of a deep clean. This is due to the build-up of human waste and limescale that can be left in the 2-3 inches of water within the macerator itself.
The macerator will typically have instructions on how to clean the system, but you can also conduct a normal regular cleaning routine with bleach and descaler to keep the system clean and free from bad smells for longer.
Foam is Coming From the Vent in the Pump
If there is foam coming from the air vent in the macerator toilet pump, then the most likely cause is overuse of toilet cleaner or bleach from your cleaning regimen. If this has only just started and continues for a long time, or has already been happening for a long period of time, then the motor within the system will stop working. This is because the foam will cause the motor to overwork as it cannot correctly pump out water.
The primary solution to this is to lessen your use of toilet bleach and foaming cleaners. However, if your motor has stopped working, or is working less efficiently than usual, then it is likely that the microswitch will need replacing to ensure the toilet pump system works correctly.
The Macerator is Running But it is Not Pumping Water Out
If your macerator system is running, but youâve noticed that it isnât actually pumping any waste away; it could be because the pipes are frozen. What do we mean by this? In the same way that central heating system pipes can become frozen in the winter, so can those of a macerator toilet.
In order to remedy this, the service engineer will first need to turn off the power to the macerator. If any waste has overflowed, that will also be removed. From here, hot towels will be used to heat up the pipes and loosen up the frozen blockage. This should remedy the situation, allowing the macerator to pump out waste once again.
Suffering from Macerator Toilet Problems? Contact Blockbusters
Attempting to fix the problem yourself without proper guidance can not only cause the problem to get worse, but also lead to potentially serious injury. If youâre suffering from macerator toilet problems but either cannot see a solution above or you simply donât have the skill or time to remedy the situation yourself, get in touch with the skilled team of Saniflo macerator toilet engineers here at Blockbusters.
Contact the team