Do It Yourself or Not: Install a macerating toilet
Remodeling your basement into extra living space? Consider adding a bathroom using a macerating toilet system that doesn’t route the flush water through a drain in the floor like a traditional gravity force toilet. Instead, the “above ground” system is designed to move it to a macerator pump that grinds the waste in the flush water, and the contents are released under pressure through piping that goes to the sewer or septic tank. The pump is usually located on the floor between the toilet and wall, and, if properly sized, can handle all the fixtures in a bathroom. Since you don’t have to tear out walls and floors, the installation is fast, and the system is operational in a short time.
Sanifo systems are sold through a network of dealers and plumbing wholesalers, all of which you’ll find at their website www.saniflo.com. To get an idea of what’s involved, watch the video that takes you through the process. Before you decide on doing the job, check with your local building code to see about any requirements. And if you don’t have experience with plumbing projects, consider hiring an authorized installer.
An installer will charge $1,650 for a simple system. You can buy all the components, do it yourself for $850, and save 48%.
Pro Cost: $1,650 — DIY Cost: $850
Pro time: 13.0 — DIY Time: 18.0
DIY Savings: $800 — Percent Saved: 48%
========
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.
©2022 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
