Toilet needs to be replaced in basement- w/ upflush toilet?

[Work123456]

HI
I have a regular conventional toilet in our basement- its been recommended by the water company to either have a back water valve installed or switch to an upflush toilet.- this is to prevent sewage from going back to the toilet in case of a flood outside in the street.

The back water valve installation would include demo work on ripping out the tile from our bathroom and could be costly.
What are your thoughts with regards to upflush toiliet- Saniplus Macerator 1/2 HP.. Are we better off paying and have the demo work for a back water valve so we can use our old toilet- or is the upflush a good alternative?

 

[Reach4]

While considering your actions, the gold standard is to switch to "overhead sewers". You add a vented sealed pit in the basement, with a grinder pump. The main floor and above use gravity. If your area is prone to sewer backups, your town may offer a "program" to pay part of that.

Some things are worth spending money on. Not accepting other people's poop is more worthwhile than most.

Flapper backwater valves will leak. They are "normally closed" and pressure from inside pushes them open. The leaks come from solids with time preventing full closing. If you go the backwater valve route, you want a "normally open" backwater valve. Use that as a search term.

The upstairs drainage should be coming in downstream of the backwater valve. If not, if that backwater valve successfully closes, you still have to be aware of that, and you have to not use the upstairs plumbing.

There are other systems where they build a pit in the yard. That pit has a backwater valve, and a grinder pump that injects into the street side of the backwater valve. The pit will hold some volume that will accept water if the electricity is out for a while. They recommend getting the pump etc tested annually. The lid can have grass. The square of grass is lifted up and aside for inspection or service.

If people on your street are taking action, don't wait. If they fix their problem, the problem will move more to the other houses.

The macerator flush-up toilet can be good. But what about your laundry drainage? How about a floor drain?

 

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[Work123456]

While considering your actions, the gold standard is to switch to "overhead sewers". You add a vented sealed pit in the basement, with a grinder pump. The main floor and above use gravity. If your area is prone to sewer backups, your town may offer a "program" to pay part of that.

Some things are worth spending money on. Not accepting other people's poop is more worthwhile than most.

Flapper backwater valves will leak. They are "normally closed" and pressure from inside pushes them open. The leaks come from solids with time preventing full closing. If you go the backwater valve route, you want a "normally open" backwater valve. Use that as a search term.

The upstairs drainage should be coming in downstream of the backwater valve. If not, if that backwater valve successfully closes, you still have to be aware of that, and you have to not use the upstairs plumbing.

There are other systems where they build a pit in the yard. That pit has a backwater valve, and a grinder pump that injects into the street side of the backwater valve. The pit will hold some volume that will accept water if the electricity is out for a while. They recommend getting the pump etc tested annually. The lid can have grass. The square of grass is lifted up and aside for inspection or service.

If people on your street are taking action, don't wait. If they fix their problem, the problem will move more to the other houses.

The macerator flush-up toilet can be good. But what about your laundry drainage? How about a floor drain?

thanks for the reply. Our drainage (this is an old house) was going to the street- but they started a 'program" to get people to disconnect drainage to thetown. The incentive- they would install sump pumps to homes.

 

[Reach4]

Did you or your neighbors get a backup?

Anyway, if everybody in your area stops putting downspouts and perimeter (ground water) drains into the sewer, that will help things.