The Best 6 Upflush Toilets with Macerating Feature – Reviewed

Upflush toilets allow you to install a toilet anywhere in your home, without expensive plumbing changes.  Installing these toilets opens up possibilities when wanting to add an additional bathroom to your home, giving you flexibility of the toilet’s location.

Below we’ve explained how an upflush toilet works to help you understand the functionality and matching with you needs. We’ve also included our top choices for you to choose!

Upflush Toilets Explained

Basically, upflush toilets offer all the same features as a standard toilet, including an effective strong water pressure flush. However, the only difference is where the waste goes after you flush.

With the traditional toilet, waste goes down the installed pipes within your bathroom. In comparison, an upflush system discharges waste into a special pump behind the unit. Then, the pump moves waste up the PVC piping to the existing stack, which saves you from all the necessary piping that you would need with a standard toilet.

Luckily, these units have become very popular during the past decade because they allow people to install a toilet anywhere they want without the expense of building a new bathroom.

The Macerator Process

If you walk into a bathroom with an upflush toilet, you most likely won’t even notice a difference. Visually, upflush toilets only differ from the back, where you may notice either the pump housing or an extension pipe. The main differences are internally in how the toilet actually disposes of waste.

When you flush, waste first goes into a macerator which grinds it using special blades. This step in the process is why these units were first called “grinder toilets.” Then, the pump moves the waste up the PVC piping for full disposal, leaving the tank completely empty for the next use.

Reviews of the Top 6 Upflush Toilets (Macerating)

1. Liberty Pumps ASCENT II – Editor’s Choice

“The Liberty Pumps ASCENT II is an all-around winner, from its reliable macerator system to elongated seat option. With its simple installation process, the ASCENT II let’s you have a working half-bathroom in no time!”

Product Documentation

Customer Reviews

Last gathered: June 19, 2022

Customer Buzz

The ASCENT II’s ratings are overwhelmingly positive with users praising the toilet’s easy installation and reliable flushing mechanism. Even those who have never installed a toilet before found that the ASCENT II’s installation guide and parts can be put together without professional help. The few negative reviews note that occasionally waste sticks inside the toilet and needs to be cleaned manually.

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2. Silent Venus Upflush Toilet – Most Water Efficient

“An eco-friendly toilet doesn’t have to break the bank or be hard to come by. The Silent Venus Upflush is one of our favorites for its compact design, flushing power, and low water usage.”

Performance Ratings

Customer Reviews

Last gathered: June 19, 2022

Summary of Recent Reviews

Customers love the Silent Venus Upflush Toilet because of its low cost and water saving flushing power. With its easy installation, customers boast about being able to install the model without any professional help. Negative reviews tend to focus on the toilet’s noise level upon flush. Contrary to its name, the Silent Venus Upflush can be a bit rowdy when flushing is activated.

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3. Saniflo 023 Sanicompact – Review Champion 

“Whether you’re in the market for a standard upflush toilet or a comfort model, the Saniflo 023 Sanicompact toilet is a great choice for all. With its strong sink connection and powerful flush, the Saniflo 023 turns any difficult space into a fully functional bathroom.”

Customer Reviews

Last gathered: June 19, 2022

What Reviewers are Saying

The Saniflo 023 Sanicompact has mostly positive reviews because of its quick and efficient flushing mechanism along with its sleek and compact design. The most common complaint about the system is the toilet’s occasional difficulties with flushing large waste loads. Some users note they reserve the toilet only for liquid waste to avoid leakage and greater plumbing issues.

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4. Five Oceans TMC Marine Electric Toilet – Budget Friendly

“Reasonably priced and reliable, the Five Oceans TMC Marine Electric Toilet is superb when you’re in a pinch and need a bathroom set-up fast.”

Customer Reviews

Last gathered: June 19, 2022

Our Take on the Reviews

The TMC Marine Electric toilet has an overwhelming amount of positive reviews with users praising the toilet’s smart flush control system, compact structure, and easy to clean china bowl. Users frequently express positive experiences with the toilet on boat settings. The main complaint about the toilet is about the toilet’s low height, compared to other standard toilets.

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5. Thetford Marine Nano ECO Upflush Toilet – Runner Up

“Tiny but mighty, the Thetford Marine Nano ECO packs a true punch with every flush. We love the toilet’s simple installation and tiny size that can fit anywhere you need.”

Product Documentation

Customer Reviews

Last gathered: June 19, 2022

Recent Review Buzz

Reviews available for the Thetford Marine Nano ECO are positive with users praising the toilet’s compact size and quiet flushing. The toilet’s height is a personal preference, with some stating it’s perfect for their bathroom setting and others wishing it was a bit taller. 

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6. Jabsco 37010 Electric Marine Toilet

“What’s fantastic about the Jabsco 37010 is that you can pick and choose the seat style that best works for you. The Jabsco 37010 shows that even upflush toilets can be accessible.”

Product Documentation

Customer Reviews

Last gathered: June 19, 2022

Summary of Recent Reviews

The Jabsco 37020 Electric Marine Toilet is a crowd favorite with reviews boasting about the toilet’s easy installation and comfortable, adaptable size that saves room in a boat cabin. Users also love that the toilet is self-priming and has a strong suction system. The few negative reviews state that after a few years of usage, minor leakage occurred, but was quickly resolved.

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Buyers Guide – 6 Main Benefits

Below are six of the top benefits to selecting an upflush toilet:

1. Maceration Process

Once the wastewater flows inside the chamber, the grinding and cutting starts. It usually lasts from 15 seconds to about a minute. After this process is done, the solid waste is just a slurry liquefied mix. At this point, the drain pump starts pumping the waste automatically. It is quite powerful and it pushes the waste upwards to the drain line.

2. Affordability

If you want to avoid paying $15-20,000 to install a new bathroom, buying an upflush unit can be an excellent solution. Plus, upflush toilets are very simple to install, so they can save you even more money on plumbing and installation.

3. Full Bathroom Extensions

Another good thing about the upflush system is that it also allows you to add a sink and shower if you want. Once you have installed the toilet, you can add various fixtures to create a full bathroom at a relatively low cost.

4. Flexibility of Location

Because upflush toilets don’t require pre-installed plumbing, these units allow you to install a bathroom literally anywhere in the house. If you have some empty space in the house, such as the basement, you can simply turn it into a bathroom at a relatively low price. Then, not only will you have the benefit of access to another bathroom, but you can also directly increase the value of the house for future return on your investment.

5. Easy Installation

Another advantage of upflush toilets is that you can install one without a plumber, especially if you have some basic DIY skills. It will take you just a couple of hours, even if you have no plumbing knowledge.

6. System Design

First things first, upflush toilets look almost exactly like standard gravity toilets. They have a tank portion on the back and a bowl sitting on a pedestal.  Instead of sitting on a sewage drain, they have a wide pipe coming straight out of them. The pipe itself is usually quite short and goes immediately into the chamber. The maceration chamber and the pipe are the only visible differences. Unlike gravity toilets, these need electricity to flush. Most of the time, the wire is barely visible and is located behind the toilet.

Upflush Installation Methods

As these toilets are not installed over the drain line, you don’t have to break up the floor. They still need to be bolted down just like the conventional ones. Now, there are two possible methods:

The standard method is installing the maceration chamber behind the bowl. In this method, all you need to do is connect the drain on the back to the macerating unit. The downside to this method is that the maceration chamber will detract from the looks of your bathroom.

This method is much more desirable if you want your toilet to blend in with your bathroom decor. In order to install your toilet using this method, you will need to extend the pipe going from the macerating unit into the back of the toilet. You must do this before enclosing the wall. Still, you need to make sure you can always access the maceration unit. In order to be able to access the maceration chamber leave an access panel.

Some Downsides

Although upflush units have many benefits, we do want to mention two disadvantages to keep in mind. To start, upflush toilets can be a bit noisy, mainly due to the pump and grinding process. You may want to install your toilet away from noise-sensitive parts of your home if possible. The second downside is that upflush toilets can be more expensive, particularly if you buy from popular brands like SaniFlo. However, even with a higher upfront cost, upflush toilets will save you lots of money in the long term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Upflush Toilets Smell?

Although the waste is first collected in the tank behind the unit, these toilets usually don’t smell any. more than a standard toilet. However, if you do notice a lingering smell, it is probably due to limescale buildup, which you should be able to resolve with a regular cleaning routine.

Can I Pour Bleach Down the Upflush Toilet?

Pouring bleach down the upflush toilet won’t damage it right away. However, if you do it frequently, it might damage the rubber parts and cause leakage. Instead, clean the toilet with a toilet cleaner and descaler. Simply pour 1.5-2 liters down the bowl and turn on the pump for a few seconds. Then, turn it off and wait around two hours before use, making sure not to flush during that time. By using a more gentle cleanser, you’ll still have a clean toilet without concern for long-term damage.

How Far Can an Upflush Toilet Pump?

Since the pump works for ~15 seconds, it can move waste 5 meters vertically or even 100 meters horizontally. However, the distance will be shorter if it has to go both vertically and horizontally. You’ll want to keep your distance in mind when you choose where to install your toilet.

Final Thoughts

Upflush toilets are ideal when standard toilets are not an option. Many have a similar design to the standard ones, aside from the macerating chamber behind them. The Liberty Pumps unit the most powerful and water-efficient macerating toilet on this list. It is also stylish and will blend in any bathroom decor. Furthermore, the pump of this unit is also very powerful. If you are looking for something comfortable, definitely take a look at the Liberty Pumps ASCENTII-ESW.