Macerator Fault Finder

Macerators should be cleaned on a regular basis, at least every 3 months. Using Unicleanse cleaner De-scaler, a very simple operation only having to pour a solution down the toilet bowl and leave for a few hours. Carbon filter replacement should be carried out every 12 months.

If the Macerator has never been chemically cleaned over a period of time your Macerator will need servicing and cleaning by removing the unit and cleaning by hand with a scrubbing brush or low pressure wash hose.

Uniflo’s unique Unicleanse Cleaner, de-scaler has been especially developed for cleaning and descaling Macerators. Bleaches and cheap inferior thick cleaners can damage your Macerator.

Link for Uniflo Unicleanse Cleaners. https://new.unifloproducts.co.uk/product-category/cleaning-and-descaling-products/

This could be due to a foreign object like, wipes, cotton buds etc, being thrown down the toilet and catching on the internal macerating blade or caught around the pump spindle. The foreign objects will need to be removed. If the Macerator is extremely noisy it may have come to the end of it’s life span. Foreign objects can drastically reduce a motors lifespan.

My Macerator is Vibrating and Rattling. This usually indicates a wetwipe or sanitary ware has caught on the macerator blade throwing the motor off balance whilst in operation, get the macerator checked out as soon as possible.

This leak could actually be coming from the toilet cistern, leaking on to the Macerator and making it appear that the unit is leaking. If you can not identify a third source leak it could be best to get the macerator checked out as soon as possible by a competent Plumber or Macerator engineer. Water can cause substantial damage.

If waste water is leaking directly from the Macerator, this problem needs urgent attension. Check all connections on the Macerator, ensure all clips are in place and tight. The water level inside the macerator may be flooding vital components , if left water can seep into the motor and cause irreparable damage to the Macerator. There are a number of reasons for this happening.

The macerator has a foreign object inside the pump, restricting the waste water discharge, water can then leak out of the air vent on the top of the unit. The Macerator has never been cleaned and has just built up raw sewage. Lime scale has been allowed to build up on the internal operating components.  Has the lid of the Macerator been removed and not been put back correctly causing water to leak out of the box while it is in operation.

The motor blades or pump impeller may be jammed by a foreign object.

The capacitor may have blown, this is normally due to it been overloaded. Get the unit checked for foreign objects and change the capacitor. If the Macerator is hot to the touch turn off the unit as soon as possible. Have the Macerator checked and serviced by a competent Plumber or Macerator Engineer.

Check the Electrical connections to the Macerator, inspect for damaged cables or loose wires inside the connection spur.

Water may have ingress-ed  into the electric components via the rubber diaphragm of the switch chamber. The diaphragm is a serviceable part and can be replaced. Have the Macerator inspected and serviced as soon as possible.

Water may have ingress-ed  into the motor, this could happen if the macerator has been fully or partially blocked and left for a period of time. The motor will need replacing.

You may not have enough natural fall from your shower tray to the Macerator. Try setting your shower tray a little higher. See the installation guide.

If the installation  has been operating correctly and the problem has occurred  after a few weeks or months, firstly check the shower trap is not blocked, check the waste pipe from the shower trap to the Macerator is also not blocked.

This could indicate a blockage inside the Macerator, a sticking internal non return flap, damaged or worn out diaphragm.

Clean the Macerator internally or have the Macerator serviced.

If the waste water is not been evacuated, this indicates you have a blockage in the Macerator or the discharge pipe work. You need to have the Macerator checked by a Macerator engineer or Plumber familiar with Macerators to clear the blockage. Turn off the electrical supply to the Macerator, this will prevent damage to the motor. If the toilet pan is full of water, remove the water in the pan to a normal level, this will also help prevent damage to the motor. DO NOT USE THE TOILET OR ANY OF THE APPLIANCES THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE MACERATOR TO AVOID FLOODING.

If the waste water is been evacuated but the Macerator keeps operating, this indicates a worn or damaged diaphragm or operating switch, these are serviceable parts and can be replaced by a Macerator engineer. Turn off the electrical supply to the Macerator, this will prevent damage to the motor. DO NOT USE THE TOILET OR ANY OF THE APPLIANCES THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE MACERATOR TO AVOID FLOODING.

Don’t use the Macerator by turning the electrical power on and off, this will cause damage to the internal electrical components. Don’t leave it running it will eventually overheat and burn out the motor.

This could be due to water running into the unit from a leaking bath, basin tap or dripping shower head.

Check the overflow tube inside the toilet cistern, this maybe overflowing back into the toilet pan. If this is the case adjust the cistern fill valve.

Check the Macerator discharge non-return valve, waste water may be running back into the Macerator. Replace or reset the non-return valve.

All the he symptoms would be the Macerator activating and deactivating constantly for a period of time.

Macerator has only just been installed and is not operating at all with no noise.

Power Connection To Spur. This indicates that the power connection is not installed correctly or the fuse in the spur is missing or faulty. firstly check the fuse is installed and is not blown, it may be wise to change the fuse for a new one. Secondly if the fuse is good disconnect the cable wires from the electrical spur and re-connect, it is very easy to miss judge how far the wires are pushed into the spur, this is a very common problem, an easy way to double check this is to fit a standard 13amp plug to the Macerator and plug it into an extension cable into another wall socket, this way you can eliminate any issue with the Macerator.

The Connection Spur. Check the wiring connections in the back of the spur socket, these may have become loose or disconnected. Check the fuse in the spur socket.

Macerator has been installed and operating fine but is now not operating at all with no noise.

Firstly check all of the above. If all checks out ok you will need to contact a Macerator engineer as this would now indicate a problem within the unit and will require a service.

If  the toilet bowl is full of water and not evacuating.

If this has occurred instantly on a new installation check your discharge non-return valve as this may have been installed incorrectly.

The Macerator motor seems to be active, this indicates that a blockage is within the discharge pipe work.

The Macerator is buzzing or humming, see section above ( My Uniflo Macerator is just Buzzing or Humming but not working.

It is advisable to turn off the power supply and remove the water from the toilet bowl as soon as possible, leaving the toilet bowl full of water will flood the Macerator and can cause damage to the motor.

Contact a Plumber or Macerator engineer.