Do I need to replace/repair broken sanivite (saniflo)?

[josh25]

Hi guys
Just wanted to get your opinion. We have a Saniflo "Sanivite 3" under the kitchen sink which serves the kitchen sink and dishwasher which has very helpfully decided to conk out just before the weekend.

I was going to buy a new one but looking at the pipework suddenly questioned why we need one. It was installed before we bought the house. As far as I can see the water will all flow out without the need of a pump and we don't have any pumps attached to the utility room or downstairs bathroom wastes and don't have prombems. The only thing I do notice is that the ultimate waste pipe to which the sanivite discharges has a slightly smaller diameter to the pipes it serves.

Can I ask your views? Is there any reason I should not just buy a couple of push fit couplings and connect the sink pipework directly to the outflow waste pipe bypassing the saniflow or are there problems with doing this that I am not seeing do you think? THe previous owners also had a washing machine plumbed which we have relocated to the utility room and wondering if this was why it was installed? Anyway pic below.



Pipework is fairly self explanatory I think in pic - the flexible pipe on the extreme right is from the dishwasher and obviously the final outflow is the slightly smaller pipe right at the back. Really greateful for any views, even if they tell me I am being stupid! Thanks in advance.

All the best
Josh

 

[Masood]

Welcome to the forum Josh.

Whether or not you need a pump depends on where the outflow pipe runs - can you see the whole length of it? Are there any vertical sectors where it's pumped upwards? If not, you could probably do away with it but you MUST increase the outflow pipe to 40mm.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

I agree with Mas, if you can increase the outflow pipe to 40mm you can do away with the sani, depending on pipe run

 

[rpm]

The inlet pipe to the sani is too low should you decide to replace the pump.

 

[Alert]

Is your sink/diswasher in the centre of your kitchen like an island ?

 

[rpm]

Is your sink/diswasher in the centre of your kitchen like an island ?

What`s your thinking?

 

[Alert]

If it's located on the island then the 1 1/4 probably has a long horizontal run to the stack hence the pump was fitted, if it was the case doing away with the pump and utilising the pipe would probably take water away for a short while then it will block up and cause nothing but hassle even more so with the waste pipe being 1 1/4

 

[rpm]

If it's located on the island then the 1 1/4 probably has a long horizontal run to the stack hence the pump was fitted, if it was the case doing away with the pump and utilising the pipe would probably take water away for a short while then it will block up and cause nothing but hassle even more so with the waste pipe being 1 1/4

Following you now. If that is the case then it`s not unusual to find the horizontal has a rise at the end to join the stack via a boss therefore cancelling the gravity fall and causing the pump to work harder than intended.

 

[Alert]

Yea guess we all need more info if that is the case the set up is already an issue as it should have all its pimping to do at start of run and then fall to waste at the end of line like your suggesting

 

[Ermintrude]

RPM - expert in all things that chew and spit

 

[rpm]

RPM - expert in all things that chew and spit

Thanks for the name check mate, he is talking about removing it if he can but I have pointed out an area to address if he finds he needs one at the end of the day.