From Saniplus to Saniaccess 3: Updating a Below-Grade Family Bathroom in New Brunswick
A New Brunswick homeowner replaces a Saniplus system after more than 25 years of service with a Saniaccess 3 for their below-grade family bathroom.
A long-term SFA Canada project from Black River Bridge, NB
Adding or maintaining a bathroom below existing plumbing can be a major renovation challenge. Conventional gravity drainage may not be practical when the bathroom is below the sewer line or near a septic bed, where excavation and structural work can add significant cost and disruption.
For more than 25 years, SFA Canada’s Saniplus system served a family bathroom in Black River Bridge, New Brunswick. The original installation helped make the below-grade bathroom, bedroom, and living area possible. Now, the longtime Saniplus system has been replaced with a new SFA Canada Saniaccess 3 system, round bowl, and toilet tank, installed by a certified plumber to continue supporting the bathroom’s fixtures.
The challenge: replacing a long-serving system below existing plumbing
The family bathroom is located below the home’s existing plumbing and septic bed, where a traditional gravity-fed drainage layout would be difficult to achieve. After more than 25 years of service, the existing Saniplus system needed to be replaced while continuing to support the bathroom’s toilet, vanity sink, and bathtub.
The replacement needed to work with the existing below-grade layout and avoid an unnecessarily disruptive drainage reconfiguration.
The solution: Saniaccess 3 for a long-term bathroom replacement
To replace the longtime Saniplus system, a certified plumber installed a new Saniaccess 3 full-bathroom macerating pump with a compatible round bowl and toilet tank. Designed for full-bathroom applications, the Saniaccess 3 handles human waste and gray water from fixtures such as a sink and bathtub.
Its low inlets support flexible installation, and it can pump effluent up to 15 feet below the sewer line and/or 150 feet horizontally, with gravity fall. Those capabilities make it well suited to a below-grade bathroom where conventional drainage is difficult. The compatible round toilet bowl also includes a soft-close feature for added everyday comfort.
Learn more about the products used in this project:
- 082 Saniaccess 3
- 083 Round Toilet Bowl
- 005 Toilet Tank
In this project, the replacement system was adapted to the home’s existing plumbing, and the installation went smoothly.
Why the Saniaccess 3 was a strong fit
The Saniaccess 3 combines macerating and pumping in one system, allowing it to support a complete bathroom while handling both black water from the toilet and gray water from fixtures such as a sink and bathtub.
For this replacement, the key advantages were its below-grade pumping capacity, flexible discharge options, low inlets, and service access. Together, these features helped renew the bathroom without requiring a completely new plumbing configuration.
The result: a reliable bathroom updated for the future
The original Saniplus installation helped make an additional bedroom and living area possible, nearly doubling the home’s habitable space. More than 25 years later, replacing that longtime system with a Saniaccess 3 keeps the below-grade bathroom functional for the family.
The updated installation preserves the comfort and convenience of the existing three-piece bathroom while providing a current SFA Canada macerating pump solution for the home’s ongoing needs.
Why Saniaccess 3 can suit below-grade replacement projects
A basement bathroom does not always require major excavation or a new gravity-fed drainage route. The Saniaccess 3 can be a practical option when a bathroom is below the sewer line or located where conventional drainage is difficult.
Its full-bathroom capacity, ability to handle black and gray water, flexible discharge range, low inlets, and service access give plumbing professionals more options for replacement and retrofit work. Product selection should always be confirmed against the fixtures, discharge requirements, local codes, and installation conditions.
Working with an SFA Canada installer
A knowledgeable plumbing professional can help evaluate whether a macerating toilet system, drainage pump, or another SFA Canada solution is appropriate for a specific renovation.
Installers familiar with SFA Canada products can help assess the available space, fixture requirements, discharge route, existing plumbing, and practical installation considerations. Their experience can also help homeowners understand what is possible before construction begins.
Looking for an SFA Canada installer?
Could a macerating toilet system work for your project?
If you are planning a basement renovation, a below-grade bathroom, or a bathroom addition below the existing sewer line, a macerating pump system may be worth considering.
It could be relevant if you are:
- Adding a basement bathroom
- Creating a bathroom below existing plumbing
- Renovating an older home
- Working near a septic bed
- Adding a guest suite, bedroom, or living area
- Trying to avoid extensive excavation or concrete demolition
- Looking for a toilet pump system for a challenging residential layout
Explore the full range of SFA Canada solutions, including macerating toilets, macerating pumps, drainage pumps, and other pumped drainage systems.
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