Saniflo Canada donates cost-saving plumbing solution to local residents

Saniflo (Canada) donates cost-saving plumbing solution to local residents whose family fled the Russia-Ukraine invasion

With the help of Able Plumbing & Heating, Saskatchewan residents Jeff and Yana Zhdanova add a half-bathroom with the self-contained Sanicompact toilet system in the basement to accommodate their Ukrainian relatives relocating to Canada for safety.

Problem

ESTLIN, SASKATCHEWAN — When news broke of the Russia-Ukraine invasion, Saskatchewan couple Jeff and Yana Zhdanova knew relocating Yana’s family to Canada was imperative. Time was of the essence, as Sumy, Yana’s hometown located approximately 30 kilometers south of the Russian border, was then under direct attack.

The grueling journey to safety involved Yana’s mother, father, and grandmother fleeing first to Cherkasy, Ukraine. It was there that Yana’s father succumbed to the stress of the war, passing away shortly after arrival. Yana’s mother and grandmother continued to Poland, where Yana met them to assist in their relocation.

Jeff Zhdanova stayed behind in Estlin, SK with his mission at hand. Zhdanova and his wife were renting their one-bathroom ranch house suitable for a family of only two. To create the comforts of home for Yana’s family as well, Zhdanova decided to add an additional bathroom in the basement to accommodate the suddenly growing household.

Two factors came into play while planning the project: time and cost. Not only were they pressed for time, but the labour-intensive task of breaking through concrete to install conventional plumbing drainage would also add additional stress and costs that the Zhdanovas did not want to incur.

In addition, the property was built in 1960, so breaking concrete posed certain risks due to the property’s age. Zhdanova was also recovering from injuries sustained from his job in construction. Handling the job of breaking through concrete himself was no longer an option.

Solution

Luckily, Zhdanova’s construction career helped familiarize him with various products and their manufacturers. As a consequence, Saniflo was at the top of his mind.

“I was familiar with upflush toilets,” explains Zhdanova. “I knew of the reliability and cost savings that come with using their products, so I took a leap of faith and reached out to Saniflo to see if they could help in any capacity.”

Without skipping a beat, Saniflo not only recommended the Sanicompact to fit Zhdanova’s needs, but also donated the product and funded the installation, enlisting the help of Able Plumbing & Heating, which is located near Regina.

“We decided to offer support in any capacity we could,” explains Phil Warren, Managing Director for Saniflo Canada. “It’s of the utmost importance to Saniflo that we give back to our communities, especially during this war.”

The eco-friendly Sanicompact is a self-contained, water-saving, dual-flush toilet with the macerator and pump integrated within the porcelain fixture itself, rather than both being located in a separate unit behind the fixture. The compact fixture can handle human waste and toilet paper, making it the perfect solution for a half-bathroom application. 

Able Heating & Plumbing service tech and plumber Jim Watson attached a 1-inch discharge pipe to the connection on the back of the Sanicompact. The factory-supplied discharge elbow can rotate 360 degrees to accommodate the discharge line, whatever its direction.

Although the Sanicompact discharge line can run as much as 9 feet vertically and 120 feet horizontally, the Zhdanova installation required only a 5-foot vertical run and a 3-foot horizontal line, connecting to the septic sanitary system on the side of the house. The unit also contains a built-in non-return valve to prevent wastewater from reentering the pump when the system deactivates.

The Sanicompact has a built-in one-way vent that eliminates the need for an external vent pipe. In addition, another inlet in the back of the unit gives the homeowner an option to connect a sink in the future, using a rubber hose provided with the unit.

The dual-flush option in the Sanicompact permits using 1.28 gallons per flush for solid waste, but only 1 gpf for liquids — a cost-saving feature that does not sacrifice efficiency.

Results

Having installed Saniflo products in the past, Able owner Jeff Serson has found that the ease of installation and cost efficiency can’t be beaten. In total, the Zhdanova installation took just four hours to complete.

“When you’re up against time and trying to find the most cost-efficient and reliable solution in projects like this, Saniflo is the manufacturer of great choice,” he explains. “It beats pounding out the concrete floor, roughing in pipes, and the hassle of permits and re-cementing everything.”

As for the Zhdanova family, they have finally arrived in Canada and are settling into their new normal.

“Saniflo is more than just a product. Saniflo is like a family,” explains Zhdanova, “They’re a big part of this whole journey. They showed kindness to complete strangers and helped us when they didn’t need to. Actions speak louder than words.”

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ABOUT SFA SANIFLO®
SANIFLO North America – whose parent company originated macerating plumbing technology – offers a complete line of macerating and grinding upflush toilet systems and drain-water pumping systems for residential and commercial applications. SANIFLO developed its innovative, “above-floor plumbing” technology more than a half-century ago and has led its commercialization worldwide. Today, the company markets macerating technology through 22 subsidiaries in 50 countries and has sold more than six million units worldwide since 1958. SANIFLO products are available through independent sales agents throughout North America, and the product line is currently available at most major plumbing wholesalers and hardware retailers. For more information or installation videos, please visit saniflo.ca or call SANIFLO Canada at 1-800-363-5874.

• For more information, contact Saniflo Canada at 1-800-363-5874. Or visit the Saniflo Canada website at saniflo.ca.
• For editorial assistance, contact John O’Reilly ([email protected]) or Payton Meyers ([email protected]) c/o GreenHouse Digital + PR: 815-469-9100.