Transform your basement into a rental suite with these two above-floor plumbing

Whether you have a basement that you use more for storage than living, or is unfinished, the most important consideration for turning it into a livable space for renters is the addition of plumbing fixtures. The lack of plumbing in this area of the home is a major obstacle faced by many homeowners, especially since the drain line for structuring plumbing for a new bathroom, kitchen or laundry in the basement is located on the main floor of the home. The thought of undertaking the expense and hassle of having to create below-floor drainage by digging up the concrete slab is enough to deter most home renovators. For a simplified, cost-effective solution, choose an above-floor plumbing system instead.

Traditional plumbing solutions involve breaking and hauling away the concrete to install drain lines and a storage tank with a sewage ejector that forces the effluent from plumbing fixtures up to the drain line. Typically, these storage tanks hold the effluent for a time before the ejector pumps it out. Because of this, if not installed correctly, the tank can leak and cause unpleasant odours. Furthermore, with a sewage ejector, you’re limited to an area with enough space for the sewage tank and a way to access it. Using a SANIFLO® above-floor plumbing system, you won’t have these problems.

SANIFLO systems, including macerating toilets and drain-water pumps, require no excavation and virtually no maintenance. They can all be installed directly on top of any finished floor surface, either behind a toilet or concealed within the wall with minimal construction, or below the sewage line since they pump effluent and waste water upwards, up to 25ft vertically. SANIFLO macerating toilets use a fast-rotating blade to reduce waste and toilet paper in the flush water, which is immediately and entirely released under pressure through small-diameter piping to the existing sewer line or septic tank. These systems are clean, quiet and reliable so there are no leaks and no odours!

For a basement rental suite build, the SANIBEST PRO® is a powerful alternative to conventional plumbing, and is ideal for basement renovations and other home-improvement projects. It can be used to install a complete bathroom or a laundry room, and can handle the effluent from a toilet, sink, shower, bathtub, and/or washing machine. The SANIBEST PRO is the perfect solution for rental suites because its internal grinder can handle the accidental flushing of items such as sanitary napkins, Q-tips, condoms, and more.

These simple and cost-effective plumbing systems are changing the way homeowners remodel and are helping them to maximize the return on their investments. In fact, choosing to use an above-floor plumbing system over a traditional sewage ejector can save homeowners an average of $1,000 - $2,000 on labour costs alone!