Hello, everyone,
One of the newbies has a question about French toilets in the home. I read a while back that there is a kind of “compacting “ toilet that is difficult to use and gets blocked easily. We are about to embark on our home buying expedition. I don’t want to be a plumbing victim. Any advice? Also, how problematic are septic systems in France?
Advice is welcome.
Thanks everyone
Just make sure that your commune has a good night soil man …
2 Likes
Most of us just have normal flush lavatories. Some feed into a septic tank which has to be ok according to the various laws governing them (size, drainage, distance to watercourses etc) and some go into mains sewage.
They’re macerating lavatories, often called sanibroyeurs. The fact that it’s not a normal loo, but is one of those, isn’t always mentioned in the immobilier’s particulars.
They’re easy to spot, usually by the extra box.
I asked a few questions on here about them. The general consensus (here and elsewhere) is to avoid them, because it’s messy if they go wrong.
I only came across one once years ago, in a hotel in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Ghastly things that try and squidge toilet “contents” down a silly little pipe instead of the normal sized one. Steer totally clear.
BTW, I should add that where the “contents” are squidged to is irrelevant, be it a septic tank or public sewers. The purpose is , I guess, is to facilitate internal plumbing.
Septic tanks are an art form in their own right. If the property has one you need it to be SPANC compliant or to ask for 10k off the price to make it so.
1 Like
Thank you, Porridge.
I thought that they were bad news. That’s one mess that I can do without!
1 Like
Thank you. I am learning something every day. I will commit SPANK to memory. Or was it SPANC?
1 Like
Difficult to tell with @John_Scully 
2 Likes
They can be difficult to deal with, sort of understandable given their area of expertise. But if the property you are viewing has a fosse septic and it isn’t SPANC compliant it’ll cost you +/- 10k to replace it in due course.
1 Like
To add to John Scully’s reply, when you buy a property, the seller is required to supply a report stating whether it conforms to SPANC norms
2 Likes
Sorry, but I absolutely disagree with the above posts, which don’t seem to be based on that much experience. We’ve had a macerator toilet for about nine years and have never had any problems with it. It’s on the top floor of a six hundred year old stone house and feeds into the outlet from the toilet on the middle floor below. Even if there should be a problem, the macerator is easily accessible.
The pipe might ultimately feed into the main sewer or a fosse septique, but that’s a separate issue (so to speak!). IMO macerators are far less of a problem than fosses septiques and are a simple inexpensive way of plumbing a toilet into an otherwise problematic place.
3 Likes
I agree Mark, they are a good solution to an internal plumbing problem. But the mere thought of what happens when the “fudge-o-matic” breaks down 
I’m happier with our traditional free flow one flush and it’s gone system. When we replaced our fosse some years ago we went for a traditional system too, because I thought the more compact “stirring” systems would just be too gruesome if they malfunctioned. 
1 Like
Don’t disagree John, but maybe it’s less gruesome if it’s ‘family fudge’. Nevertheless this exchange is getting fairly gross. And i was going to have a boudin noir for supper… not really, just joking…
1 Like
The later Saniflow models are much easier to service as the macerator pump and blades can be reached via a top cover without in most cases removing the lid. Its only really a problem when people put things down them that they shouldnt, like cleaners flushing wipes or rags.
There were a few people fainting at the theatre a few summers ago BC. It actually happens more than you can imagine. We were unblocking a macerator pump, cleaner had put a cloth down the toilet. A big young American chap 6ft5inches I would guess was feeling faint, Ah bless, the smelling salts from the macerator soon had him back on his feet and away from the area 
1 Like
Thanks Corona,
I hope I never have that situation!!
Had one in the apartment in Paris we lived in. It was an awful thing, but that was 30 years ago now so I’d hope they’ve improved since. Plus our landlord and landlady were friendly but also frugal with their money when it came to buying things for our apartment.
1 Like
Still a bit noisy IMO
1 Like
That could be a benefit in some circumstances 
1 Like
Do you have to press a button on the side to make it work? We had one like that in a hotel in Lille, seemed to work ok.
My parents had Saniflow macerators.
In my experience they are noisy and troublesome.
Most had to be replaced after 3 to 4 years.
My advice is to avoid macerators at all costs.
1 Like