(BPT) - When Matthew and Michele Jones decided to renovate their disabled son's basement so their adult grandson could move in to care for him, they didn't expect a toilet nightmare.

To keep costs under control, they opted for a macerating toilet to avoid breaking through the concrete basement floor to install plumbing. The Jones family thought they chose a highly rated SFA Saniflo product. Unfortunately, they mistakenly purchased a knockoff brand with a similar-sounding name. Before long, the toilet started flushing randomly, only to completely fail weeks later.

Their plumber confirmed the problem: The knockoff product was a deficient, factory-sealed macerating unit - with no option to replace individual components. Worst of all, there was no customer service available to help them, which meant there was no way to return the faulty product or get their money back.

What you need to know before buying a macerating system

The company you purchase from makes a difference when it comes to safety and reliability. Before you buy, double check for:

• Certification: Plumbing products for your home need to be certified to the standards set in the U.S. For example, SFA Saniflo macerating toilets are certified by CSA and listed with IAPMO for nationwide compliance. Knockoff products (often with names that make them sound like Saniflo products) frequently lack the necessary certifications to be recognized or accepted by plumbing code in North America.
  
  Worse yet, if a pump from a disreputable brand fails and causes flooding or damage in your home, you could be liable because most insurance companies won't cover the damage when the failed product doesn't hold proper certifications.
  
  
• Warranties and customer service: It's important to know the length of the product's warranty and what kind of customer service the company offers. Saniflo offers a comprehensive 4-year limited warranty - the highest in the industry - underlining its confidence in its product reliability and durability. It also provides exceptional customer service.
  
  Compare that to the short warranties of many overseas knockoff products, which also offer zero customer service if something goes wrong. You can also search online reviews to see how previous customers have rated the products and service.

Quality matters

Quality makes all the difference for products you need to use every day in your home. You can rest assured that SFA Saniflo has been creating reliably high-quality, highly rated products since 1958.

Saniflo actually invented the macerator system, which is unlike other traditional designs on the market. No major construction is needed for installation: Instead of laying pipework under the floor, it attaches to the main drain line, and the Saniflo pump does all the work for you.

SFA Saniflo exerts a high level of quality control over all aspects of the manufacturing processes and production. While cheaper options may seem tempting, remember that they'll end up costing you more if they break or damage your home. Many lesser-known imported brands are unreliable, which can lead to flooding or damage that insurance won't cover.

Another homeowner shares his story

Unfortunately, the Jones family isn't the only one to have a bad experience with a cheaper, less reliable product. Homeowner Michael Ranieri bought a newly flipped house with an "up-flush" macerating toilet in the basement that appeared to be new.

When the toilet suddenly stopped working and started making noises, he researched the knockoff brand. He discovered many online complaints and learned that there was no customer support. Ranieri quickly had to seek better options to replace this sub-par macerating toilet.

"My advice for anyone looking to buy plumbing products for their home: Find a good and reputable brand that has a warranty," said Ranieri. "The warranty from Saniflo meant a lot to me, and it's not just the number of years. It's about the fact that they would cover most problems and stand by their product."

A reliable option for your next home renovation: Saniflo's Saniaccess 3

The Saniflo Saniaccess 3 is a half-horsepower macerator pump system used for installing a complete bathroom up to 15 feet below the sewer line, or even up to 150 feet away from a soil stack. In addition to toilet waste, the unit can discharge gray water from two other sanitary fixtures in a bathroom, including a sink, bathtub or shower.

This product incorporates a macerating system that can handle human waste and toilet paper in residential applications, and the unit flushes waste upward and away to a main line that could be more than 150 feet away.

If you're renovating, there's no need for the time, effort and cost of breaking through a floor to add traditional plumbing anywhere in your home. With a high-quality, reliable Saniflo macerating toilet, you can get a full bathroom renovation at a fraction of the cost of conventional plumbing. Just make sure you're buying a reliable, trusted product with proper certification, extended warranty and tried-and-true customer service.

Learn more about Saniflo Macerators and Grinders for your next renovation at Saniflo.com.