In the world of upflush toilets, the Liberty Ascent II is a popular name. It has gained huge popularity over time, and many people prefer it as their first choice for a macerating system.
However, before getting them, you should know about Liberty ascent II problems.
You need to be aware of several issues while getting the Liberty Ascent II. Here, I will go through those problems and also try to take you through the solutions to those problems.
So, let’s not waste any more time and dive right into it.
How The Liberty Ascent II Macerating Toilet Works
Before diving into problems, let’s review how the key components of the Ascent II toilet work:
Macerating Chamber – This is the heart of the system. Blades grind and pulverize waste into tiny particles mixed with water. This allows the slurry to be pumped vertically.
Pump – A 1/3 horsepower pump drives the macerating action and pushes the waste slurry upwards through a discharge tube to reach the upper sewer line.
Discharge Tube – The slurry travels from the base macerator pump up this 2” diameter tube to reach the main drainage line. The tube runs inside wall framing.
Vent System – Vents connect to the discharge tube to prevent air locks. One vent opens to the room and a secondary vent to the main line.
When you flush, everything activates. The blades macerate waste and water carries it into the pump.
The pump pushes it up the discharge tube until it empties from the vent to the sewer line above. Understanding the sequence helps diagnose problems.
Problems With The Liberty Ascent II
There are several problems that you will run into with the Ascent II toilet system. First, let’s check out the issues, and then we will move on to the solutions.
- Ascent II Macerating Toilet System Clogged
A lot of the time, wastes or tissue papers can clog the macerating system of the toilet. This can lead to a blockage in the macerator.
You will experience issues like the macerator keeps running and doesn’t switch off when this happens.
This is a crucial problem that you may face with Ascent II. And it’s pretty common at the same time.
Besides the macerator blockage, you may also experience blockage in the waste pipe that leads to your external draining system.
- No Electric Power On The System
The clear issue with this one is that the macerator won’t even turn on in the first place.
Simply put, you won’t even see the green light coming on. There are several causes to this problem.
One can be the fact that the motor isn’t plugged into any source at all. Or the supply breaker can also turn off somehow.
Sometimes the GFCI receptacle getting tripped also causes this problem to happen. It’s pretty easy to identify when this happens.
- Violent Vibrations
Another cause of concern with your Ascent II can be the violent vibration issues. You will notice a disturbing vibration whenever you are flushing the toilet.
This mostly happens due to an object getting stuck in the macerator blade. This isn’t something that will happen all of a sudden, it has a lot of buildups, and then you will notice this happening.
- Macerator Pumps Start Automatically
Here’s another problem that you may face with your Ascent II toilet system: the pump starting by itself issue. The potential problem that causes this issue is a faulty microswitch.
There are two ways the microswitch gets faulty, it’s either having misfiring issues, or it has gotten a damaged rubber membrane.
- Ascent II Macerating Toilet System Alarm Going Off
There are several causes for the alarm to go off on your Ascent II toilet system. Usually, the alarm goes off when the system fails to evacuate the tank.
This mostly happens due to a blockage in the drain or a damaged impeller. Sometimes, the problem can occur from the volute inlet or the incoming hose as well.
Another reason for the alarm to go off is the fact that water is coming rapidly into the pump. And your pump is unable to keep up with the water flow. The alarm is an indication of that as well.
These are some common noticeable problems that you may come across with your Ascent II toilet system.
Other than these issues, you will find some minor problems that can happen to your toilet system in the instruction manual of Liberty Ascent II. There are troubleshooting guides there to help you clear out those problems as well.
Solutions To Problems In Liberty Ascent II
Well, enough with the problems, let’s get ahead with the solutions now. Luckily, there are solutions that you can try out yourself without any help from professionals whatsoever.
Here are the solutions that you can try to fix any issues with your Liberty Ascent II.
- Fixing The Clogs And Blockages
Whether it’s the blockage in the macerator or the blockage in the waste pipe, you can clear it out by yourself.
When your macerator pumps are clogged, you simply need to turn the power off first. Then, open up the pump to check up on the macerator unit.
A clog should be visible, and if you see stuff clogging up the blade, you can easily remove them using a thin-nosed plier.
Now, if you are experiencing a clog in the waste pipe, you can also clear it out. To clear up that clog, you simply need thin-nosed pliers for removing the lids of your toilet unit.
Then, clear any blockage you see in the return valve of the unit. Remember, sometimes, the valve can be wholly faulty, and you may need to opt for replacement.
- Fixing Violent Vibrations
Usually, the reason for violent vibrations coming from your liberty ascent II is something getting tangled on the blades of the macerator.
So, to fix that issue, all you have to do is remove any foreign material that may be tangling on the blades of the macerator.
While you do that, make sure to turn off the pump’s power first. Don’t even try to open the macerator lid without turning off the power.
To remove any foreign object, you can use a pair of thin-nosed pliers.
- Fixing The Toilet System Alarm Issue
Well, the reason for the alarm to go off on your toilet system is either your pump is failing to evacuate the tank, or the water flow is too much for the tank to bear.
Solving either of these issues should fix the alarm from going off as well. If you are getting the alarm because of failure to evacuate the tank, you simply have to fix this problem.
This happens when there is a blockage in the drain, or the impeller gets damaged. So, fixing this means you have to either clear up the drain blockage or you will need to replace the impeller and get a new one.
As for solving the water flow issue, you can simply control it from the water supply. Make sure the water flow isn’t too high for the macerator to cope up with it.
- Fixing No Power Issues
Typically, the only reason for having this issue is when something is wrong with your electrical power source. So, here all you have to do is check up on the electrical power source.
If that is working properly, then some part of the macerator may have gotten damaged somehow.
In that case, you have to opt for professional help to repair the macerator. It’s more of an electrical problem rather than problems with your toilet.
- Fixing The Pump Automatically Starts An Issue
If you are facing this issue because of a misfiring micro switch, then the best solution is to replace the microswitch. Doing this will help the pump to reset and fix the issue of automatic start.
But if you are facing the issue because of a damaged rubber membrane, then it’s better to opt for professional help. A technician can help fit a new rubber membrane and switch in the toilet system.
Preventing Problems With Liberty Ascent II Toilets
While issues inevitably occur after years of use, you can maximize the lifespan of your Ascent II toilet by following these preventative maintenance tips:
- Avoid Unflushables – Never flush wipes, paper towels, dental floss, feminine products or other fibrous waste. These clog the macerator.
- Clean Sensor Eye – Wipe down the sensor window regularly to prevent inaccurate flushing.
- Check Fittings – Visually inspect all fittings and connections yearly for leaks or corrosion. Reseal as needed.
- Listen During Flush – Any odd noises can indicate worn parts needing repair or replacement.
- Keep Vent Clear – Inspect vent lines and openings for any debris or nests that could block air flow.
- Pump Seanually – Add RV antifreeze to macerator chamber periodically to lubricate internal parts.
- Watch Water Bills – High usage may indicate undiscovered leaks needing attention.
With diligent preventative care, your Ascent II can operate for over a decade without issue. But if problems do arise, address them promptly to avoid larger failures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions homeowners have about issues with the Ascent II macerating toilet:
Common upflush toilet problems include clogged macerators, leaking discharge tubes, blocked vents, frozen internal parts, electrical issues, and general wear to components like pumps and blades. Upflush toilets have more that can go wrong vs standard gravity flush.
Macerators can jam from debris, overheat and wear out from constant grinding, leak from damaged seals, corrode from exposure to water and waste, and clog from fiber buildup around blades. Annual inspection and maintenance helps prevent macerator failure.
Downsides of macerator toilets include higher energy use, noisy operation, specialized repair requirements, sensitivity to unflushables, and higher cost. Homeowners must also maintain the macerator properly to maximize lifespan.
If a Liberty Ascent II toilet won’t flush, the likely causes are loss of power, faulty control panel, clogged macerator chamber, vent blockage, or pump failure. Troubleshooting involves checking connections, cleaning the macerator, and testing components.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are many Liberty Ascent II problems that you may have to deal with when you choose the system. But still, it’s a great system to go for even with all of the issues.
And as you saw above, there are plenty of solutions to these problems to try out as well. So, you won’t have to worry too much about anything with this toilet system setup.
Liberty macerating pump ascent 11 installed one month, it quit pumping used only toilet, sink and shower. Flush flooded pump and almost commode. Alarm never sounded . A steady green light. I used override switch, motor sounded but no pump discharge. I think discharge hose in pump might have disconnected. When flushed still no alarm green light steady. Any ideas on fix? When first installed it worked with the toilet, sink and shower but soon quit pumping the water out. Pump is not turning on when flushed.
Thank you,
Johnny Leatherwood
I called Liberty Pump in New York. The man I talked to was very helpful. He told me how to check the pump out. The pump didn’t work correctly, so he told me that I had a defective pump and he would send me a new pump. The pump arrived the next business day.
Hi, any idea how to fix an issue of not draining? The shower and sometimes sink constantly get backed up and dont drain. Then I have to manually press the button to get it to drain.
In your section under “fixing Clogs” where you describe clearing up a clog by simply need thin-nosed pliers for removing the lids of your toilet unit. What lids are you referring to? How does the water get from the impeller basket to the pvc drain outlet at the back of the unit?
The macerator keeps running and doesn’t switch off. I unplug the cord, wait a while and plug it back in after it resets. How do I repair this?
Also 9v. battery dies after one day.
I replaced the 9volt battery but the amber light stays on. How to I reset it?
The water comes from toilet outlet and outlet pipe, the pump runs , leakes, water comes gushing out.
The I turned of the breakers to replace a light switch. Now the red light is flashing what do I do?