Sanicompact Macerating Toilet gives tiny-home builder Perch & Nest the flexibility to install water-flushing toilets in mobile, semi-off-grid, and park model RV designs while maintaining residential-style comfort for its customers.
Problem
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA — As the tiny home industry has grown over the past decade, builders have had to rethink how core home systems function within smaller, mobile spaces. Plumbing is one of the biggest challenges.
Perch & Nest, one of the earliest tiny-home builders in the United States, has been navigating these constraints since 2014. The company builds RVIA-certified tiny homes, meaning each unit must meet strict regulatory standards while still functioning like a traditional residence.
Unlike conventional homes, tiny houses on wheels cannot rely on standard, in-ground, gravity plumbing systems. Structural limitations, mobility requirements, and lack of access to traditional sewer connections make installing a standard toilet and drain line impractical.
“We can’t install a traditional toilet. That’s not an option,” explains Johanna Elsner, co-founder of Perch & Nest. “The house is mobile. We can’t have that type of seal on the floor or a large tank of water.”
At the same time, most customers are not interested in alternative systems like composting or incinerating toilets. They want a familiar, conventional, residential experience. “Our customers want a toilet with water in it that flushes,” Elsner comments.
The challenge becomes even more complex for clients living in semi-off-grid conditions. Many have access to water and electricity but not to septic or sewer infrastructure. Without a flexible plumbing solution, these homeowners would be limited in where and how they could live.
Solution
To meet these needs, Perch & Nest turned to SFA Saniflo’s Sanicompact self-contained, one-piece toilet that includes a built-in macerating system. The company installed it for the first time in 2017. Since then, it has become their standard solution across most builds.
The system allows the team to install a flushing toilet without relying on traditional gravity drainage. Instead, the Sanicompact’s built-in macerating pump breaks down waste and pumps it through small-diameter piping, giving builders far more flexibility when designing within the tight constraints of tiny homes.
One of the most valuable applications has been in semi-off-grid setups. In many of these installations, wastewater from the toilet is pumped into an above-ground holding tank, often an IBC (intermediate bulk container) tank located near the home. The tanks can then be serviced periodically by a septic or portable sanitation company.
Because the system can pump wastewater significant distances (up to 9 feet vertically and/or 120 feet horizontally), homeowners are not limited by the location of a traditional sewer or septic connection. This allows tiny homes to function comfortably in rural or unconventional settings where standard plumbing infrastructure may not exist.
Sanicompact technology also supports how many tiny homeowners prefer to manage wastewater. In most Perch & Nest builds, black water and gray water are handled separately. The Sanicompact manages only toilet waste; graywater from sinks, showers, and laundry is directed to a separate drainage or recycling system, depending on the homeowner’s setup and local regulations.
This approach gives homeowners greater control, while reducing their reliance on traditional infrastructure.
Perch & Nest is now applying the same approach to a new type of build: a 38-foot-long, 10-foot-wide, park model RV (recreational vehicle). This marks a shift for the company, which is expanding beyond standard 8.5-foot-wide travel trailers into larger, more spacious designs. The added width allows for improved layouts, including single-level living and full downstairs bedrooms, both of which are increasingly in demand.
“It may sound small, but a foot and a half makes a big difference in tiny design,” Elsner says.
Despite the larger footprint, the plumbing constraints remain. The team plans to continue using the Sanicompact as the primary toilet solution, maintaining consistency with their proven approach.
The unit will be installed in a display model located on the company’s farm. The home will be used for tours, marketing, and customer demonstrations, giving prospective buyers a chance to see the system in a real-world setting.
Results
After nearly a decade of use, Saniflo systems have become a core part of Perch & Nest’s building process. “We’ve become Sanicompact experts over the last nine years,” Elsner jokes.
The system has allowed the company to:
- Deliver residential-style bathrooms in mobile homes.
- Build in locations without sewer or septic access.
- Offer flexible wastewater solutions for off-grid and semi-off-grid living.
- Maintain compliance with RVIA standards while using durable, long-lasting components.
Choosing Saniflo products is also a testament to Perch & Nest’s commitment to quality craftsmanship and code-compliant construction. By integrating reliable, proven systems that meet strict industry standards, the company ensures every build delivers both long-term performance and peace of mind for homeowners.
Equally important, the solution aligns with customer expectations. Buyers can live in a smaller footprint without sacrificing the comfort and familiarity of a traditional home.
Equally important, the solution aligns with customer expectations. Buyers can live in a smaller footprint without sacrificing the comfort and familiarity of a traditional home.
As the tiny home market continues to evolve, particularly toward larger park model designs, Perch & Nest plans to continue relying on Saniflo systems to support new layouts and use cases.
“We don’t gatekeep,” Elsner adds. “When people ask what we use and how we do it, we tell them.”
Perch & Nest park model
