When done correctly, the composting toilet will eliminate any bacteria. Check out our: While were busy filming Season 5 of The RVers for Discovery and PBS, you can stream previous seasons on Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play. If insects are present, it means something is out of balance in your composting toilet system. Flush toilets also require connection to a city sewer system or a septic tank, both of which have significant environmental impacts as well as construction and maintenance costs. Active composting toilets keep everything enclosed in a toilet unit that's bigger than a flush toilet typically is. Composting toilets should handle anything that comes out. The warmth helps to remove the water faster without evaporating all of it. I've heard of the Composting Toilet. Liquids are emptied with frequency, and the composting solids are emptied on a schedule that is based on how much the toilet is used. If youre going #2, its ok to put the toilet paper in the compartment with the waste. spent the last hour+ researching how to install a composting toilet in my RV cause i'm sick of a black tank and so far have come to the conclusion that i do not want to deal with that and will probably hire someone to do it! When it comes to purchasing a composting toilet, there are a few that outrank the rest. This sizing makes them perfect for camper bathrooms, which are usually small and difficult to maneuver around. The most popular brand of composting toilets is, by far, Natures Head. It requires minimal power. cheers. Youre probably thinking hold on, pump the brakes you told me that it takes 6 months for my waste to turn into usable compost but Ill have to empty it every 3-4 weeks. You also have to consider how youre going to run the exhaust and how youre going to power the fan if youre installing one where a regular toilet used to be. This mix destroys bacteria and breaks down the waste into functional soil. Eco-friendly. For example, in smaller RVs, waste tanks need to be changed every week or less with full-time use, according to RVing enthusiasts. A composting RV toilet separates liquids from solids. Too much water in the system can unbalance it, so some composting toilets divert urine away from the compost. Its also a good idea to buy a backup liquid storage tank (Amazon link) just in case you arent able to find some where to safely dump your fluids. The Nature's Head RVing composting toilet "is completely self-contained, and can safely be used in places where there is no plumbing or sewage facilities," says the company website. Others are as permanent as a traditional system, meant to last for years. Once the toilet is prepped, youre ready touhgo. Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 2014. You use it and then, like the slow system, add sawdust or another carbon-rich material.
Your question: How does a composting toilet work in an RV? Composting toilets dont use water to flush the contents just drop down into the next compartment when the trapdoor opens. If you dont have sawdust, you can use handfuls of peat moss or coconut coir. This image is
not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Active toilets are so-named because they often have fans to keep oxygen flowing into the system, which speeds composting. Composting toilets are popular for the eco-friendly RV camper. Continual process composting toilets have an extra-large container where the waste is collected. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. For more info please check out some other of our articles below too. How does that work? In some models, liquids go to the front of the tank, while solids head to the back end. Recommended Composting Toilets and Products, Nature's Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design, Nature's Head Dry Composting Toilet Urine Bottle. Essentially you just make a box, screw a toilet lid on it, attach a separator, put two buckets inside and ta-daah, it is ready. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Central composting toilets tend to take up more space and would cut into your storage under the RV, so self-contained models are generally recommended for RV use. A composting toilet system collects human waste and converts it to compost or nutrient-rich matter. "I have a seasonal cabin and empty it once a year," says Alter. There is usually a handle on the front or side that allows you to easily do this, or some models have an agitator that stirs the contents rather than turning a whole drum. If you are interested in a composting toilet for an RVa popular choice as it allows for longer off-grid adventuresyou will likely want to opt for something smaller. How do RV composting toilets work? How does a self-contained Toilet Work? If youve ever found yourself wondering, How does a composting RV toilet work? youve come to the right place. Some have fans, some don't. Space-saver. This.. How Do Camper Toilets Work? The coffee grinds also function as additional bulking material to break down the waste. They "require work and maintenance and some discipline," he says. There are many different systems used for composting toilets. Evaporate the moisture. Simply put, the bigger the system, the less work. Composting toilets use microbes to break down waste products into safe compost over long periods of time. Fortunately, these visits are much less frequent, depending on how long and often you use your shower or sink water. This way, the tank fills slower, allowing the user to go longer between dumps. Furthermore, Natures Head toilets come in two kinds, with the only main difference being their handles and seats. These toilets are designed to divert the liquid waste into a separate chamber while moving the solid waste to the composting area. A composting toilet may also need a water line. jo on Twitter: "spent the last hour+ researching how to install a Many argue that composting toilets smell even less than other types of RV toilets. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. They require regular maintenance, such as emptying the container where waste is stored. This process grosses some people out, as touching something that was once your waste is undoubtedly an odd concept. All pathogens and viruses are broken down by bacteria during this process, so the soil is sterile and ready for use. How does a composting toilet work? Because of the lack of water, human waste is able to go through the composting process, which eventually leads to the decomposition of organic material. If just one person uses the toilet, the bin will have to be emptied less often than if 3 or 4 people are using it. In this second chamber, excess liquids are strained out and evaporated away so that the composting process can happen successfully. Either way, it is crucial to consider each factor before deciding. This is essential for proper composting. The waste enters a chamber where it mixes with carbon-rich material, such as sawdust, straw, peat moss, or coconut coir. You should wait at least eight hours after using the bathroom to empty it, giving it time to decompose. The first is that you dont have to use as much water. So we are super excited to be able to upgrade and install a . It depends, especially if you choose to build your own composting toilet as a DIY project. Fortunately, composting toilets are well-equipped to address these . These items do not decompose, as they are made from non-organic cotton and contain chlorine-bleach. Plus, you dont need to find the nearest campground to dump. And when you do click the notification bell so youll get alerted when we upload new videos! Rather than using water to flush waste to a holding tank from where its later dumped, a composting toilet combines composting material with the waste which, together, later becomes compost. There are a few reasons that composting toilets cut down on the stink. How Does a Waterless Toilet Work? - Getaway Couple The main thing about a composting toilet is the separator. Another perk is you dont have to worry about water issues. Like systems that compost kitchen scraps or animal manure, the end result of the decomposition of organic matter turns human waste into a humus-like substance. Most don't use any water at all, so they don't need to be connected to a city wastewater system or septic tank. A key advantage of composting toilets is that they don't use water (or use very little) in comparison to flush toilets. This is especially helpful if you do a lot of dry camping, when every drop is precious and counted. He says he had one of the piping toilets but it became easily clogged by a family member who tried to flush a lot of toilet paper. If you have a garden, the urea in urine can be used by your plants as a nitrogen source. That unit will be separate from the solid waste and need to be emptied and washed out more often. If youre just going #1, it is recommended that you have a separate waste basket to put your toilet paper in. Try to turn the handle on your composting toilet. In most composting toilets (both active and slow), the actual composting process happens when microorganisms like bacteria and fungi consume and digest the materials. RV Toilet Upgrade: All About The OGO Composting Toilet - RV LIFE Now, for the fun part emptying. In addition to not using valuable freshwater, composting toilets don't create tanks of waste that get full and need to be emptied. So, how do composting RV toilets work? Usually, the liquids drain into a container that can be removed and emptied out while the solids move one to the composting chamber. The best forms are natural forms of plant matter that allow air pockets for drying purposes. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Most are designed in such as way that they must be sat on so urine is properly directed in the toilet system. Composting toilet in an RV - Common Questions Note that one-ply disintegrates quicker than two or three. It goes on to explain that "Nature's Head Composting Toilets were designed for the harshest of conditions and will stand up to years of trouble free service." Prior to joining wikiHow, he worked in academic publishing and was a freelance writer for science websites. The Best Composting Toilet For RV (&Why You Need One) Crazy, right? I'll list them here first that then go over some details. Avoid putting regular soil or material into your composting chamber at all costs. Urine can be diverted out of the toilet, but it is not necessary. Please leave your comments below! The composting toilet is a good idea to use less water and minimize waste. It is dry and mostly odorless and can fortify soil when used as fertilizer (if local laws allow it). The goal is to remove moisture and introduce oxygen to help everything break down. Many work with a home's 110-volt system, while some work with both 110-volt AC and 12-volt DC from a car or RV battery. Overall, it is more sanitary and takes less time. RELATED READING: Most folks that boondock find composting toilets useful. There is no septic system or connection for this toilet, as this entire process occurs in one unit. "I would say the bigger the system the happier you are and the fewer times you have to empty it," says Alter. A fan is built into the main compartment to constantly draw air in from the RV and then blow it out outside. Enjoy our videos or the information we provide? For a composting toilet to work properly, 2 main components need to be present: 1 The Compost Chamber 2 The Aeration Unit (AKA evaporation chamber) The composting chamber is where the waste is collected, so it is directly connected to the base/seat of the toilet. Ill walk you through the process from fresh to fertilizer, and go through the benefits and drawbacks. And thats it! wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The Best Composting Toilets of 2023 - Top Picks by Bob Vila Ironically, it is quite the opposite. In an active system, you will be sitting on an enclosed toilet, and depending on what style you get it might be smaller or larger. Composting toilets best tolerate recycled paper. This allows much of the liquid to skip the composting chamber and evaporate more quickly, or be . He is currently counting down the seconds until the release of Kerbal Space Program 2 in 2023a game that will almost certainly take up what little free time he has. The system uses an evaporation process to rid the excess and eliminate moisture. While not all composting toilets are the same, most share three functions in common: Liquids are emptied with frequency, and the composting solids are emptied on a schedule that is based on how much the toilet is used. A single chamber composting toilet uses an aerator to evaporate liquids out of the combined waste in the chamber, though sometimes the humus must be removed from the toilet tank to thoroughly dry. To understand the RV composting toilet basics, you must first know how a standard RV toilet operates. Source: iStock. [2] The compost is cleaner, less smelly, and safer to handle . There's no flush. On average, it takes about three or four days for two people to reach this limit with regular use. Now that you understand how a composting RV toilet works, and even a bit about whats involved in installing one, would you consider using one in your RV? Weve got you covered. Fill it with a water and vinegar mixture, then spray the inside after use. Sorry to hear, Judy. Youve emptied both your liquids and solids and prepped for your next dump. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. A composting toilet is a device that turns solid waste into compost. Remote composting toilets have a composting site located separately, so the waste has to be moved. This represents an organic approach to handling waste, with an end-product that can eventually become fertilizer. Plus, you dont even need to worry about selecting RV safe toilet paper. Best Portable Ice Makers For RVs, Boats & Camping. With an RV composting toilet, the infamous task of using an RV sewer hose to empty the contents of the black water tank may be a thing of the past, but youll still have to dump your gray tank! The waste is then transferred into usable soil. Understandably, RV composting toilets are a tad pricier than a traditional one. Do not put items, such as wipes, diapers, and tampons, down the toilet. Get details here on where to watch. You may cringe thinking about dishing out this kind of money for a toilet. But, surprisingly, it is more cost-efficient in the long term. Like anything, an RV composting toilet has both its strengths and weaknesses. To give you a better understanding of whats involved in composting waste, here are a few more guidelines for specific composting toilet models/types: While there are many benefits to composting our waste, there are also some drawbacks: Yes, you will have to empty your composting toilet, but the good news is that its not as messy or unhygienic as you might think. Do you use a composting toilet and have any tips to share? If you make a purchase using our links in this article, we may make a commission. Bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms consume the waste, causing it to decompose. Keeping a second holding bottle on hand helps when you cannot dump, but the tank is full. Or do you want something super simple with no moving parts that's completely disconnected from the grid for seasonal use like the Loveable Loo? Composting Toilets - How To Use Composting Toilets For RV Living With proper care and maintenance, they can be a great choice for a toilet, but there are also some significant drawbacks to consider. And should I mention the gross and bacteria-ridden process of emptying your black water tank? The bowl design of an RV composting toilet complements human anatomy. Youll have to remove the seat, take out the liquid storage, then dump the solids into a bag right from the compartment. A composting toilet is a non-flushing toilet. With a bit of practice, the process is rather simple and eliminates the need to use hookups. For these reasons, choosing a composting toilet is much more practical, especially when it comes to dry camping. It just might need to be emptied a bit more often, or require a bit more composting material. There are many benefits to these toilets, especially for those who enjoy living off-grid. Instead, purchase regulated bulking material. Here our friends and co-hosts on The RVers Tom & Cait Morton show the installation of their composting toilet. All Rights Reserved. Some people bag it and put it in the garbage, while others use it as fertilizer. These composting toilets are also much more cumbersome, weighing in at 90 pounds. In places where water is a concern and droughts are common, this is a huge advantage, since a flush toilet is the primary user of water in a home, accounting for 30% of water consumption. That means youre going to have to find somewhere to dispose of your pee 2 to 3 times a week. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/How-Does-a-Composting-Toilet-Work-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-How-Does-a-Composting-Toilet-Work-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/How-Does-a-Composting-Toilet-Work-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-How-Does-a-Composting-Toilet-Work-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. But before you go ahead and buy one or start your next DIY project, its a good idea to know the answers to questions like what is a composting toilet? Number two occurs towards the rear of the bowl. There are a lot of benefits to composting at home, like enriching the soil and helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests. The EPA also says that its great for promoting the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.. [1] After some time, the waste breaks down into compost, a substance similar to soil and rich in nutrients for plants. However, the general steps are similar for all composting toilets, and the main thing to remember is that liquids have to be separated from solids. How Does a Composting Toilet Work - ShopTinyHouses.com It is low maintenance and eliminates worry about stopping at a campground. What Is a Composting Toilet, and How Do They Actually Work? - Green Matters This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. We participate in the Amazon affiliate program, which provides a means for us to earn a small commission by linking to products there. Composting toilets use microbes to break down waste products into safe compost over long periods of time. So, are you ready to ditch your old routine and install a composting toilet in your camper? American Chemical Society, 2017. Posted on Published: March 29, 2022- Last updated: July 28, 2022. But still, using a composting toilet cuts down on overall campground visits. Top 11 Things To Do To De-Winterize Your RV. Composting toilets arent for everyone, but there are many scenarios where having a toilet with composting capabilities can be beneficial. Thats also the composting toilet from Nikki & Jasons old motorhome pictured at the top of this article, and I smellednothing while filming it for the video below. The black water tank is where your toilet's waste is stored. Their innovative design allows you to go for about three weeks, or 60 to 80 uses, between empties. The first stage in how composting toilets work is in that they drop any waste down into the lower tank areas. Later, you release the waste into a dump station or RV campground waste system. The compost is harvested from the bottom on an ongoing basis. First, your exhaust fan is the only thing between you and the smell of your compost. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. While these are the main components, there are also a few more things necessary for composting to happen, like an exhaust system to get rid of odors, a ventilation system to help support the growth of aerobic organisms, and a method for withdrawing the compost when its ready. Composting Toilets: What It is, How it Works, and if It - Camper Report Even if you do not stay overnight, they will still charge you to dump. Underneath the box, a contained compost system holds the waste which slowly decomposes over time. How a Central Composting Toilet Works. How RV Composting Toilets Work. Heres our total guide to how a composting toilet works, as well as the costs, benefits, and drawbacks of owning one. Easy to install by any reasonably handy person. There are several maintenance tasks associated with compost toilets. No one - and I mean no one - will beat my customer service and individual support.