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Updated April 2022
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, andtestingproducts to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own.Read more
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Buying guide forbest composting toilets

Composting toilets are an excellent way to “go green,” whether you’re an RV enthusiast, have a hunting cabin in the woods, or just want to live off the grid. Some people even install them in their homes to cut down on their water bill.

Rather than flushing and wasting water, solid waste is composted with things like tree bark, leaves, and wood shavings. The result is a product that can be used as fertilizer for your flower beds and shrubs. The liquid waste is usually collected separately and allowed to evaporate, or it is emptied on a regular basis.

Composting toilets require more maintenance and care than regular toilets to avoid odors, insects, and other health hazards. In addition, most require a 12-volt battery or 110-volt plug in order to power the ventilation fan that comes with them. The choices on composting toilets can be a bit overwhelming at first glance.

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Once you know where the toilet will be installed, put all the venting pipes and tubes in place before installing the toilet itself.

关键的考虑

Size

Composting toilets are usually a bit larger than regular toilets because they need to have one or more composting or collecting chambers in them. The width of them isn’t much different than regular toilets, but the length from front to back is generally longer than a normal toilet. Take this into account when you’re planning on where it will be installed.

Measureyour bathroom before comparing toilets, then have those dimensions close at hand comparing models.

Rough-in distance

The rough-in distance on a normal toilet is the distance from the wall behind thetoiletto the bolts that secure it to the floor. Most rough-in distances are around 12 inches. You also need a rough-in distance on composting toilets, but for different reasons.

Many composting toilets have hinges on the back to allow access to the composting chamber beneath the seat. When you swing the top back on its hinges, there needs to be enough room behind the toilet for it to open up to a right angle. Otherwise, the composting chamber isn’t properly accessible for cleaning, emptying, and maintenance.

Before buying your composting toilet, measure the area where you’re going to install it and ensure there is plenty of room for opening the toilet.

Installation

These toilets are very simple to install, but it still takes about two to three hours to properly situate them, hook up the electricity for the fan, and run venting pipes.

The venting pipes require the most work, cutting, and fitting. This is the most time-consuming part of the installation.

Features

Material

Composting toilets are manufactured to be lightweight, so they are generally made from high-gloss polypropylene or ABS plastic. Some parts (such as the crank handles and latches that hold them in place) are stainless steel or aluminum. The fan motor is metal, and some fan blades may be as well.

Colors

Composting toilets aren’t generally known for being available in designer colors. Most of them are white, off-white, shades of grey, or speckled granite.

Composting crank

The composting chamber needs to be rotated to mix the solid waste with the bulk materials in the chamber. This aerates the mixture and provides oxygen for the aerobic bacteria that do the work of breaking down the waste material. The process generates some warmth that tends to dry out parts of the materials. Mixing it on a regular basis is essential to maintaining just the right amount of moisture without it becoming either too dry or too wet.

The location of the crank handle varies from one manufacturer to another. Some have the handle on the side, but others have it enclosed in the front of the unit. The second method is a bit more aesthetically pleasing (and expensive), but that’s the only difference.

The average weight for composting toilets (out of the box) is around 30 pounds.

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Composting bulk material

Mostcompostingtoilets don’t come with the bulk material for the compost tank, although some come with a small amount in a separate bag. Read the description carefully to find if it does or if you have to purchase it separately.

Liquid waste

There are two methods of dealing with liquid waste in these toilets. One is simply to collect the liquid in a container and empty it on a regular basis. The other method involves evaporating the liquid and venting it out through vent pipes or tubes. Some composting toilets combine the two methods so you don’t have to empty the container quite as often.

Note that some liquid tanks don’t come with a cap, so be careful transporting them when you’re emptying them.

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Did you know?
Composting toilets are fairly rugged. Most of them can support up to 350 pounds.
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Accessories

Toilet tissue:Thetford Aqua-Soft Toilet Tissue
Although a composting toilet can break down most toilet paper, this two-ply toilet paper from Thetford is specifically made for RV and marine use in composting toilets.

Cleaning vinegar:Heinz Cleaning Vinegar
There are potential spills with any toilet. Composting toilets need a little extra strength cleaning, and this cleaning vinegar from Heinz cleans and deodorizes.

Composting toilet prices

Inexpensive:For $50 to $100, you can find portable toilets that are intended for camping. These are plastic toilets that aren’t true composting toilets. They use plastic bags to collect the waste instead of composting it.

Mid-range:Toilets from $600 to $1,000 are true composting toilets that have two or more chambers to separate solid and liquid waste, as well as fans for assisting with evaporation and odor-control needs.

Expensive:从1000美元到2000美元的更复杂的三个-chamber composting toilets, with a sleek elegant look not found in some of the less expensive units.

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Did you know?
Surprisingly, composting toilets have fewer odors than normal RV toilets. If there is any odor, it usually smells like fresh dirt or loam.
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Tips

  • Every composting toilet is different but emptying the composting chamber should be done once a month (or more) for regular use of an entire family up to once every six months for one person.
  • The finished composting material that comes out of a composting toilet doesn’t contain human waste or viruses.
  • Keeping theliddown on the toilet helps control odors when it’s not in use.
  • “Aim” is important when using a composting toilet because solids and liquids need to go into separate chambers.
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Keep your cleaning supplies near the toilet since you need them on a daily basis. Sanitation is key to using and maintaining a composting toilet.

FAQ

Q. Is the composted material safe and sanitary?
A.
是的。的堆肥厕所不是human waste anymore. The aerobic bacteria in the tank completely break it down, removing the pathogens and viruses normally found in human waste. The finished material is not only safe, it is also easy to handle.

Q. What do I do with the composted material when I take it out of the toilet?
A.
It isfertilizer. It can be used to fertilize the soil around any non-food plants, trees, or shrubs.

Q. Can the composted material be used in my yard?
A.
是的。Most people are too squeamish to try it but it is perfectly safe to use that way.

Q. Do composting toilets really work?
A.
是的。They require some extra effort on your part, but they work surprisingly well in addition to being eco-friendly.

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