If you like to keep a garden, you understand the huge benefits of using compost on your plants. The only problem with compost is that it takes a ton of effort to make it on your own, and it is expensive to purchase separately. However, there is a way to make your own compost, all while saving time, money, and effort. All you have to do is go out and find the best composting toilet that you can, and voila! Instant compost! These amazing toilets are also great for cottages, cabins, camps, rural homes, and even for RVs and boats. They are super easy to use and set up. Plus, since they don’t use any water at all, they are great for the environment. Talk about a win-win!
Now, you might be thinking to yourself, but how do I know that I am getting the right composting toilet for my needs? What do I need to look for? Well, first off, you have come to the right place. We have gone through all the different self-contained composting toilets on the market today, electric and non-electric, large and comparatively small, and identified their pros and cons. We’ve also read through thousands of reviews to find the best toilets out there, so that you don’t need to!
In this article, you’ll find everything that you need to to pick the perfect composting toilet. If you already know what to look for in one, then you’ll want to check out our table with the key features and in-depth reviews of the best toilets on the market today. If, however, you are still unsure of some of the finer details of what you need to look for, then head on down to our detailed buying guide. Once you have read through the guide, you will be a composting toilet master, ready to get the perfect toilet for you and your family.
One of the biggest problems facing these toilets is that they have smaller than average seats. While this is not a deal breaker, it can make for an uncomfortable bathroom session. That is unless you decide on this marvelous toilet! It features a full sized seat and average height frame, making it one of the most comfortable composting toilets around.
But that isn’t all that this toilet can offer you over its competitors. Unlike many composting toilets, this one is relatively lightweight, weighing in at a measly 28 pounds. This makes it perfect for whatever floor of your house that you want to use it in. It is also super easy to setup and barely uses any electricity at all to create the perfect composting environment. Also, the users mentioned that this toilet
Another advantage of this toilet is that, according to users, the customer support is great, and people out there are always available and very responsive. This toilet also comes with a five-year warranty, which will cover everything should any part malfunction. This is a great idea, since this toilet is a bit on the expensive side. Since, however, it comes with everything you need for a quick and easy install, it is a great buy.
Sometimes, the size of the toilet is dependent on the amount of space that you have in your home, cabin, or camp. While it is a nice idea to have a full-sized composting toilet, the reality just might be that you need to find a smaller one to suit your needs. If that is the case, look no further than this toilet here. It is by far the best compact toilet on the market today.
Aside from its smaller size, however, there is a lot to like about the Villa. First off, the installation process is quick and easy, mostly because everything that you could possibly need for the install is already included in your purchase. This toilet can also be set up to run on either battery power or electricity. This makes it an ideal choice for use in a rustic cabin, or at your residence.
Finally, like most composting toilets, this one is a bit expensive. Luckily, it comes with a nice long warranty that will cover all of the parts for five years.
If this toilet looks a little large to you, don’t worry, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you! This is by far the largest capacity composting toilet on our list. It can easily handle up to three or four people full time. Or, if you are going to be having guests over at your place for the weekend, it can even handle up to 8 for a few days.
What is amazing about this is the fact that it does all of this composting without the use of electricity. This is mostly due to the larger size of the waste drum. This lack of an electrical hookup makes this one of the easiest to install toilets, though it is a bit on the heavy side.
Like most of the toilets on this list, this one comes with a five-year warranty. The difference, however, is that this warranty only covers the toilet body. It has a separate, three-year warranty on the parts.
Perhaps, you are looking for a composting toilet because you are a bit of a minimalist. You don’t like to waste anything, and you sure don’t want anything that takes up too much room. Well then, this is the toilet for you. It is completely self-contained and compact, making it ideal for smaller spaces and very small groups of people. It can be hooked up to electricity for a more efficient composting experience.
This is also one of the safest toilets to use. This is because it has a built-in emergency drain that will save you from having to clean up a great big mess, should the toilet overflow. Since it has a smaller size capacity, this is a great feature to have, just in case. The toilet also comes with two warranties; a five-year warranty for the body and a three-year warranty on the parts.
There is a lot that you need to know to find the best composting toilet, which is exactly what we’ll go through in this section. First up, let’s make clear what exactly a composting toilet is and how it works, and than find out the key features to look for in a composting toilet.
To put it simply, a composting toilet is a toilet that takes human waste products and toilet paper and turns it into compost. They do not use any water of their own and might use electricity to control the composting process.
Composting toilets utilize natural process, such as decomposition and evaporation to transform human waste into compost. The waste that enters into the toilet is about 90% water. This water is evaporated through a ventilation system that also helps to control odor. All of the remaining solid matter is changed to fertilizer through composition.
For this to take place, the oxygen, moisture, heat, and organic matter must be balanced correctly. This will allow the bacteria present to do their work of changing the waste to compost. It also ensures that the end product will be free of viruses and pathogens, making it completely safe to use as a fertilizer, both for you and the environment.
As with any product, there are several pros and cons to getting a composting toilet. They are as follows:
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Finally, let’s take a look at all of the key features that you need to keep in mind when you are looking for a composting toilet.
There are two different types of composting toilets that you can select from. You can either select a self-contained unit or one that has a central composting location. To put this more simply, you can get a toilet that composts the waste within a tank that is connected to the toilet itself, or you can get one that connects to a larger tank in a different location.
Self-contained toilets are a better choice for smaller groups of people and for smaller locations. Toilets that connect to a central unit work better for larger groups of people, since it can hold more, and therefore, compost more waste. Self-contained toilets are also much cheaper and easier to install, since they do not require any additional tanks.
The capacity of the toilet describes how much waste it can hold and compost without overflowing. The capacity that you purchase will depend greatly on how frequently you use the toilet and how many people will be using it in a given time frame.
For instance, if you are getting a toilet for a hunting cabin that is not frequently visited, and even when it is, only has several people using it, then you can get a smaller capacity toilet. If, however, you are looking for a toilet for your residence, you might want a larger capacity toilet, since it will be used more frequently.
Regular toilets do not require a ton of maintenance. In fact, as long as you regularly clean the bowl, there isn’t really any maintenance to speak of. While you do need to make sure that you clean the bowl of a composting toilet regularly as well, there is a bit more to it than that.
[wpsm_box type=”green” float=”none” text_align=”left”]To ensure that you composting toilet is working properly, you will have to be sure to clear out the compost on a regular basis. Otherwise, the system will overflow.[/wpsm_box]
In addition to this, if you purchase an electric toilet, you will need to check up on these connections regularly, as their failure could result in the toilet malfunctioning.
Out of all of the different appliances in a home to install, a toilet can be the most precarious. This is mostly because you need to get it to seal properly, and if you don’t, you’ll have tons of leaks on your hands!
A composting toilet is much easier in this regard, especially if it is a self-contained unit. All that you need to do to install these toilets is anchor them in place, and make sure that their ventilation pipe is correctly installed. This makes them super easy to get up and running, no matter your skill level.
One other critical component to a proper install of a composting toilet is their size. Unlike many modern toilets, a composting toilet has a relatively chunky appearance, which might make it difficult to fit into tight spaces.
This is mostly because it has to have an additional tank and ventilation system attached right to it. Just be sure that when you are looking to make your final purchase, you go over the size of the toilet and the dimensions of your space. Otherwise, you might be in for a bit of a tight squeeze when you go to install it.
Something else that you will want to keep in mind when you are looking for the best composting toilet is their weight. Some of the smaller capacity models are relatively light and could be used pretty much anywhere, no matter if you want it upstairs or downstairs.
Some, however, are quite hefty. It isn’t out of the question for a large capacity toilet to be over 100 pounds. This might make it less than ideal for an upstairs space, especially in a small cabin or camp. Plus, lugging it up the steps isn’t too easy for the install process either.
Depending on the location that you intend to use your toilet in, you might want to give thought to the idea of taking advantage of an electrical system. These systems help to keep the composting environment fertilizer friendly, which will increase the speed of the composting process.
[wpsm_box type=”red” float=”none” text_align=”left”]However, if you are looking for a composting toilet for a remote location that doesn’t have any electrical hookups, you would be better served to get a toilet that is designed to operate without electricity. That way, you can be sure that you have a toilet that was designed to operate efficiently in your location.[/wpsm_box]
The safety concerns for using a composting toilet can be broken down into two areas. The first is the compost itself. If you have a poorly designed or malfunctioning toilet, then you might have some nasty bacteria or pathogens that remain in the waste. The best way to ensure the safety of the compost is to regularly maintain the toilet, and, of course, get the very best toilet you can find.
The second safety concern is only for toilets that use electrical hook-ups. These need to be regularly checked and routinely maintained. Otherwise, especially if the toilet isn’t used all that often, you might have a situation where the electrical hookup isn’t safe, which could result in injury.
Much like anything else, composting toilets come in a wide range of prices. They are, by and large, more expensive than a traditional toilet. This is mostly because they are a bit more technical to build.
[wpsm_box type=”blue” float=”none” text_align=”left”]They can more than pay for themselves, however. Since they do not utilize any water, you will save money on your water bill. You will also get the benefit of making your compost, which is a huge bonus.[/wpsm_box]
If a composting toilet is well-maintained, regularly cleaned, and regularly emptied, there is no reason that any part of it should malfunction quickly. It is still, however, a good idea to look for a toilet that comes with some sort of manufacturer’s warranty.
That way, if something unforeseen should happen with the electrical system or anything else, you would be able to get that part replaced without being charged for that.
If you are looking to not only save money in the long run but also to make a smaller footprint on the environment, a composting toilet is the way to go. They allow you to save tons of water and make fertilizer which you can use in your gardens and green spaces, they can be used during camping trips or even for an RV travelling. Hopefully, this article will help you to find the perfect toilet for your needs.
