How do composting toilets work? That was the question I was seeking to find the answer for. I found this excellant video, check it out
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Compost Toilets - Will One Work in Your Home?
When trying to decide whether a composting toilet is right for your home, there are many important factors to take into consideration. Will your family and any houseguests be accepting of a different type of toilet system? Will your lifestyle and schedule accommodate a composting toilet? Are you able to maintain the unit easily on your own? But at the top of this list, you must ask yourself whether your home is equipped for installation of a composting toilet system. There are a few limitations and exceptions when it comes to installing these units that homeowners need to be aware of.
First and foremost, if your home is on a slab foundation and you have no basement or low lying cellar, you will immediately be limited in the type of composting toilet system you can choose. For example, central systems are made up of a toilet fixture in the bathroom and a central composting unit on a lower level. This obviously will not work if your home has no lower level. The alternative option is a self contained unit. Self contained composting toilets are actually more popular than central systems for this very reason, and also because they are very simple to install.
When shopping for a compost toilet, you'll also need to determine whether the unit requires any types of plumbing hookups. There are two types of hookups that may be required: water in and drainage out. The vast majority of composting toilets are waterless, meaning they require no water lines to be plumbed in. However, there are some systems that feature low flush toilets, using a very small amount of water as a flushing liquid. In this case, you will need access to running water. If your home lacks running water, you'll obviously need to seek out only those systems that are completely waterless.
Many systems will also require an emergency overflow drain to be hooked up. Be sure to inquire with the manufacturer or retailer before buying a composting toilet, as this is an important thing to take into consideration before making a purchase. The overflow drain is an important feature in those toilets that require it, particularly if you live in a humid climate and don't have air conditioning in your home. Because the primary job of a composting toilet is evaporation, fluctuations in relative humidity can greatly affect the system's ability to evaporate liquids. Having the drain hooked up will prevent any possible backup of excess liquid. Drains must be hooked up in accordance with your local regulations or building codes. Possible options for hookup might include an old, unused septic tank, sewer line, drain pit, or holding tank.
Another consideration is venting. Most composting toilets have some type of venting system that helps them maintain odorless operation. The vent is typically made up of 2 inch or 4 inch diameter PVC pipe that runs from the back or top of the unit to the outdoors. The direction that the pipe must run will vary depending on the type of toilet, so be sure to read all installation materials carefully before selecting and buying a unit. In some cases, the vent stack must run vertically, directly upward from where the toilet is located. In some homes, this might create a difficult or impossible installation.
In reality, there are very few homes in which a composting toilet will not work. The key is in finding the right unit for your home and your installation needs. A little research and forethought before making your purchase can save a lot of time and headaches when it comes time to complete the installation.
For more information on how to build a composting toilet that will work in your home, visit the Composting Toilet Store at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Composting_Toilets_s/3.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Bell
First and foremost, if your home is on a slab foundation and you have no basement or low lying cellar, you will immediately be limited in the type of composting toilet system you can choose. For example, central systems are made up of a toilet fixture in the bathroom and a central composting unit on a lower level. This obviously will not work if your home has no lower level. The alternative option is a self contained unit. Self contained composting toilets are actually more popular than central systems for this very reason, and also because they are very simple to install.
When shopping for a compost toilet, you'll also need to determine whether the unit requires any types of plumbing hookups. There are two types of hookups that may be required: water in and drainage out. The vast majority of composting toilets are waterless, meaning they require no water lines to be plumbed in. However, there are some systems that feature low flush toilets, using a very small amount of water as a flushing liquid. In this case, you will need access to running water. If your home lacks running water, you'll obviously need to seek out only those systems that are completely waterless.
Many systems will also require an emergency overflow drain to be hooked up. Be sure to inquire with the manufacturer or retailer before buying a composting toilet, as this is an important thing to take into consideration before making a purchase. The overflow drain is an important feature in those toilets that require it, particularly if you live in a humid climate and don't have air conditioning in your home. Because the primary job of a composting toilet is evaporation, fluctuations in relative humidity can greatly affect the system's ability to evaporate liquids. Having the drain hooked up will prevent any possible backup of excess liquid. Drains must be hooked up in accordance with your local regulations or building codes. Possible options for hookup might include an old, unused septic tank, sewer line, drain pit, or holding tank.
Another consideration is venting. Most composting toilets have some type of venting system that helps them maintain odorless operation. The vent is typically made up of 2 inch or 4 inch diameter PVC pipe that runs from the back or top of the unit to the outdoors. The direction that the pipe must run will vary depending on the type of toilet, so be sure to read all installation materials carefully before selecting and buying a unit. In some cases, the vent stack must run vertically, directly upward from where the toilet is located. In some homes, this might create a difficult or impossible installation.
In reality, there are very few homes in which a composting toilet will not work. The key is in finding the right unit for your home and your installation needs. A little research and forethought before making your purchase can save a lot of time and headaches when it comes time to complete the installation.
For more information on how to build a composting toilet that will work in your home, visit the Composting Toilet Store at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Composting_Toilets_s/3.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Bell
How to Install a Basement Bathroom
It's something that many people face: You want to put a bathroom in the lower level of your home, but the contractor who built your house didn't stub the basement in for a bathroom. So what can you do? Just to install a toilet would require breaking up concrete to hook into a sewer line. A far less expensive option is to install a self-contained composting toilet instead.
Composting toilets are a clean, odorless alternative to traditional flush toilets. Their primary advantage is that they don't require any hookup to a septic tank or sewer line, which means you can install one virtually anywhere. The main difference with a composting toilet is that waste isn't flushed away to be dealt with elsewhere, such as in a wastewater treatment plant. Instead, waste goes into an aerobic composting drum inside the toilet where it is broken down and, over a period of time, is converted into compost.
Because about 90% of human waste is just water, the majority of what goes inside the toilet is evaporated off with the aid of a heating element and fan. The remaining material stays in the composting drum, where it is broken down. About once or twice a year, some of the compost will be emptied to a finishing tray in the bottom of the toilet. With most units, this is a very simple process that happens internally; the homeowner never has to come into contact with compost until it is completely finished. Once fully finished, the compost will look and smell like ordinary garden soil. It will be clean, dry, and non-offensive.
Self-contained composting toilets are also waterless, so you won't need to worry about running any plumbing lines for water in your basement bathroom. The only real requirement for installation is connecting a vent stack (usually PVC pipe) that runs upward and out your home's roofline. This vent stack, combined with the fan assembly, is what ensures that your composting toilet will operate without odor.
A composting toilet will fill part of the need for a bathroom in the basement; however, it doesn't provide a solution for a sink or a shower, if that is required. Assuming that you have access to water, the only real barrier to installing a sink or shower would be the lack of a sewer or septic tank connection in your basement. If this is the case, a graywater recycling system might be an option. If you have the ability to run the wastewater via a pipe to a central graywater recycling tank, then the water can be reused for outdoor plant irrigation, which is a great way to lower your home's overall water consumption. If you don't have any access to running water in the area of your basement where you want to install the bathroom, then a simple bottle of hand sanitizer is another low cost option!
As you can see, installing a basement bathroom when you don't have a stub-in to a sewer or septic tank is not impossible; it just requires some outside-the-box thinking. As with any home project of this magnitude, be sure to check with your local building department to see what, if any, building codes apply in your area, and to be sure that composting toilets and graywater recycling systems are both approved in the local building codes. Whether you're adding a basement bathroom to make your home more marketable for resale, or if you just need a bathroom for your family's use, composting toilets and graywater recycling systems are self sustainable, eco friendly products that will last for many years.
The Composting Toilet Store offers self-contained composting toilets that are ideal for basement installations. Visit us at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Waterless_Toilets_s/45.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Bell
Composting toilets are a clean, odorless alternative to traditional flush toilets. Their primary advantage is that they don't require any hookup to a septic tank or sewer line, which means you can install one virtually anywhere. The main difference with a composting toilet is that waste isn't flushed away to be dealt with elsewhere, such as in a wastewater treatment plant. Instead, waste goes into an aerobic composting drum inside the toilet where it is broken down and, over a period of time, is converted into compost.
Because about 90% of human waste is just water, the majority of what goes inside the toilet is evaporated off with the aid of a heating element and fan. The remaining material stays in the composting drum, where it is broken down. About once or twice a year, some of the compost will be emptied to a finishing tray in the bottom of the toilet. With most units, this is a very simple process that happens internally; the homeowner never has to come into contact with compost until it is completely finished. Once fully finished, the compost will look and smell like ordinary garden soil. It will be clean, dry, and non-offensive.
Self-contained composting toilets are also waterless, so you won't need to worry about running any plumbing lines for water in your basement bathroom. The only real requirement for installation is connecting a vent stack (usually PVC pipe) that runs upward and out your home's roofline. This vent stack, combined with the fan assembly, is what ensures that your composting toilet will operate without odor.
A composting toilet will fill part of the need for a bathroom in the basement; however, it doesn't provide a solution for a sink or a shower, if that is required. Assuming that you have access to water, the only real barrier to installing a sink or shower would be the lack of a sewer or septic tank connection in your basement. If this is the case, a graywater recycling system might be an option. If you have the ability to run the wastewater via a pipe to a central graywater recycling tank, then the water can be reused for outdoor plant irrigation, which is a great way to lower your home's overall water consumption. If you don't have any access to running water in the area of your basement where you want to install the bathroom, then a simple bottle of hand sanitizer is another low cost option!
As you can see, installing a basement bathroom when you don't have a stub-in to a sewer or septic tank is not impossible; it just requires some outside-the-box thinking. As with any home project of this magnitude, be sure to check with your local building department to see what, if any, building codes apply in your area, and to be sure that composting toilets and graywater recycling systems are both approved in the local building codes. Whether you're adding a basement bathroom to make your home more marketable for resale, or if you just need a bathroom for your family's use, composting toilets and graywater recycling systems are self sustainable, eco friendly products that will last for many years.
The Composting Toilet Store offers self-contained composting toilets that are ideal for basement installations. Visit us at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Waterless_Toilets_s/45.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Bell
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Composting Toilets Review
When I went looking for a Composting Toilet online I ran into the Online Shopping Problems, that is scary!
I gathered my findings all in one spot. Take advantage of all my hard work and check out Composting Toilets
I gathered my findings all in one spot. Take advantage of all my hard work and check out Composting Toilets
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