Composting Portable Toilet Systems For Rvs--an Alternative To Holding Tanks And Pump Outs

Composting Portable Toilet Systems For Rvs--an Alternative To Holding Tanks And Pump Outs

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Anyone who's ever traveled by RV knows what an unpleasant job it is to empty and clean the waste holding tank. Furthermore, improper maintenance of the holding tank can lead to real problems down the road--no pun intended! What if there were a better alternative? For many RV owners, there is. Composting toilets are an odorless and easy alternative that require very little maintenance and never need pumped out. In this article, we'll explain why a portable composting toilet may be the answer you've been looking for when it comes to your RV's waste disposal system.

Traditionally, recreational vehicles have more than one holding tank for wastewater. One contains gray water, or the wastewater from the sinks and shower. The other contains black water, or the wastewater from the toilet. There are separate hoses for each tank, usually designated by different colors, as well as yet another hose used for pumping clean water into the RV. For obvious reasons, it is critical not to get the hoses mixed up and use the incorrect one for the wrong purpose.

Maintaining the black water holding tank is a somewhat complex process, involving chemicals and cleaning agents to prevent odor and bacteria buildup or other clogs inside the tank. What some RV owners don't realize is that you should never attempt to dump the tank until it's at least two thirds full. A tank that's only slightly full won't have enough gravitational pull to empty efficiently. Furthermore, you should never leave the hose hooked up while the vehicle is parked, because it won't drain the way toilets in your home will.

If you're tired of dealing with emptying, maintaining, and cleaning the holding tank, there is another alternative that is still relatively little-known among RV owners, and that is the composting toilet. Contrary to what some might think, composting toilets are an odorless and very clean method of waste disposal. Mobile composting toilets feature a rotating drum inside the toilet itself that holds and processes waste. A special venting system and filters ensure that the unit operates without odor from both inside and outside the RV.

Maintaining a composting toilet on an RV is as simple as adding some bulking material (usually a mixture of wood chips and peat moss) once a day and rotating the drum every few days. Rotating the drum usually consists of pulling a retractable handle out from the front of the toilet and cranking it around a certain number of times. At no point does the RV owner have to come into contact with the contents of the toilet; in fact, everything about owning and maintaining a composting toilet is cleaner and more pleasant than dealing with a holding tank and pump-outs. Because compost toilets are designed to handle all waste self-sufficiently, you never have to worry about hook ups or pump outs.

The primary job of a composting toilet is evaporation. These units are designed with a heating element in the base and a fan assembly in the vent to aide with evaporation. Since more than 90% of human waste is actually water, very little material is left to compost once the liquid is evaporated. In fact, two people using a composting toilet on a daily basis would probably only need to empty the finished compost once or twice a year at the most. Finished compost is usually kept isolated from fresh waste by dropping into a separate drawer or chamber in the toilet. All this occurs without the RV owner ever coming into contact with the material until it's fully composted. Once it is fully composted, you're left with material that is completely non-offensive. It will look and smell just like ordinary garden soil.

If you're wondering by now why you haven't heard of this before, it may be because of the cost. The only downside to mobile composting toilets for RVs is that they usually cost around $1,500, significantly more than a traditional toilet with holding tank system. However, when you think of the ease of use and the average lifespan of these systems of about 15 to 20 years, the benefits may outweigh the cost. For more information on composting toilet systems, seek out a reputable dealer that can provide you with details, including product testing reports and certifications.

About the Author:
The Composting Toilets Store offers mobile composting toilets for RVs and boats. To request a free catalog, visit us at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Compost_Toilet_s/22.htm



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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