Re: Composting toilets
So, we have an interesting and messy toilet fail to report. Nature's Head continues to perform well overall. But, we won't make this mistake again.... Feel free to groan and laugh with us.
Problem: The hatch to the solid waste bin flips forward. TP likes to catch against the flipper. At just the right angle, the flipper can push a piece of TP forward into the upper drip bin for the liquid waste.
Catching the problem early: Liquid waste should drain immediately. If there's a dripping noise 5 minutes or more after use, then there's a blockage. An uncoiled coat hanger, etc, can poke the TP down and then things will drain.
Our mistake: Didn't want to deal with a messy job, and figured that the flimsy TP would dissolve in a few days.
What happened: A really messy job. The TP blockage remained. Urine would drip through the TP slowly. So, a urine hyperconcentrate built up above the TP blockage. The van started smelling like a hospital bed, and then we knew something was wrong. Opened up the toilet to figure out the problem. With the top open, the stuck urine hyperconcentrate dripped out from above, all over the bathroom area. Yuck! Had to super-clean all the nooks and crannies. Used the coat hanger to fix the stuck TP, then threw it away. Some liquid got in the solids bin. Following manufacturer's instructions, we added more peat to the solids bin to absorb the liquid. Hoped we were done. 2 days later: solids handle wouldn't turn. We didn't add enough peat, and the moistened peat had turned to poo-crete. Took a stir stick and much beating to get it emptied out. One of the more unpleasant house chores ever.
Still love our Nature's Head. But won't make this mistake again.
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