Tiny House Toilet Options: Which is best?
As Brits, we tend to ignore the fact that each and every one of us has to go for a number 1 and 2 on a daily basis. I know shocking right? No one likes to talk about poo, but if you're going to be living tiny, then you may have to overcome the embarrassment and learn a thing or two about bodily waste and your options for dealing with it.
While plumbing a regular toilet into your tiny house would allow you to avoid needing to know much about your waste, it isn't the more efficient option for a tiny house, especially should you want to move your home in the future. To uncover the mystery of what do with your poo is an overview of the options we’ve been using in our builds, enjoy!
What Are Your Toilet Options For a Tiny House?
Composting Toilet Option
What is a composting toilet? Does it smell? How often do I have to empty it? Do I have to touch it? These, are the most common questions asked when talking about composting toilets, so lets start at the beginning, what is a composting toilet? Simply put, a composting toilet turns your solid waste into compost by breaking down the bacteria within the waste pile until the compost is created (which is usually around every three weeks).
There is a wide range of brands and styles of composting toilets from a basic hole with a chamber and some sawdust to fully advanced self separating electric toilet. Due to this, it's difficult to say how much effort is needed to maintain each type, but to give you a rough breakdown a low budget toilet could require you to throw sawdust over your waste after every use followed by regular emptying of the chamber to avoid strong smells. This could mean you are touching your faeces as it isn’t drying in time. Compare this to more advanced toilets that can separate your number 1 and number 2 into different compartments, with liquid waste draining into a removable section or directly out to a waste pipe. The solid waste drops into a composting bag where powerful fans dry it making it easier to compost. Once it is full, you would knot the bag, remove it and replace it with a new one.
Our favourite options for composting toilets are the Simploo and Separett composting toilets. You can find more info about them online but to give you further understanding of a general composting toilet, here is a short video on how to use a Separett composting toilet.
Pros to Composting Toilets: You have free compost! Great for garden lovers!
Cons to Composting Toilets: Depending on the toilet, you may be required to empty it more often than you'd prefer.
Chemical Toilet Options
Most caravan goers will know a thing or two about a chemical toilet. They are convenient and cheap to maintain and a familiar sight to those who holiday in touring caravans. However, they are not friendly on the environment and contain lots of toxic nasties that you wouldn’t want to inhale or touch. Another issue is if you are renting on private land where you may not have access to a septic tank. This would mean making an arrangement for it to be collected every fortnight or so which could get expensive. Not to mention you’ll be purchasing the chemicals quite often as we do tend to go daily!
We haven’t listed recommendations of chemical toilets as we have yet to fit one. I’m sure there are several websites that will list the best ones should this be your go to option.
Pros for Chemical Toilets: Easy to maintain and relatively cheap!
Cons for Chemical Toilets: Not good for the environment, toxic chemicals.
Incinerating Toilet
This one is the most intriguing! A toilet that incinerates your toilet waste?!?
This is somewhat of a new entry to the market. Some may think it's wasteful, as composting toilets create something of benefit - compost, even if it is a bit 'icky'. But, there are certainly benefits to using an incinerating toilet.
In a nutshell, it does what it says on the tin, It incinerates your waste to ash, allowing you to easily dispose of your toilet waste with no bad odour or mess. The 'ash' is high in potassium & phosphorous, which can be used as a fertilizer for your garden. No water is required or a potentially costly septic tank, which is great for those of you either on the move a lot, or those looking to live in the great outdoors.
To incinerate your waste, a pipe is fitted into the bathroom which we do wonder how hot this may get. A bonus for keeping the bathroom warm, but not so great if you have little ones who could burn their hands after use.
Overall, we love the idea of an incinerating toilet. It's a brilliant off-grid solution, suitable for those not too keen on the idea of mucking out their poop every few weeks, or those worried about the smell. The major downside however, because let's face it, there has to be one, is the cost. At £3,550, they're not cheap but if you're looking at installing a septic tank, then the costs start looking a lot more attractive.
Pros to Incinerating Toilets - No need to touch any faecal matter and can use the ash for plants fertilizer.
Cons to Incinerating Toilets - Very expensive and low warrenty
Plumbed Flushing Toilet
For those who plan to purchase land and wish to live there for a very long time, a regular flushing toilet is certainly an option should you be located close to waste pipes. This is most likely the costliest route as digging up land and placing pipes underground for your toilet can soon mount up. However, you wouldn't need to ever think about your toilet until you need it. Plus, these days there are environmentally friendlier toilets that use less water during flushing should you want to do your bit for the planet.
Pros: You don't need to bother with emptying any compartments
Cons: It's costly and a lot of work for one toilet.
That's it from us, we'd love to know your thoughts and which toilet you'd prefer in your tiny home. Should you have any questions, feel free to get in touch!