Contents
Peat dry closets are no different from traditional structures installed in public places, in the country, etc. Their work is aimed at the disposal of human waste products. The dry closet differs only in functionality. Peat is used here to process waste, so this toilet has a second name – composting. Before choosing a peat toilet for a summer residence, you need to know that there are several types of designs that we will now try to figure out.
How does work
Liquid and solid human waste products fall into the lower storage tank of the toilet. Peat is in the top tank. After each visit by a person to a dry closet, the mechanism takes a certain portion of peat for powdering waste. The process of processing sewage occurs in batches. Part of the liquid waste evaporates through the ventilation pipe. The remains of faeces are absorbed by peat. The remaining excess liquid is filtered and, in a clean state, is drained through a drain hose. After filling the lower container, the contents are unloaded into a pit to form compost. After rotting, the resulting fertilizer in the summer cottage fertilizes the garden.
Device, installation and operation
All peat toilets are arranged almost the same, as can be seen from the diagram in the photo:
- The top tank serves as a peat storage. A distribution mechanism for powdering waste is also installed here. Peat is the main component that processes sewage. Its loose structure absorbs moisture, bactericidal properties eliminate bad odors, waste decomposes to the level of organic fertilizer. Peat consumption is small. One bag can be enough for the summer season.
- The lower tank serves as the main waste storage. This is where the peat composts the faecal matter. We always choose the volume of the lower capacity of the toilet according to the number of people living in the country. The most popular are tanks designed for 100-140 liters. In general, peat toilets are produced with a storage capacity from 44 to 230 liters.
- The body of the peat toilet is plastic. The toilet seat is equipped with a seat and a tight-fitting lid.
- A drain pipe is connected to the bottom of the storage tank. A certain percentage of the filtered liquid is discharged through the hose.
- A ventilation pipe goes up from the same storage tank. Its height can reach 4 m.
Composting toilet can be placed anywhere. There are no fundamental requirements here, since there is no need for sewerage, a cesspool and water supply. Even if the peat toilet is not installed inside the house, but outside in a booth, in winter it will not freeze due to the lack of water. With seasonal use of the toilet in the country, it is preserved for the winter. In this case, all containers are completely emptied.
Before using the compost toilet for summer cottages, peat is poured into the upper container from the bag. Fill the tank about 2/3 full.
Backfilling of peat must be done carefully. Rash actions will disable the toilet mechanism, after which the peat will have to be scattered manually with a spatula.
Visiting any forum on peat toilets, you can always find reviews about the poor distribution of peat even with a working mechanism. The problem lies only in the incorrectly applied force to the handle of the mechanism.
It is important to pay attention to ventilation. The air duct should rise above the roof of the building where the toilet is installed. The fewer turns on the pipe, the better the ventilation will work.
Popular models of peat toilets
Today, the Finnish peat toilet for a summer residence is considered the most reliable and comfortable, which is why it is in great demand. The plumbing market offers the consumer many models. According to summer residents, the following peat dry closets are considered the most popular:
- Finnish peat toilets for summer cottages brand Piteko equipped with drainage with a special filter. Models differ in ergonomic design.
The stylish case is made of high-quality plastic. Compact dimensions and special outlets on the back without protrusions allow you to install the peat toilet close to the wall of the building. Plastic withstands negative temperatures, does not crack in winter when installed in a country house in a street booth. The case of a dry closet is calculated on loading to 150 kg. The Piteco dacha toilet is equipped with direct-flow ventilation, which eliminates bad odors.
Among many models, the Piteco 505 dry closet is especially popular due to the partition built into the storage tank. It prevents faecal solids from blocking the drain. In addition, there is additional protection from a mechanical filter. The mechanism of the peat spreader is rotated by 180 due to the handleо, which allows high-quality powdering of waste.
The video shows an overview of Piteco 505 models:
Composting dry closet Piteco 505
- Peat toilets for composting from the manufacturer Biolan made using heat-insulating material. All models are resistant to sudden changes in temperature.
Most Biolan models have a capacious capacity. This is a good option for giving with a large number of people living or a country cottage. Usually the volume of the storage tank is enough for the whole summer season. One emptying of the tank allows you to prepare ready-made compost inside the tank. At the request of the owners, the dry closet is equipped with a thermal seat, which allows you to comfortably use the product in winter.
Models with a separator have increased usability. Such a dry closet is made of two chambers designed to collect liquid and solid waste.
The solid waste collection chamber is located inside the body of the peat toilet. The liquid waste container is located outside and is connected to the general system by a hose. The filtered liquid is used to fertilize flowers or as a compost activator. All storage containers are equipped with dispensers that have the function of absorbing odor.
- Models of Ecomatic peat toilets on the market are from Finnish and domestic manufacturers. All of them are made using the same technology. You can find out which manufacturer’s model is better by visiting any thematic forum. Many users still prefer Ecomatic from Finnish manufacturers.
Domestic models are made of durable high-quality plastic. The body is not afraid of severe frosts. The dry closet can be installed in a street booth in the country. A feature of the design is the air regulator for seasonal use. In warm weather, the regulator is switched to the summer/autumn position. With the onset of frost, the peat toilet regulator is switched to the winter position. This allows the compost traction process to continue. In the spring, there will be ready-made compost inside the dry closet storage.
The video shows the Ecomatic model:
Country peat toilet Ecomatic L&T (Finland)
Continuous Composting Toilets
If most models of peat toilets can, if necessary, be transferred to another place, then continuous structures are designed only for stationary installation. Installing a stationary toilet in the country is initially expensive, but over time it pays off.
A design feature of the continuous peat toilet is the composting tank. The bottom of the tank is made with a slope of 300. Inside the tank there is a grid of pipes cut along the length. This design prevents contamination of the air duct, which ensures the access of oxygen to the lower chamber. During the use of the toilet, a new portion of peat is periodically added to the compost tank. For this purpose, a loading hatch is installed. Ready compost is raked out through the lower hatch.
What is a thermal toilet
Now on the market you can find such a design as a thermal toilet from the manufacturer Kekkila. The design functions due to the insulated body. Processing of waste with peat takes place inside a large chamber with a capacity of 230 liters. The output is ready-made compost. The thermal toilet does not require connection to the water supply, sewerage, electricity.
The manufacturer of the thermal toilet guarantees the recycling of even food waste, but bones and other hard objects cannot be thrown. It is important to monitor the tightness of the lid, otherwise bad odors may appear in the room, and the composting process will also be disrupted. The thermal toilet is able to function in the country even in winter. However, with the onset of frost, a drainage hose is disconnected from the lower tank to prevent the liquid from freezing.
The simplest version of the powder-closet peat toilet
The peat toilet of the powder-closet system has a simple design. The product consists of a toilet seat with a storage container for waste. A second container is separately installed for peat. After visiting the powder closet, a person turns the handle of the mechanism, as a result of which the feces are powdered with peat.
Depending on the size of the powder-closet drive, it can be stationary or portable. Small-sized toilets can be moved at any time where necessary. As the waste is filled, the container is pulled out from under the toilet seat, and the contents are thrown onto the compost heap, where further decay of sewage occurs.
Homemade peat toilet
Making a peat toilet for a summer house with your own hands is quite simple. The most affordable option is powder closet. Such home-made designs are made from a simple toilet seat, inside which a bucket is placed. Dusting of waste is done manually. To do this, a bucket of peat and a scoop are installed in the toilet stall.
A more complex model of a homemade peat toilet is shown in the drawing. In terms of dimensions, the design will turn out to be larger than the factory one, otherwise it will not be possible to ensure the tightness of the chambers.
The bottom of the lower chamber is made with a slope of 30о, with small holes drilled all over the surface. They play the role of a filter. Liquid waste seeps through the holes. Peat is poured into the chamber through the loading window. Ready compost is unloaded through the bottom door.
Choosing a peat toilet for installation in the country
In principle, all peat models of any manufacturer are suitable for use in the country. If you specifically approach the question of which peat toilet is better for giving, then here you need to be guided by the technical characteristics. For example, for a family of three, it is enough to buy a product with a drive within 14 liters. For a large family, it is reasonable to purchase a dry closet with a drive of about 20 liters.
When choosing a peat dry closet, it is important to avoid fakes in pursuit of a low price. Low-quality plastic will begin to burst over time and depressurization of the chambers will occur. In any case, all Finnish products are of high quality. It remains for the consumer to decide on the model, only guided by personal preferences.
What do users say
Forums and user reviews always help to choose a suitable model of a peat toilet for the dacha. Let’s find out what summer residents say about this.