What is this?
A peat closet is a chemical toilet for a summer residence without smell and pumping. Today you can find ready-made models with the necessary equipment or make one yourself. But before you buy or make it, it’s worth understanding what it is.
Already from the name it is clear that this bio-installation uses peat, a natural substrate. By adding it to fecal matter, many sanitary problems can be eliminated. In the design, separation into liquid and solid particles and subsequent splitting occurs. Ventilation is mandatory in a compost toilet with peat for a summer residence.
Note! In place of the water tank there will be a container with peat. It must be topped up after each use. This is a kind of washing away the results of going to the toilet.
How to clean a toilet
Cleaning the toilet is done as it is full and includes emptying the bottom tank and disinfecting it. The frequency of this procedure depends on the number of people using the toilet, the volume of the storage container and the period of use of the installation (regularly or only on weekends).
It is advisable not to let the receiving tank fill completely - it is more difficult to remove and carry. All models of bins are equipped with handles for convenience, and some have wheels to facilitate transportation to the compost pit.
If the toilet is not used during the winter, it must be preserved - empty both containers and treat the storage tank with sanitary liquid, followed by the addition of cleaning bacteria.
Note! On average, 1 kg of peat mixture is used to dispose of 10 kg of organic waste.
Principle of operation
Now it’s time to find out how a peat dry toilet for a summer cottage works. Dry peat, which is placed in a tank instead of water, is responsible for waste disposal and removal of the characteristic odor. The tank is equipped with a spreading device, which is operated by a handle. Such dry toilets for summer cottages are often called: powder-closet, composting or dry.
Its capabilities are based on the ability of dry peat to absorb odors and absorb liquids. Liquid residues that are not absorbed by peat are dumped into a tank located under the seat, and from there they are removed using a hose into a hole on the street.
Solid particles of fecal matter are processed by peat bacteria, which perfectly decompose organic matter. After their operation, peat dry toilets do not smell, because a certain substance that has no odor moves into the storage tank. It is allowed to be placed in the compost heap. The use of such waste for the purpose of fertilizer is possible 1-2 years after composting.
Odor extraction is a must. Since the process of bacteria working in peat is not instantaneous, you need to get rid of the amber at this time. For this purpose, a peat bio-toilet for a dacha is equipped with a pipe no less than 2 meters high, without elbows. But sometimes natural draft is not enough, in which case it is worth installing a fan. In this case, such a high pipe is not needed.
The principle of operation of a peat dry toilet for a summer residence
Advantages and disadvantages
Having understood what a peat toilet is, you should find out what the pros and cons of using it are.
Among the advantages:
- Slow filling of the tank. If the toilet is used by 2-3 people daily, then the tank needs to be emptied approximately every 2-3 months.
- Peat is inexpensive and has little consumption. It is odorless, but on the contrary, removes unpleasant odors, without the need to use special deodorizing agents.
- Easy to empty. After processing by peat bacteria, such a dry toilet is emptied directly into the compost heap.
- If the ventilation is functioning normally, there is no smell.
- Peat toilets for a summer residence can be installed outside in a wooden booth or directly in the house, leading the ventilation pipe outside the house.
- If the plastic used in the design is frost-resistant, then the dry closet will survive the winter without any problems.
- This installation is energy-independent; moreover, its operation does not require water, a sewage system or waste disposal.
- Affordable purchase price, ease of operation, mobility.
- Environmentally friendly.
There are still some disadvantages to this solution for a country toilet, including:
- The need for constant monitoring of the peat stock in the tank and the reserve for refilling.
- The peat scattering system distributes the material unevenly, sometimes you have to add it on top. In order for fecal matter to be disposed of successfully, it is necessary to thoroughly sprinkle it with a dry mixture.
- A peat toilet for use in the country has a high-mounted drain hole where a hose is attached. Liquid waste also has an odor, so sometimes you have to drain it manually - by tilting the dry closet.
- Solid waste accumulates under the hole. They have no smell, but do not look very nice, so you have to push them to drain.
- The storage tank has large dimensions - its capacity is from 60 liters. This makes it impossible to transport it alone.
- A composting toilet must be equipped with natural (2 meter pipe) or forced ventilation.
- You can move them, but often it is undesirable to do this, because you need to install an exhaust pipe.
Compost toilet for a summer house
Recommended Models
Not every owner of a dacha or country house will want to make a dry closet on his own: for this you need to have special ingenuity and a great desire to engage in such activities.
Most summer residents prefer to purchase a ready-made dry closet and use it. As an example, two models from the same manufacturer are given to compare capabilities and prices.
- Separett Villa 9000 daily use toilet . Large-sized dry closet, with a tank volume for filling with clean water of 5401 liters. Waste tank - 23 l. Sold without indicator. The price is from 230 thousand rubles.
- Peat composting toilet. Medium size, manufacturer - Separett , clean water tank volume 5401 l, filling indicator not included. The price is within 2 thousand rubles.
As can be seen from the examples, the capabilities of the two models are almost the same, but the prices vary greatly. Not everyone can afford expensive, comfortable pleasures.
The first dry closet is more presentable in appearance, the second is simpler and smaller in size. But the second option is more affordable for everyone. And it is not inferior in quality.
Stationary peat dry closet
The design of the peat toilet discussed above involves its portability, but there are stationary models. Such a country toilet is called a continuous compost toilet.
Note! This option cannot be called cheap, but the initial investment pays off. At the same time, you do not need to worry about organizing a sewer system or installing a septic tank.
The operating principle of a continuous peat dry closet is similar to the mobile model, but there are certain features. The bottom of the storage tank has a slope of 30⁰, inside it there are pipes that are cut lengthwise. This system ensures the constant presence of air and eliminates clogging of the air duct. Thanks to this, the lower chamber is always filled with oxygen - in this case, the bacteria work faster. From time to time you need to add peat to the tank; there is a loading hatch for this. You can rake out the processed compost through the bottom hatch.
Stationary peat dry closet
Buy or make it yourself?
There are many drawings for creating a powder closet based on this operating principle. But it’s really easier to buy a ready-made one, because the price of such mobile-type installations is low. When buying a peat toilet for your dacha, the question will definitely arise, which is better. Therefore, we offer a rating of the best models from trusted manufacturers:
Ecomatic
This Finnish dry dry toilet is designed for the use of peat with sawdust. Such a mixture will provide access to the oxygen necessary for the process, since it is present between the particles of the mixture.
Many Russian consumers consider this high-quality dry toilet too expensive, and in this case its aesthetic appeal does not matter. But there is a significant advantage: a more spacious tank - from 110 liters.
Finnish dry toilet Ecomatic
Piteko
The dry closet for a peat garden from this manufacturer is much more compact, due to a less capacious tank. The key feature is the separation of fecal matter into liquid and solid particles. The design of the Piteko peat dry closet includes convenient doors for unloading compost.
Dry toilet for a peat cottage Piteko
Biolan
This Finnish dry toilet is quite expensive, but extremely effective. It has 2 chambers into which liquid and solid masses are separately discharged. The basic configuration includes an exhaust pipe; the dry closet is equipped with an improved drainage system. The maximum tank volume is 300 liters.
Finnish toilet Biolan
Right choice
There are enough designs and manufacturers of such installations for the dacha, but how to choose the right peat toilet for the dacha? You need to pay attention to the necessary comfort of use; to do this, consider the following parameters of the toilet:
- Dimensions of the structure. The country dry toilet must correspond to the size of the room in which it will be installed.
- Required storage capacity. But everything is not so simple here, because certain models have a limited shelf life of compost. If it is exceeded, the quality will drop significantly and an unpleasant odor may appear. On the other hand, a tank that is too small will require regular cleaning, which is also not very convenient.
When choosing a dry closet for a peat garden, you need to pay attention to the features of its design:
- The presence of a signaling device on the tank will eliminate the need to periodically check its fullness.
- If you have a dispenser, you can scatter the peat more economically.
- The presence of a distributor increases the efficiency of use.
The composition for filling into a dry toilet in the country is also important. Options with ash, sawdust and other bulk components will not give the same composting effect as peat does. It is considered the most effective consumable in powder closets.
Note! If the mixture is peat-sawdust, this guarantees aeration of the composition.
Bottom line
Everyone wants to live in comfort and therefore many are trying to replace the long-outdated wooden toilet with more modern options. Of course, if it is a good brick toilet that is equipped with a cesspool, then you can leave it. But it is still better to replace a wooden toilet with a composting toilet.
This toilet is convenient, environmentally friendly, and produces high-quality fertilizers. The composting toilet has positive reviews, so it’s worth making it yourself or buying it ready-made. For this reason, many summer residents decided to equip such a composting toilet. You can make a composting toilet yourself or purchase it ready-made.
