Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey

I get the love for stainless mesh, but I’ve actually had decent luck with copper - at least in spots that stay dry. If it’s exposed to moisture, yeah, it’ll corrode and get brittle over time. But in dry framing or inside cabinets, it’s held up for me longer than expected. Maybe it depends on the local mouse population... or just dumb luck. I do agree about foam though - total joke against rodents.

If it’s exposed to moisture, yeah, it’ll corrode and get brittle over time. But in dry framing or inside cabinets, it’s held up for me longer than expected.

I’ve had similar results with copper - definitely holds up better than I thought in the right spots. Still, I’m always a little paranoid about hidden leaks or condensation sneaking in and wrecking things. Stainless is pricier but gives me peace of mind, especially in crawlspaces. And yeah, foam is basically a rodent welcome mat... learned that the hard way under my kitchen sink.

Funny you mention foam and rodents… I thought I was being clever sealing up gaps under my bathroom vanity with spray foam, only to find out a year later that mice had basically tunneled right through it. Lesson learned - steel wool and caulk from now on.

I hear you on the copper vs. stainless debate. I’ve always leaned toward copper just because it’s what I can afford, and honestly, it’s held up better than I expected in most places. I do get nervous about those spots you can’t see, though. Had a slow leak behind the laundry room wall once, and by the time I caught it, the drywall was toast. Ever since then, I’m a bit more paranoid about hidden moisture.

But yeah, when it comes to dry areas or inside cabinets, copper’s been solid for me. I just keep an eye out for any weird smells or soft spots - usually a dead giveaway something’s up. Stainless would be great, but the price tag makes me wince every time I look at it at the hardware store.

Honestly, it’s all a bit of a balancing act. You do what you can with the budget you’ve got, and sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you end up patching things up after the fact. At least with the dry loo setup, there’s a lot less plumbing to worry about. That’s been a relief for my wallet and my nerves.

At least with the dry loo setup, there’s a lot less plumbing to worry about. That’s been a relief for my wallet and my nerves.

Totally get that - less plumbing means fewer “surprise” leaks in the middle of the night. I learned the hard way that even a tiny drip can turn into a full-on drywall disaster if you’re not watching. Dry loo’s been a game changer for my peace of mind, honestly. Still, I’m always half-expecting to find some new creative way for water to sneak in... or mice, apparently.

“Dry loo’s been a game changer for my peace of mind, honestly. Still, I’m always half-expecting to find some new creative way for water to sneak in... or mice, apparently.”

- Same here - since switching, I haven’t missed crawling under the house with a flashlight to chase leaks.
- One thing I did notice: less humidity in the bathroom now, which means no more weird mildew patches behind the toilet.
- Mice are a legit concern though. I had one try to nest in the sawdust bin last winter… quick fix with some steel mesh.
- Maintenance is way more predictable. No more mystery drips or random pipe rattles at 2am.

- Not having to chase leaks or deal with pipe sweat in the summer is a relief.
- Humidity drop is real - noticed my caulk lines aren't breaking down as fast now.
- Mice can be relentless, but adding a tight-fitting lid on the sawdust bin helped here.
- Only thing I miss is the occasional hot flush on a cold morning... trade-offs, I guess.

- Not chasing leaks is a huge time-saver, no argument there. Pipe sweat used to drive me nuts every July - condensation everywhere, and then the slow drip behind the wall you don’t notice until it’s too late.

- The humidity drop is interesting. I’ve seen fewer issues with mold in corners since switching, but I did have some initial trouble with sawdust clumping when things got damp last fall. Ended up switching to a coarser mix and that seemed to help.

- Mice are always looking for a way in. I went overboard and put hardware cloth under my bin lid just in case. Haven’t had any issues since, but I still check every week.

- Missing the hot flush on cold mornings... yeah, there’s something about that steam rising up that’s hard to replicate. I’ve tried insulating the seat but it’s not quite the same.

Curious - did you have any trouble with odors at first? Took me a couple tries to get the right balance of carbon material.

Odor was a bit of a learning curve for me too. First week, I underestimated how much carbon I’d need and, well... let’s just say it was noticeable. Ended up mixing in some shredded cardboard with the sawdust - seemed to absorb better and didn’t clump as much when things got damp. Haven’t had any real issues since, but I still get nervous after chili night. The humidity drop is a game changer for mold, though I do miss that warm flush on cold mornings. Insulated seat helps, but it’s not quite the same comfort.

I get what you mean about the humidity drop helping with mold, but honestly, I’ve found it can make things a bit too dry sometimes. Had a stretch last winter where everything in the bin was just... dusty, and that made the odor worse for me. I started adding a splash of water every now and then - sounds weird, but it actually helped balance things out. As for comfort, yeah, nothing beats that old warm flush on a freezing morning. Insulated seat’s fine, but it’s not quite the same luxury.

I get what you’re saying about things getting too dry - had a similar issue when I first switched over. But I’m curious, did adding water ever make the bin feel a bit swampy? I tried misting mine a couple times and it seemed to help at first, but then I started noticing clumps and that earthy smell got a little funky. Maybe it’s just my mix or the climate here, but now I’m wondering if there’s a sweet spot with moisture that’s different for everyone.

About the comfort thing, I totally miss that warm flush too. The insulated seat is decent, but on those really cold mornings, it still feels like sitting on a block of ice. Has anyone tried those stick-on seat warmers? I keep seeing them online but can’t decide if they’re worth the hassle or just another thing to clean.

I’ve had the same thing happen - misting helped at first but then it turned into a soggy mess and got kind of gross. I wonder if it’s partly the type of bedding? I switched to more sawdust and that seemed to help balance things out, but I still check for clumping pretty often.

About those stick-on seat warmers, I keep eyeing them too but am worried about electrical stuff near the loo. Plus, anything with sticky adhesive always seems to get gunky in my experience. Has anyone found a version that’s easy to clean and safe for damp environments?

I hear you on the bedding - tried peat moss once and it just turned into a swampy disaster. Sawdust’s been way more forgiving for me, too. As for those stick-on warmers, I’ve seen them peel right off after a few steamy showers. Honestly, nothing beats a good old wool seat cover for easy cleaning and zero wiring headaches.

Wool seat covers are nice, but I’ve actually had better luck with a simple foam pad wrapped in a washable towel. Wool’s great for warmth, sure, but it can get a bit funky after a while if you’re not on top of washing it. The foam’s cheap, easy to swap out, and you can just toss the towel in with your regular laundry.

About the bedding - peat moss was a nightmare for me too, but I wouldn’t write it off completely. If you mix it half-and-half with shredded cardboard, it stays a lot drier and doesn’t clump up so bad. Sawdust is solid, but it can get a bit dusty if you’re not careful. I keep a spray bottle handy to knock the dust down before adding a new layer.

Stick-on warmers...yeah, those things are a joke in humid bathrooms. If you really want heated seats, I’d just wire in a low-voltage pad under the foam. Takes a bit more work, but at least it won’t end up in the bottom of the loo after a hot shower.

Mixing peat moss with shredded cardboard is a solid tip. I’ve seen a lot of folks give up on peat after one bad experience, but you’re right - on its own, it’s a mess, but with the right blend it can actually work pretty well. I’d add that if you can get your hands on corrugated cardboard, it breaks down a bit faster and seems to keep things fluffier.

Stick-on warmers...yeah, those things are a joke in humid bathrooms. If you really want heated seats, I’d just wire in a low-voltage pad under the foam.

Couldn’t agree more here. I tried the stick-ons in a couple of my units and they just peeled off after a week, especially in the winter when folks are running hot showers. The low-voltage pad is a bit of an upfront project, but it’s a set-and-forget solution. Just make sure you use a GFCI outlet if you’re wiring anything near water - learned that one the hard way.

The washable towel over foam is underrated, honestly. Wool’s nice, but unless you’re really diligent, it’s just more maintenance than it’s worth. Your approach sounds a lot more practical for day-to-day use.

Really appreciate your take on the peat/cardboard mix. I’ve had similar luck - straight peat just compacts and gets funky, but adding shredded cardboard or even a bit of sawdust keeps things way more manageable. Corrugated definitely breaks down faster, though sometimes I find it clumps if it’s too damp.

The washable towel over foam is underrated, honestly.

Couldn’t agree more. I tried wool for a while, but it just felt like another chore to keep clean. The towel setup is simple, easy to swap out, and doesn’t get that musty smell. You’re making this whole dry loo thing sound a lot less intimidating than folks make it out to be.

Corrugated definitely breaks down faster, though sometimes I find it clumps if it’s too damp. Couldn’t agree more.

The washable towel trick really does make things easier. I used to worry about lingering smells, but swapping towels out is way less hassle than I expected. Curious - do you do anything special to keep the cardboard from clumping when it’s damp? I’ve had a few soggy messes if I’m not careful.

I’ve run into that soggy cardboard mess too - total pain. What’s worked for me is layering in some wood shavings between the cardboard, especially if I know it’s going to be a humid week. It soaks up extra moisture and keeps things from turning into sludge. Not perfect, but way less clumping.

I get what you mean about the wood shavings - definitely helps with the moisture, but I’ve had mixed results depending on the type of shavings. Pine seems to work better than cedar for me, but maybe that’s just my setup. Ever tried mixing in a bit of peat moss or even some dry leaves? I’ve found peat moss soaks up a ton and keeps things from getting that weird, swampy smell.

One thing I’m still not sold on is how often to swap out the layers. Some folks say every few days, others push it longer. I worry about stuff breaking down too fast and attracting gnats if I leave it too long. Curious if you’ve noticed any difference in odor or breakdown speed based on how often you change things out? Sometimes I think we’re all just inventing new compost recipes here...

Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with pine vs. cedar - pine just seems to handle the moisture better and doesn’t get that sharp smell. I’ve tried peat moss too, but sometimes it compacts a bit much for my liking. Dry leaves are hit or miss, depending on what’s around.

- I usually swap layers every 3-4 days, but if it’s humid or there’s a lot of use, I’ll do it sooner.
- Odor definitely creeps in if I push it too long, and gnats are a pain if things get too wet.
- Mixing materials seems to help slow down the breakdown just enough to keep things manageable.

Honestly, it does feel like everyone’s got their own “secret recipe” for this stuff... trial and error all the way.

Pine’s definitely my go-to too. Cedar always ends up being a bit too strong for my nose, and I’ve had the same issue with peat moss turning into a brick if I’m not careful. I’ve actually started mixing in a little shredded cardboard when I’m low on leaves - nothing glossy, just plain stuff - and it seems to help keep things from getting too soggy or packed down.

Swapping layers every few days sounds about right. If it’s muggy, I’ll sometimes toss in a handful of baking soda to help with odor. Gnats are the worst though... had a stretch last summer where they were relentless until I started drying out the mix more.

Honestly, you’re spot on - everyone’s got their own method. Took me a while to figure out what worked for my setup, and even now I tweak things depending on the weather or what materials I can get. It’s all about finding that balance between moisture and airflow, at least in my experience.