Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey

Honestly, the unpredictability is what gets me. I’ve had batches that broke down in weeks, and others that just sat there like a science experiment gone wrong. I’m with you on pine dust - yeah, it’s messy, but at least it doesn’t make your eyes water like the black tank fumes. Still, I’m always a little paranoid about airflow and moisture. One time I ignored a weird smell for too long and ended up with a mini swamp in the bin... not fun.

Bulk farm supply is a solid tip, though I’d add - double check what’s actually in the bedding. Some of those “deals” are full of additives or chemicals you don’t want anywhere near your compost or garden. Learned that one the hard way after my tomatoes started looking weird last summer. If you’re trying to save money, sometimes Craigslist or local Facebook groups have folks giving away clean sawdust or shavings too.

Anyway, dry loo’s definitely less gross than dealing with tanks, but it’s not exactly set-and-forget either. Just gotta keep an eye (and nose) on things.

One time I ignored a weird smell for too long and ended up with a mini swamp in the bin... not fun.

Been there, and it’s wild how fast things can go sideways. I once had a vent fan fail on a humid weekend, didn’t catch it for a couple days, and by then it was like a hot compost smoothie in there. I agree about farm supply - some of that “pine” bedding is more glue than wood. I stick to the local sawmill now, even if it’s a bit chunkier. Not perfect, but I’ll take that over black tank roulette any day.

I agree about farm supply - some of that “pine” bedding is more glue than wood.

Interesting take, but have you tried mixing in shredded cardboard or even dried leaves? I’ve found sawmill stuff can get a bit too chunky and doesn’t always absorb as much as I’d like. Also, curious - how do you handle the airflow if the vent fan goes out again? I’ve seen folks use passive vents, but does that really cut it when things get muggy?

I’ve actually tried the shredded cardboard thing - works pretty well, but it can get a bit clumpy if you’re not careful. Dried leaves are a cool idea, though I always worry about bugs sneaking in with them. The sawmill stuff is definitely hit or miss. Sometimes it’s like dumping a bag of wood chips in there, which doesn’t do much for smell or moisture.

About the airflow - man, when my vent fan died last summer, it was rough. I rigged up a couple of those cheap floor vents you can get at the hardware store, just to keep some air moving. It helped a little, but honestly, when it gets humid, passive vents don’t really cut it. The air just kind of sits there. I’ve heard of people using solar-powered fans as a backup, but haven’t tried that yet. Curious if anyone’s found a low-tech fix that actually works when the weather’s gross.

I hear you on the vent fan struggle - when mine quit, it was like a sauna in there. I tried propping the door open a crack (not ideal for privacy, but desperate times...), and even put a small battery-powered desk fan near the vent pipe. It helped a bit, but honestly, nothing beats a proper powered vent. Has anyone tried those wind-driven turbine vents? I keep seeing them on sheds and outhouses, but not sure if they actually move enough air when it’s muggy. Also, with solar fans - do you worry about wiring or fire risk at all? I get nervous about mixing DIY electrical stuff with composting setups...

I get the concern about wiring, but honestly, solar fans seem pretty low-risk if you use decent connectors and keep things tidy.

“Has anyone tried those wind-driven turbine vents?”

I’ve done a couple installs with those wind turbines, and honestly, I don’t trust ’em much either. Had one on my uncle’s old shed and it spun like crazy in a breeze, but on muggy days? Just sat there doing nothing, and the air inside got real stale.

With the 12V fans, I’m always double-checking the wiring - seen a buddy melt a fuse holder once ‘cause he used the wrong gauge wire. Not pretty. I’m all for fuses and tidy wiring, but I still get nervous about long runs through plywood or if there’s any chance of water sneaking in. Anyone ever had issues with condensation getting into their fan wiring? I’ve heard stories about corrosion messing up connections, especially in humid spots.

Still, feels safer than propping the door open, especially if you’ve got pets or nosy raccoons around...

Corrosion’s definitely a real thing, especially if you’re running wires through spots that get damp or don’t have much airflow. I’ve seen a few setups where folks used heat shrink and dielectric grease on every connection, but even then, if there’s a tiny nick in the insulation, moisture finds its way in over time. Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to run conduit, but that’s not always practical in tight spaces or retrofits.

Curious - has anyone tried those waterproof junction boxes for fan wiring? I’ve only used them on exterior lights, but maybe they’d help with the condensation issue inside a loo setup. Or is it just overkill for 12V stuff?

I get the urge to go full waterproof on everything, but honestly, for 12V fan wiring inside a dry loo, I’d call those boxes overkill. I tried one once when I was feeling paranoid - ended up being a pain to fit in the cramped space, and didn’t really solve much that heat shrink and a dab of grease wouldn’t. Unless your loo is basically a rainforest, I’d just double-check your seals and maybe reroute wires away from the worst condensation spots. Save the fancy boxes for outside where they actually earn their keep.

Unless your loo is basically a rainforest, I’d just double-check your seals and maybe reroute wires away from the worst condensation spots.

Yeah, I get what you mean. I went a bit overboard on my first setup too - ended up with more plastic boxes than actual wiring. In hindsight, a little common sense goes a long way. Curious though, has anyone here actually had issues with corrosion or shorts inside their dry loo? Or is it mostly just peace of mind stuff?

Honestly, unless you’re running wires right under the urine diverter or something, actual corrosion is pretty rare in most dry loos. I’ve seen more issues from folks over-sealing things and trapping moisture than from just letting the space breathe. That said, if you’re in a super humid spot or using a lot of water for cleaning, it’s not impossible. Personally, I just keep connections up off the floor and haven’t had a single problem yet. Overkill on plastic boxes can make maintenance a pain anyway... sometimes simple wins.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen enough “rare” corrosion to know it’s not just a unicorn. Especially if you’ve got a couple of mystery leaks or the world’s most enthusiastic hand-washer in the house. That “just keep connections up off the floor” trick works until someone drops a bottle of cleaner and suddenly you’re playing ‘find the short’ at 2am.

“Overkill on plastic boxes can make maintenance a pain anyway... sometimes simple wins.”

Simple’s great - until you’re crawling around with a flashlight and a multimeter, muttering about why you didn’t just slap a weatherproof box on it in the first place. I’m not saying wrap everything in three layers of Tupperware, but a little extra protection saves a lot of cursing down the road. Learned that one the hard way after a “never happens” leak fried my fan wiring mid-heatwave. Sometimes, overkill is just future-you saying thanks.

Yeah, I hear you - sometimes “good enough” just isn’t, especially when water’s involved. I’ve chased enough mystery shorts to know a little extra effort upfront can save a lot of late-night swearing. Dry loo or not, Murphy’s Law doesn’t take days off.

Dry loo or not, Murphy’s Law doesn’t take days off.

Funny thing, I’ve actually had fewer “Murphy moments” since switching to a dry setup. With the black tank, it was always something - leaks, clogs, sensors lying to me. Now, worst case is a bag swap. Maybe I’m tempting fate, but it’s been way less drama so far.

- Totally get the “less drama” thing.
- My experience: black tank sensors were basically decorative, never accurate.
- Dry loo means fewer moving parts - less to break, right?
- Only downside for me: bag swaps can get... interesting if you forget for a day or two.
- Still, I’ll take that over wrestling with a clogged valve any day.

“Dry loo means fewer moving parts - less to break, right?”

That’s the theory, but I’ve seen a few composting setups get pretty gnarly if folks skip regular cleaning or don’t use the right liners. Bag swaps can be a pain, especially in hot weather... ever had one split on you? Not fun. Still, I hear you on the black tank sensors - those things are basically wishful thinking after a year or two. Guess it’s all about picking your battles.

Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. Dry loos definitely cut down on the “mystery plumbing” factor, but they’re not totally hands-off either. I’ve had my share of bag disasters - nothing like a split liner in July to make you question your life choices. If you keep up with the cleaning and don’t cheap out on the bags, though, it gets manageable.

Honestly, those black tank sensors are a joke after a while. I used to swear by them until I realized guessing was just as accurate. With the dry loo, at least you can see what’s going on and fix things before they get gross. It’s not perfect, but you’re right - it’s about deciding which headaches you’d rather have.

Stick with it. Once the routine settles in, it’s way less stressful than dealing with clogs and mystery leaks every season... at least in my experience.

Honestly, those black tank sensors are a joke after a while. I used to swear by them until I realized guessing was just as accurate.

Totally agree on the sensor thing - they’re basically a random number generator after one season. I tried cleaning mine with every “miracle” solution out there and still ended up playing the guessing game. Dry loo’s gross sometimes, but at least you know what you’re dealing with. I’d take bag mishaps over surprise leaks under the floor any day... though ask me again after a week of 90-degree heat.

I hear you on the sensors - after a couple years of RV maintenance, I’ve seen more “full” readings on empty tanks than I care to admit. One time, I even tried the ice cube trick (supposedly scrubs the sensors as you drive). All it did was make a racket and confuse my dog. Dry loos aren’t perfect, but at least you don’t need a degree in plumbing to figure out what’s going on. That said, those hot days... yeah, not my favorite either.

One time, I even tried the ice cube trick (supposedly scrubs the sensors as you drive). All it did was make a racket and confuse my dog.

- Been there, done that. The ice cube “hack” is more urban legend than solution - mostly just turns your tank into a maraca.
- Sensors are notorious for false readings. I’ve seen folks replace them and still get “full” on an empty tank.
- Dry loos definitely simplify things, but yeah, on those 90-degree days... let’s just say you find out real quick if your venting is up to snuff.
- Only upside: no more mystery clogs or wrestling with hose connections in the rain. That’s a win in my book.