Been looking into composting toilets lately, mostly cause I'm tired of dealing with plumbing headaches at the cabin. Seems like there's two main ways to go: the simple bucket-and-sawdust setup (cheap, easy, but maybe a bit hands-on) or one of those fancier self-contained units with fans and vents and all that jazz. Price difference is pretty noticeable, but I'm wondering if the convenience factor makes it worth it. Anyone tried either of these setups and have thoughts on which is better long-term?
I've been using the bucket-and-sawdust method at our off-grid cabin for about two years now. A few thoughts from experience:
- Definitely agree it's cheap and easy to set up. Literally took me an afternoon and some scrap wood.
- Maintenance isn't terrible, but yeah, it's hands-on. You gotta empty it regularly and keep a good supply of sawdust or peat moss handy.
- Odor control is surprisingly decent if you layer properly, but ventilation helps a ton. I rigged up a simple vent pipe myself, nothing fancy, just PVC and a small solar fan.
- Friends of ours went with one of those self-contained units. They love the convenience, but they've had issues with the fan motor once or twice. Plus, replacement parts weren't exactly cheap or easy to find locally.
Long-term, I think it depends on your tolerance for maintenance vs. upfront cost. Personally, I'm fine with the bucket system for now, but I do wonder if I'll feel the same way in five years...
Sounds like you've got a pretty solid setup going—especially that DIY vent pipe, nice touch. I've seen some self-contained units get finicky over time, so your simpler method might actually save you headaches down the road...
Gotta admit, DIY vent pipes make me a little nervous, but hey, if it works, it works. Seen too many fancy self-contained setups turn into maintenance nightmares. Simple can be solid...just keep an eye on airflow and odors.
I've been leaning toward the bucket method myself, mostly because fewer moving parts usually means fewer headaches down the line. But yeah, airflow seems key—don't wanna trade plumbing issues for odor problems...
