4 Things You Need To Know About Freezing Toilets

Large sections of the western United States are dealing with drought conditions, and for homeowners in this area, cutting back on water usage can be difficult. Once you've abandoned your swimming pool and let your grass die, it may seem impossible to reduce your water usage even more, but it can be done easily by switching from regular toilets to freezing toilets. Here are four things you need to know about this waterless alternative toilet.

What's wrong with regular toilets?

Regular toilets use a lot of water, so they're a big issue for homeowners in drought-stricken regions. About 27% of the average American home's water usage comes from flushing toilets. A single flush can use as much as seven gallons of water if you have an older toilet, and even newer, low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush. That doesn't sound like much, but remember, that's the amount of water used to flush the toilet a single time. If you have multiple people in your family, all using the toilet multiple times per day, the water usage adds up quickly.

If water restrictions have gone into effect in your city or town, choosing a waterless toilet like a freezing toilet is an easy way to drastically reduce your water usage.

How do freezing toilets work?

Freezing toilets are fairly straightforward. They look similar to regular toilets: they still have a toilet seat and a bowl. Underneath, instead of a connection to the sewers, they have a freezer compartment. This compartment holds your waste and freezes it to about -15°C (5°F). This temperature freezes your waste and stops the growth of bacteria. The frozen waste remains in the freezer compartment until you empty it out.

What do you do with the frozen waste?

Once the freezer compartment beneath your toilet is full, you need to empty it into your compost bin. The waste should be combined with your kitchen scraps, weeds from your garden, newspapers, and other compostable household objects. Cover the pile with a layer of hay or grass clippings to hold in the smell. Eventually, a nutrient-rich soil will be produced.

Are they permitted everywhere?

Before you purchase a freezing toilet, check your local and state laws to make sure that this type of toilet is permitted where you live. You also need to check the requirements surrounding the compost since not all areas let you use compost made from human waste in your garden.

If you need to cut back on your water usage, consider getting rid of your current toilets and installing waterless alternatives like freezing toilets. For more information, contact Black Forest Plumbing or a similar company.

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