I am from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana and my name is Rick. I've watched your videos of your bungalow and I am very impressed. I want to tell you that I admire you for your great work. I especially enjoyed your girl's music, they are so very talented. I'm a 61yr old retired man who would love to build me a tiny house. Just for myself, and you've inspired me to start seriously thinking about doing just that. I've subscribed and will be watching more of your videos. Thank You and God Bless you and your family. Rick,
Thanks so much for the kind words, Rick!! I sure hope you do get to build yourself a little place. Easy to hear and cool and easy to clean, cuz it's small. I am working on a house on my hill--nothing big, but a little more room than the bungalow. I'll post a video once my internet is back up. Had a storm that blew down some trees. Thanks again! If I can help, please don't hesitate to ask!
Great stuff. I save my urine for use in my garden. I dilute it at the ratio of 10:1, which seems to be the consensus. A few years ago people said it should be 20:1.
Jon, Cut a round disc the I.D. of the toilet vent fan mounting PVC reducer fitting. (I'm thinking a peanut can or oatmeal can plastic lid would be ideal and free.) Then cut a round hole in it the diameter of the fan blade. Use a few dabs of RTV to hold it in place in front of the fan, as close as possible to the suction side of the fan frame. This will create more efficient, higher velocity air flow. And will help prevent the ceiling mounted vent fan from causing a backdraft into the toilet and bathroom. To prevent the ceiling mounted vent from lowering the efficiency of the toilet vent fan, just cut 1/4" off the bottom edge of the bathroom door. Just tape it with masking tape before the cut to eliminate splintering. Great progress and innovative concepts and techniques in this project.
Ha! You're a mind reader. Left a gap under door when I installed....and been looking for a plastic lid that fit-- didn't think about the peanut can! Thanks!
Great Vid! The only thing I'd add is to route the front leading edge of the top, for comfort, and you'll need something to stir the bucket contents, as you go, so to speak. I'll definitely make this for my tiny home! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thankyou very much-- this has worked well-- and since there are 4 people using it, it gets emptied about every 8 days. Stirring would have no effect at all because not enough time elapses. Good luck on your project!
Actually, you don't need to stir. This creates additional cleanup messes. Some peat moss on top, light amount, plus van venting out gasses and lid in place should be enough.
Thank you for this video. I've seen a lot of DIY composting toilet videos and for me, yours is the best. It's fantastic how you break down and film the process. You filmed this really well for comprehencsion and that's helped me a great deal, thank you! Even though my plan is for making humus toilets is slightly different, I will still be using the urine diverter because I like the idea of separating urine which can be sterilized for other uses!
...upon watching with disappointment your few mistakes; i totally changed my mind about you after hearing you play the fiddle ; that was the icing on the cake! great job!
You Sir have fixed my problem of needing my bucket and urine separator in the same place but I can't cut out any holes in the bucket. Thank you so much for sharing because I would have never considered putting the bucket below the urine separator.
Loved it! This was sorely needed and you explained it so well. I liked the soft closing lid and the diverter install fine points. The supports for bucket footing, the hinges, placement of diverter and giving it enough room, so many small details. Also the framing support for where you sit, was something I would not have thought of. Great job! Love the folding ladder in background. Model?
thanks so much. I have just bought a urine diverting seat and having the Menonites build me a box for the pail. I am off grid so I liked the idea of the 12 volt fan. Went on ebay to check them out. There are many silent computer fans. I had the Menonites build me a tiny house. They thought that was pretty funny. I did lots of trades with them. Sold them horses, and gave them massages as I am a massage therapist. Fun stuff. Not sure what kind of fan to get . They range in rpns from 120 to 3000. Any advice would be appreciated.
@@grandpasmountain may i ask how's this going for you anyway? This is going to be my weekend project. I'm installing one in my home and i'm concerned about the smell. Is that little fan still pulling it's weight?
@@llieske That little fan ROCKS! We have ZERO smell in our bathroom. It's awesome. Doesn't matter what you do in there. I wish all toilets had the fan. I use bags (like in the Separette) and just carry the bucket outside, switch for a new bag, and replace the bucket. Takes 2 minutes. I do that once a week for 4 of us.
@@grandpasmountain thats great to hear. I've already started "practicing" with a lugaloo outside. There is definitely a smell whenever i lift the lid so the exhaust is a must. I don't know how people get by without it. Maybe they just more covering. I'm considering bags as well. I'm composting it so emptying buckets shouldnt be a big deal, might be better for composting the loads, but bags might do well too, dunno.
I think separating the urine is the best plan. Takes the girls a little effort to figure out how to aim well, haha. The bags just make it quick and easy. Too much crap sticks to the bucket and makes the process of switching buckets less sanitary. I started with several buckets, but now I just use the one. I got 2 fans on EBay for cheap, and I have a spare fan ready to go if the first fails.
Why would 8 thumbs-down ??? I'm #321 on the thumbs-up list, but I will put the fan switch on the top or front side (in process of getting an old village house near Tatarbunary Ukraine).
Actual composting toilets (the expensive ones) have an air intake and exhaust line so it sucks air from outside and exhausts that same air with any poo smell so the toilet has equal venting instead of sucking air from the home/RV and exhausting that, which would mean it's sucking outside air from some other crack/crevice in the home/RV.
That is noy true for all models. Even though we have a relatively small space, after over a year, it has worked wonderfully and helped keep the bathroom fresh.
In my camper I use composted wood chips that still have a little moisture in them. I also sprinkle a little Rid-X (septic tank additive) directly onto the poo before I cover it with the compost. No fan. I dared my sister to lift the lid and take a sniff. When she took the challenge......she asked for some of my Rid-X and compost for her horse trailer with living quarters. I dump the bucket into a plastic bag lined garbage can to compost for 6 months and then reuse the compost. The only change you might want to make is use a bigger bucket like the guy in New Zealand and drill holes in the bottom for increased air flow.
Harvesting peat moss is not a sustainable practice. It takes thousands of years for peat moss to develop, and harvesting it requires digging up bogs, which destroys the potential for regeneration of the swamp. Peat moss is being banned in some countries to protect rare plants and animals in peatlands and prevent the release of half a million tons of greenhouse gases from disturbed bogs each year. Hope you stick with the coffee grounds. They are great to recycle.
From my experience wood ashes are great for totally removing the smell from the compost toilet. I sprinkle them in from the fire when we are camping. It neutralizes the urine smell.
I had looked into building one of these for may cabin in NL but ended up selling the place. Haven't found a new spot yet but I'm keeping your video for this project. At least we got got a bit of tune this time around. the bungalow is looking great. I'm going to have a nice place to stay when I come to visit. HA!!!
Love your ideas! Now that you've spent some time with your composting toilet is there anything you would have changed or any tips or trick for those about to build and use one?
Thanks-- good question -- Overall, it has been a resounding success. I followed the model of the Separette Toilet. Compostable bags are the only way to go, for ease of use and sanitation. An "s" trap (like under a sink) somewhere would prevent occasional odors from popping up. I am adding an extension to the exterior vent, because when the breeze blows a certain way, some odor can get in the bedroom window-- maybe the fan should have been more powerful! My vent will extend to the peak and actually increase airflow because it should act like a chimney. Thanks for asking!!!
Going to use your exact same plan in an outhouse while the kids & I do our shed to home conversion! I wonder how often it would need to be emptied? And what do we do just cover it with a locking lid and let it finish composting down for the garden? Oh boy! The more I get into homesteading stuff the more i learn and find ways to SAVE MONEY!
Well...with 4 of us, it's once a week. You can buy composting bags and just switch out the full bag and add it to yoir compost heap -- no mess. I love the excitement I hear! Yes --it's fun and a great way to go!
Nice job on the video, I wonder if it would be more efficient if you you had the air flow coming directly from the top, or upper back of the bucket instead of randomly from the box ? Or maybe even adding inward vent holes half way up your bucket would in courage better air flow , quicker drying time, and less smell ? I need to build one and I greatly benefited from your video and nice touch with the violin. Thanks
Interesting and very informative video. Thanks much. QUESTION: why put the fan switch inside the toilet box and not outside the box so it can be easily used?
Thankyou! Haha! Well, first....the switch was an afterthought...and I thought the outlet I was installing would be far less accessible. You would not ever want to have the fan off (I know this for sure now!) unless you were servicing it -- i.e. cleaning the blades or replacing it. I have a spare fan in a zip lock hanging inside just in case. So far this has worked wonderfully and is completely odor free (unless the fan is off!).
Haha! We are living in it now, while we build a house. YES! We have instructed several guests so far. Aim is the big deal for girls...and sitting to pee for boys....or just use the woods!
Enjoyed your build series. In case you hadn't already discovered a great and inexpensive absorbent material for your toilet is hardwood pellets made for pellet stoves.
That was great, I wouldn't have bothered with the pee separator though, just my opinion. I have my own home made composting toilet at my off grid cabin. An over the toilet commode chair set over the bucket and you are good to "GO"
Thanks--- there are 4 of us now (I'm the only male), so the bucket itself wouldn't last very long! My grandkids slept over last night...same thing. Yeah, simpler is often better. I get a week between bucket changes.
Nooo... That would actually be bad. There is NO odor. None. The computer fan keeps a constant airflow out, so we have no smells :) If we had a seal on top of the bucket, the fan couldn't draw air from the bucket!
One thing I would change, would be to not have a full/flat front, with nowhere for your feet to move to (during "clean-up"). Keeping your feet directly below you assists in stability and mobility. I'd opt for a curved enclosure for the containers, allowing the feet to move back in alongside.
That makes sense. I had never thought of it....no one who's used it has said anything either. The center of gravity would be different as you went to rise.
Using the urine as fertiliser works extremely well for lawns. It makes them very lush and green but do remember to dilute it; five parts water to one part urine works well.
I would of put the fan switch on the outside of the box , & now all you have to do is make the complete box bug/spider/fly proof, you could use truck bed camper foam strip around base of toilet seat, to eliminate a bug problem, & as well around box lid, also, screen on fan vent pipe, to keep bugs / bees/ spiders out, you possibly could use a flapper type clothes dryer vent attached to the cabin with screen for bugs , & caulk everything, & won't yours ,& other guys tool always be resting on the pee separator, lol, just sayen
Turns out, I never want to shut off the fan, haha. The switch was simply sitting in my toolbox with a fuse, so I used it. No, we don't have any bugs at all. I do have a screen outside. There is no smell and it works great. There is enough clearance so we aren't hitting any body parts. Yeah...I did think of that.... ;)
Very good Jon, you need a little more of your compost material in bucket ,but very nice install. I wish I had seen you vid before I spent $1000 on Nature's Head unit ,which is a very good unit but not $900 better than yours. I need to make another toilet, do you have plans?
Thanks, Aaron. Because we're not stirring anything, we don't need a bunch of compost material-- Having 4 people here shortens the time I have to change things out. No actual composting can really occur in the toilet. I looked at all the top designs and didn't want to blow $1000+ for something so simple -- although I came really close! No, there are no plans. Thanks for writing!!
Composting toilets are great! Add 1 scoop of shavings when you go #1, and 2 for #2 and you shouldn’t have any smells(easy to remember lol) I bet you could use shavings from a hand plane, once you get to building another fiddle too!
@@grandpasmountain What liners are you using? I was considering this: www.amazon.com/dp/B077MWKYG9/?coliid=I22I9V6FFZZB57&colid=14A95WSBQSMDD&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1
Yes, there is a screen over the outlet pipe. Yes, the fan runs continually. It draws immeasurably little power and maintains a constant negative pressure, so odor free and dries out the poo.
Currently have a mini septic tank. Urine is sterile and can safely be run into the ground. A pit filled with rocks works, or a container buried with holes in it. Some people save it, dilute it and water their bushes!
@@ankersman i would imagine he has it with a fall, septic fields hav 1 1/4 inch for every ten feet so gravity works to use the flushing water and solids moving them. Since it's only liquid any fall will work, no solids to move. It runs about ten feet behind his building into a rock filled hole, where the ground absorbs it so no liquid in pipe to smell. With the fan, any wafting odor from the dry pee coating the pipe will be exhausted, and if you wanted you could use a one to one vinegar water mix to spray pee diverter, some add a little fragrant dish soap to the mixture for a clean fresh smell.
So how's it supposed to churn? It 💩needs to be be turned over🤔😨 to keep it moving, right? All the other ones I've seen do that with a paddle type churn. So maybe not required🤔. Well it looks really nice.🚽 Nice job saved u some💸💰💵💳👍2😉
Hi, Debbie-- it doesn't need to churn. If it were maybe just one or two people, and it was only emptied once a month, churning would have some purpose. Stuff doesn't break down that fast, honestly. With 4 of us, I empty about every 7-8 days. It's just a 5 gal. bucket, and it gets emptied when 3/4 full. Actual composting takes months....like 6-12 months. One gadget "churns" simply to bury the poops so they don't stink. We have no odor issue because we ventilate. Look up the Separette composting toilet. It costs about $1200 and is the #1 potty out there. My design essentially copies it.
Tips: Never wait until the bucket is full to decompose and dry out the waste. Between 1/3 full; not even 1/2 is best, if you are blessed with a 30 to 45 degree decline on the Sunny side of a hill it will speed up drying the waste and converting it to fertilizer. Waiting until the bucket is full before dealing with it will lead to unforeseen results for example: When the bucket hits the edge of a patio, porch or bench or maybe we trip over a stumbling block that that wasn't there before or we hit or trip over a tree root there would be a high likely hood of wearing the bucket and it's contents. I noticed a lot of homeless people living in the woods usually hang their butts over a log and the ones that care 1 or 2% buy a rake and the ones that don't care 98 to 99% let it pile up and shit on everyone and everything in the World. A turd on the surface becomes it's own eco-system.
The cheap little chinese fans only last so long (6-9 months) and I only use the little switch (which I had laying around) to change out the fan. I could have simply unplugged the thing....but I didn't know if the outlet was going to be easily accessible.
It's on all the time. Always sucking a little air out. No smell that way, and it dehydrates things. The Separette toilet works that way. I stole their idea :)
Everything overall has been great. Had 1 fan burn out, but I already had a spare. Salts from urine built up in pipe I used and slowed things down. Just switched to 1" pvc pipe. Other than that-- it has been a success! Thanks for asking!
