Best Zero-Maintenance Toilets for Off-Grid Cabins

Living off the grid in cabins among the rich forest vegetation has become a hobby for most people. Such a lifestyle brings about a balance in their life, and it is also environmentally friendly. 

As such, maintaining a toilet in these desolate areas could be a problem. However, with the right choice of composting toilets, you can take care of such problems! Wondering which zero-maintenance cabin toilets to go for? Keep reading to find out about them!

Innovative cabin toilets

Fitting a toilet inside an RV, cabin, or garden has become easy due to composting toilets. Such toilets are capable of breaking down waste effectively. Its design is such that the solid waste adequately separates from the liquid waste.

The idea behind the cabin toilet system is convenient and user-friendly. The type of cabin toilet available today employs less maintenance and is environment friendly. It uses an innovative concept to decompose waste in a way that is healthy for the environment. 

Cabin toilets have become a massive demand among many people who love nature and spend time outdoors. Many well-known brands have started to test and design a cabin toilet that caters to their customers’ needs. There are many varieties of brand options for a cabin toilet. It is, however, imperative that you do thorough research before you randomly pick one.

Look out for online websites that avail information about the various brands of cabin toilet in the market. You can weigh your option and pick a design that best fits your use and needs. 

Off the grid toilet options

Preparation is very crucial before you start your off the grid plans. Your plans should include ways to manage human waste and how to remove it. While considering which off the grid toilet options to choose, ask yourself the following questions for each product:

• Can I DIY my toilet?

To DIY means to Do-it-yourself. Ask yourself if you can build the outhouse, install the toilet, manage the tanks, hook up the plumbing, etc. If you cannot perform the tasks, it becomes necessary to call in extra help from the area. Hiring services to help means additional payment, which adds to your overall cost.

• How do the advantages and disadvantages of the product impact my family’s use?

Every compostable toilet product comes with a manual that includes assurances like “with regular usage.” However, if the number of family members living off the grid was large with one toilet for use, it becomes problematic. In such situations, the assurance of the compostable toilet product becomes less effective. A small number of people can serve its purpose well, but a considerable amount can pose a problem.

• What is the durability of the off the grid toilet options you are choosing?

Accessible outhouse toilets like a honey bucket or a hand-dug pit may be low-cost. However, such options only work temporarily.

• Consider the climate and temperature and if the product can function well in such areas.

• Consider whether the off the grid toilet options that you have in mind are legal in your area.

There are different ways to approach the concept of the toilet for off the grid locations. Some people prefer to build by themselves as long as they have the necessary carpentry skills. They browse for DIY ideas from well-known online websites as there are many out there.

However, the numerous creative designs of cabin toilet brands are another way to go. Some people prefer ready-made eco-friendly toilets as it costs less and fits easily. You can consider looking at:

Off-grid outhouses

If you choose to go for outhouse off-grid toilets, remember these essential tips

• Make a hole about 3 feet wide by five feet deep.
• Build the toilet at least 35 yards from the primary water source and downwards.
• Make sure to build the bathroom above the flood and water table level.
• Fix a door to the toilet and place a lid on the bathroom to keep out the flies.

With an outhouse comes maintenance. Check out my guide on How To Maintain Your Outhouse.

Efficient plumbing system to a tank or septic system

A dependable wind or solar power system coupled with generator backups helps in the proper functioning of a plumbing system. The plumbing pipes of a conventional toilet have an in-ground septic tank, septic field bed, or above ground sewage tank. However, in the absence of a proper power supply to run the water, you can get into trouble when you flush. 

It becomes even more difficult for off-grid toilet flush to work better during cold weather and cold areas. It would help if you used a well-encased sewage tank and pipe. Usually, above ground sewage tanks need such properly covered tubes and containers to avoid cracking or freezing. 

Usually, to avoid the tank freezing up, most people drain them out entirely before winter comes. Gradually the waste freezes as they continue to use the toilet during the winter. The concept behind the slow freezing prevents the immediate enlargement of massive amounts of garbage that could clog or burst.

Electric or propane incinerator toilet

Incinerator toilets are famous for burning up human waste. It does away with the trouble of digging a pit, need for water, or plumbing. However, such toilet designs require much energy to function as the heating process happens at a very high temperature. The device uses propane or electricity to power up. But some models use the same type of propane gas cellars used in barbeques. 

Honey buckets

The simplest form of toilets is the honey buckets. It requires a plastic-bag lined bucket and a toilet seat over it. It is cost-friendly, easy, and efficient. Many people prefer and use the honey bucket system of toilets when living off the grid. However, disposing of the waste can be much work. 

Most people dig up holes on their property to dispose of the waste. The problem lies in the cleaning up process, which is messy. It also requires you to empty the smelly bag and put the soiled bag away into the dump. Without putting the plastic bag out, you will be polluting the environment by burying plastic all over the property. 

Sometimes some areas provide a common dumping area for its resident to throw their waste. The temperature in such places lingers below freezing for around six months. 

Compostable off-grid toilets

Composting toilets are trending among many people these days. It evaporates the liquid waste and changes the solid waste, including toilet papers, into fertilizers/ compost. The process is safe and odorless.

You can choose from the many brands of compostable toilets available in the market today. Such toilets are easy to use and require low maintenance. Not all products are worth the money you pay, so thorough research is necessary. It is also essential to note that in some areas, such design of toilets is not legal. According to studies, some states do not allow compostable toilets and lists the number of places where their use is permitted.

Best composting toilet for off-grid

Compost toilets are the best way to efficiently and sustainably dispose of your waste. Almost all compost toilets have the appearance of the regular bathrooms, but their functions are very different. Only with proper research can you find out about the best composting toilet for off-grid.

The traditional toilets use water and come attached to either a septic system or a sewer. Compost toilets, on the other hand, do not use water and are self-run. It does not require flushing, any chemicals, plumbing, and are 100% organic and natural. You can research the best composting toilet for off-grid by looking into the different types of models available:

• Incinolet toilets

Incinolet toilets use extreme heat to dry up the human waste. The use of heat is a drawback as it requires and uses power at maximum. It requires proper venting and frequently uses a fan to spill out the waste chamber to the outdoors.

Gradually, the stool matter dries up and turns to dust. The dried-up dust can return to the earth or put in the garbage. It is not advisable to use such waste matter as fertilizers for your garden. To consider human waste as sterile, it needs proper heating under the right temperature and time.

The Incinolet toilet is ideal for tiny houses on wheels, like small RV homes. However, it needs a proper supply of power to function. 

• Self-sealing cartridge composting toilet- dry flush

The self-sealing cartridge toilets work like magic. Many people like that they do not have to see, smell, or handle the waste. Such products are effortless to use and make a user forget they are living off the grid.

A simple push of the button wraps the waste in a plastic bag, ties it, and sends it to a container. The container will empty the sealed pockets when it is full. Another advantage of using such compost toilets is that it does not give out any smell. 

The energy required to use such products is possible through car batteries or even from solar power. 

Cost should not be an issue when using such products. If you wish to enjoy a stable, clean, and accessible toilet features, paying a little extra should not be an issue. It should be like a one-time investment.

Waterless toilets for cabins

Many cabin owners face the water issue surrounding toilet systems. People with houses near lakes share healthy regard for conserving water and keeping their waste system healthy. The stress is even more during the holidays and weekends when more people share the toilet. 

Incinerating and composting toilets are the best option during such times. Such waterless toilets for cabins are eco-friendly, practical, and economical choice. 

You can check out some of the best environmentally healthy and clean to use waterless toilets for cabins.

• Biolet

The best advantages of the biolet toilet are that it saves water and economically installs easily, unlike traditional bathrooms. Customers also acknowledge the fact that the higher seat placement works best for them. The seat is 20 inches off the floor, which even allows disabled users to access quickly.  

The many positive reviews from customers suggest that the product consumes less water

• Envirolet

Envirolet toilets come in a modern bowl design and are well-known for being the first vacuum flush. The brand manufacturers of the product avail waterless-remote, low-water remote, and waterless self-contained toilets. Its installation is easy. Many customers appreciated that the product is not only modern in appearance but also its functions.

• Incinolet

The functions of such toilets are neat and clean as it incinerates the waste with electric heat. A paper bowl liner catches the debris, drops it into the incinerator box, and decreases it into ashes. According to many happy reviews, the incinolet toilets are a massive hit among many people, even the elderly.

• Nature’s Head

Nature’s head compost toilets are ideal when hosting big crowds during the weekends. Its design focuses mainly on withstanding the severe aquatic environment. However, you can also find perfect land installations for cabins. 

• Sun-Mar’s

The National Sanitation Foundation certified the Sun-Mar’s toilets for cottage and residential use. However, such composting toilets are also eligible for use in camps, pools, boats, and cabanas. As for remote cabins, the manufacturers of the product offer solar models. Such devices require less power, which makes it the best option for secluded places.

 An average person spends almost 92 days, which is equivalent to three months of their life sitting on the toilet. At such a rate, at least you deserve an excellent bathroom to do your business. There are numerous products out there in the market today. However, with proper research for the best composting toilet for off-grid locations, you can find the best fit. 

Even if you have to shell out a little extra dollar, do it. It is best to use authentic products with excellent features than to regret buying a cheap one. Low-priced products may seem attractive at first, but you will end up paying more in maintaining it.

Instead of wasting money, time, upkeep, and energy over repairs, make a one-time investment on a worthy product. An excellent product will last long, be environmentally friendly, and let you poop in peace.