Commonly Asked Questions About The Natures Head Marine Composting Toilet
Below we answer the most common questions about the nature's head compost toilet. For even more information, be sure to check out some of our real world Nature's Head Reviews.
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Nature's Head Specifications
How Does The Natures Head Marine Toilet Separate Liquids From Solids?
When the trap door is closed, the urine from anywhere in the bowl will flow to the bottle. When the trap door is open, a person is sitting, and the urine will still divert to the front.
Does the fan on the Nature's Head need to run all the time?
If you are using the Nature's Head toilet full time, you do need to run the fan full time. This is important so you can enable to the compost to process faster.
If you are not going to use the toilet for 10 days or more, then unplug the fan. If you don't the compost will tend to become too dry and hard. Also do empty out and clean the urine bottle before leaving your Nature's Head toilet.
HOW MUCH POWER does the fan use?
The fan draws 1.7 amps in 24 hours which is about .85 watts per hour. For household current this power use equals about 4 CENTS per month.
What is the WEIGHT of the unit?
The gross empty weight is 28 pounds.
What are the DIMENSIONS of the unit?
At the widest part, the toilet is 19 inches. Other dimensions are: 20 inches tall, 17 3/4 inches front to rear, and 13 inches wide at the base. The toilet is 16 1/4 inches wide at the seat.
Will FREEZING TEMPERATURES damage the toilet?
Empty the urine bottle. The compost and toilet will be unharmed in freezing weather.
What is the Nature's Head made of?
The metal parts are stainless steel. The toilet is polyethylene plastic.
Can the toilet be used in a BASEMENT?
Yes it will work fine in a basement and any room or closet where a toilet is required.
Can it be used on a boat or RV with a WET BATH (shower in the head)?
Yes. Make sure that the mounting brackets are well sealed to prevent water from entering the bilge. You will also need to drill a hole in the urine tank holder to drain any water from it, or cover it when you shower. Please call us for additional help when you are ready to install.
Does the Nature's Head require electricity?
Yes, the Nature's Head toilet requires electricity to run the fan. It comes wired ready for 12 v DC (battery hook up) or you can run it standard 110
Why Is The Natures Head Self Contained Toilet Seat Molded Into The Unit?
This toilet seat is much simpler to clean. Additionally, this seat is sturdier, it won’t crack or break. Because we designed this toilet for the “mobile” market, this became a safety issue. I have spoken with boaters who have had a toilet seat break off in rough conditions. With some toilets, boaters have lifted the seat to sit on the base of the toilet to avoid this problem. (That can’t be comfortable). While this isn’t as likely with an RV, it would not be out of the question.
Emptying the Nature's Head Composting Toilet
When Should I Empty The Nature's Head Waterless Toilet?
The Nature's Head is a waterless, self-contained, urine separating, dry composting toilet. The key term here is "composting toilet". In order to truly break down the waste, time is needed so the longer the waste has to sit the more completely the composting process is.
In most full-time use cases with the Nature's Head toilet, leaving the waste in the solids bin to fully compost is simply not practical. Therefore, an external compost pile is a great place to dispose of your waste from the Nature's Head so it can finish breaking down.
The longer you wait before emptying your toilet, the nicer the job will be. Many Nature's Head toilet owners will leave the solid wastes in the toilet over the winter and empty it in the spring. That may not be possible for some applications, but you will find that even in as little as one week much of the solid wastes have begun to decompose, and just the paper products are visible.
It is best if you do not leave the liquid wastes in the liquid storage bottle for extended periods. While everyone is different, some urine will smell bad if allowed to sit for extended periods.
How often should I empty the Nature's Head solids bin?
That varies with the number of people and the time period of use. For 2 people using the Nature's Head a full time it takes about 3 weeks. The more people the shorter the times between emptying the solids bin. Nature's Head is design for a user capacity of 1-4 people at full time.
For part time use, for instance 2 people using it just for weekends, then the time between emptying can extende t o2 months or more.
When should I empty the Nature's Head Liquids bottle?
It is best to change this out as frequently as possible. You should not leave liquid urine in the tank for extended periods. Though this may vary, the urine will start developing odors if it sit in the bottle for extended periods.
Where Do I Empty My Nature's Head Self Contained Toilet?
There are two pieces to dumping a Nature's Head toilet. The urine bottle and the solids bin. The Natures Head liquids urine bottle will hold about 2.2 gallons of liquid and will need to be emptied more frequently than the solids bin for most installations. Urine is a great fertilizer for mature trees or can be diluted for plants. Diluting Urine with eight parts water to one part urine will ensure you have a great liquid fertilizer for your plants and smell will not be an issue.
The compost bin will be handled slightly differently. Ideally, the compost section would be emptied in a compost pile or bin. In some installations, this isn't possible. If traveling, it can be disposed of in a bag and disposed of with the trash or buried.
Where can I empty the Nature's Head Urine bottle?
Urine is great for mature trees. If it is diluted with water, it can be used to water plants.
Preventing and treating Fruit Flies or Gnats:
If your toilet incurs flies or gnats, we suggest using Ortho Home Defense for flying bugs with Essential Oils or Wondercide Indoor Natural Pest Control for Home and Patio (Cedar scent). Spray interior sides, and also spray around the toilet area. Both sprays are pet and kid safe.
One of our customers told us that a mothball cake attached to the bottom of the seat section (underneath the seat) but not directly in the compost medium, should alleviate the problem. The fan vent would then remove the mothball smell from the room.
If your toilet incurs flies or gnats, add two cups of natural Diatomaceous Earth to the compost. This will kill and deter any future infestation. The Diatomaceous Earth can be purchased at swimming pool supply stores, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.
Nature's Head Composting & Solids Bin
Does Nature's Head Toilet require a compost medium to process waste?
Yes. Peat moss or coco coir would work well. Composting process requires aerobic bacteria to work. Mixing in either the peat moss or coco fiber helps break apart the feces to allow the aerobic bacteria get its oxygen so it can break down the waste quickly and without odor.
What should I do if my Nature's Head agitator handle is hard to turn?
If your agitator is not turning, it mean your compost is too dry. You can add used coffee grounds to add moisture and that can help keep the compost loose for better mixing.
Can I Use The Nature's Head Waterless Composting Toilet Standing Up?
You can stand to urinate but is recommended to sit. There is not a lift up toilet seat, so males should be conscious about not leaving liquid on the seat.
Does The Nature's Head Toilet Smell Bad?
If maintained properly, the Natures Head toilet should never smell bad. The separation of the urine from the solids in the Nature's Head dry composting toilet is the key to an odorless toilet. When working properly it will have a slight earthy smell which may differ slightly depending on the composting toilet bulking material used.
Ensuring that your Nature's Head fan and Nature's head vent are installed and functioning properly will also help with keeping smells away. The fan and vent work together to help remove excess liquid in the Natures Head toilet solids bin.
If your composting toilet does begin to smell bad, there are a few common causes that are very easy to fix. One cause may be a simple fan malfunction. Be sure your Nature's Head toilet fan is plugged into a power source and is operational. Without the fan and vent, liquids will evaporate at a much slower rate and may cause a bad odor.
Another common issue that could cause bad odor is a poorly sealed liquids bottle. If you experience a urine smell from the Nature's Head composting toilet, be sure to check the liquids bottle and make sure the seal is tight to the bottle when the nature's head top lid is in the down and latched position.
What kind of TOILET PAPER must be used?
Any kind of toilet paper will work, however single ply paper breaks down quicker. Many single ply papers are approved for septic tanks.
Is it ok to dispose of TAMPONS in the bin?
We do not recommend this. Many brands of tampons are made from a mix of rayon and non-organic cotton, and are commonly chlorine-bleached. These will not decompose. Organic, 100% cotton tampons will compost, but will take a significant amount of time.
What should I do if the compost in my Nature's Head is TOO WET?
In cases like prolonged diarrhea or excessive condensation, add small amount of your composting bulking material (coco fiber OR peat moss).
Make sure that the liquids in the solids bin is not from someone directly urinating into the compost solids bin. Urinating in the solids bin can lead to unpleasant smells. The compost area should only have a musty earthy smell.
What should I do if the compost in my Nature's Head is TOO DRY?
If the compost is too dry or hard, and add some water wait for the peat moss or coco fiber to absorb the moisture, then turn the agitator.
Where can I empty the Nature's Head Solids bin?
The solids bin is compostable material, so you can add it to your compost pile/bin or buried. Otherwise it can be disposed of in the bag and thrown in the trash.
Does composting work in COLD CONDITIONS?
Composting works from 55 degrees and warmer. The warmer it is, the faster it compost. When the temperature drops to freezing, the compost will be dormant until heat is introduced into the area.
Can i put VEGETABLE SCRAPS in the solids bin?
No. Vegetable scraps may retard the speed of breaking down the solids. Additionally, disposing of them in the solids bin will cause the bin to fill up prematurely. Use only sphagnum peat moss or coconut coir.
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