| When trying to decide whether a composting toilet is | | | | Many systems will also require an emergency |
| right for your home, there are many important | | | | overflow drain to be hooked up. Be sure to inquire |
| factors to take into consideration. Will your family and | | | | with the manufacturer or retailer before buying a |
| any houseguests be accepting of a different type of | | | | composting toilet, as this is an important thing to |
| toilet system? Will your lifestyle and schedule | | | | take into consideration before making a purchase. |
| accommodate a composting toilet? Are you able to | | | | The overflow drain is an important feature in those |
| maintain the unit easily on your own? But at the top | | | | toilets that require it, particularly if you live in a humid |
| of this list, you must ask yourself whether your | | | | climate and don't have air conditioning in your home. |
| home is equipped for installation of a composting | | | | Because the primary job of a composting toilet is |
| toilet system. There are a few limitations and | | | | evaporation, fluctuations in relative humidity can |
| exceptions when it comes to installing these units | | | | greatly affect the system's ability to evaporate |
| that homeowners need to be aware of. | | | | liquids. Having the drain hooked up will prevent any |
| First and foremost, if your home is on a slab | | | | possible backup of excess liquid. Drains must be |
| foundation and you have no basement or low lying | | | | hooked up in accordance with your local regulations |
| cellar, you will immediately be limited in the type of | | | | or building codes. Possible options for hookup might |
| composting toilet system you can choose. For | | | | include an old, unused septic tank, sewer line, drain |
| example, central systems are made up of a toilet | | | | pit, or holding tank. |
| fixture in the bathroom and a central composting unit | | | | Another consideration is venting. Most composting |
| on a lower level. This obviously will not work if your | | | | toilets have some type of venting system that helps |
| home has no lower level. The alternative option is a | | | | them maintain odorless operation. The vent is |
| self contained unit. Self contained composting toilets | | | | typically made up of 2 inch or 4 inch diameter PVC |
| are actually more popular than central systems for | | | | pipe that runs from the back or top of the unit to |
| this very reason, and also because they are very | | | | the outdoors. The direction that the pipe must run |
| simple to install. | | | | will vary depending on the type of toilet, so be sure |
| When shopping for a compost toilet, you'll also need | | | | to read all installation materials carefully before |
| to determine whether the unit requires any types of | | | | selecting and buying a unit. In some cases, the vent |
| plumbing hookups. There are two types of hookups | | | | stack must run vertically, directly upward from where |
| that may be required: water in and drainage out. The | | | | the toilet is located. In some homes, this might create |
| vast majority of composting toilets are waterless, | | | | a difficult or impossible installation. |
| meaning they require no water lines to be plumbed in. | | | | In reality, there are very few homes in which a |
| However, there are some systems that feature low | | | | composting toilet will not work. The key is in finding |
| flush toilets, using a very small amount of water as a | | | | the right unit for your home and your installation |
| flushing liquid. In this case, you will need access to | | | | needs. A little research and forethought before |
| running water. If your home lacks running water, you'll | | | | making your purchase can save a lot of time and |
| obviously need to seek out only those systems that | | | | headaches when it comes time to complete the |
| are completely waterless. | | | | installation. |