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Incinerating toilets, and building codes

[email protected] | Posted in General Discussion on November 11, 2009 07:29am

I have been asked to install an incerating toilet, into a house built by the CCCs in the 1930s. 

The site is historical, so we can’t do any onsite excavtion, with out a lengthy cleance process from the archeologists.  The existing septic system dates from when the house was built, and would need to be replaced.  The site is in a meadow next to a creek, in a canyon.  Which will make it difficult to get a drain field to work. 

So, the incinerating toilet may be the best solution. 

Does anyone know of any code restrictions, or requirements on the installation?

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Replies

  1. mizshredder2 | Nov 11, 2009 07:38pm | #1

    I believe LUKA may be able to help you with this topic.

    OH LUKA!

     

     "I'm a work in progress; still learning every day!"

    1. mizshredder2 | Nov 11, 2009 07:39pm | #2

      See Post #1 above please...

       

       "I'm a work in progress; still learning every day!"

      1. User avater
        Luka | Nov 11, 2009 08:27pm | #3

        Thank you Clara.=0)..It's all fun and games, until someone puts an eye out..You are always welcome at Quittintime

  2. User avater
    Luka | Nov 11, 2009 08:54pm | #4

    I have an incinolet.

    I don't know a lot about the codes and such. Other than the fact that you have to meet electrical codes, of course. And that you don't have to have any special permits, etc, where I live.

    The coast guard, and other official agencies use them.

    The one time I looked into using one 'in place of' an actual septic system, I recieved mixed signals.

    First, this county doesn't like accepting anything out of the ordinary, but apparently they have to accept the incinolet, because the aforementioned emergency services, and some houseboats use them.

    Second, if the dwelling is a standard dwelling, and could possibly ever be bought by anyone else in the future, and lived in... The septic system HAS to be installed ANYWAY.

    Some things you won't find on their website:

    They DO stink. My neighbor thinks it smells like gunpowder being used.

    Make sure you get it vented well above the house, just like a woodstove would be. Add a squirrel cage fan in the venting, for extra force, if needed, to get it vented that high. Use a screened cap on the vent to keep the rain and vermin out.

    Clean out the ashpan, OFTEN. (I do so, every 3 to 4 uses.)

    Have an alternate 'means' available for emergencies, such as diarreah. The liners do not hold all that much.

    In the case of the 'emergency', the liner does not retain everything, when you press the pedal, and you may end up with 'spillage'. Not a fun thing.

    In the case of the ashpan being too full of ashes, you can get the same results.

    Emptying the ashpan can be a pain, as well. You have to stoop all the way down, remove the front panel, then undo a clip. After the clip is undone, you have to carefully remove, and empty the pan, then carefully put it back, making sure you have a good seal.

    The entire time you are pulling and returning the pan, that clip is in the way. So you have to actually get all the way down there, and use both hands.

    Then replace the front panel.

    If you are older, that gets difficult. I have set aside a cheap old, small shop vac just for the purpose of reaching down into the ashpan from above, with the incinolet bowl 'open' as in a flush... and vacuming out the ashes, instead.

    After a few months of useage, I noticed that I was not getting complete burns. Not even when cycling it twice per use.

    I never did put any liquids in it. When I noticed the incomplete burns, I also stopped putting any paperwork in. Now all that goes in, is the solids, and the bowl liner. Still have to watch those burns...

    I am thinking of making a winter project of taking the incinolet apart and making sure that everything is clean. And cleaning out the catalytic convertor, as well. To see if that helps any with the smell and the incomplete burns.

    ..It's all fun and games, until someone puts an eye out..You are always welcome at Quittintime

  3. sisyphus | Nov 12, 2009 01:41am | #5

    Perhaps a composting toilet is another option. I was checking some out at http://www.envirolet.ca several months ago. I read about them somewhere but have no experience with their product.

    The only waterless toilet I installed was 30 years ago and the HO seemed happy with it but it was huge (in the bathroom) and as Luka noted it was smelly outside. Perhaps the size mitigated the need for frequent emptying. The envirolet toilet I looked at had a remote tank in the space below the bathroom floor IIRC.

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