FAQs

                                                                                                                                      Is there any odor?  

  No. The separation of the urine from the solids is the key to odorless operation. It is the mixture of the liquid and solid waste that cause the off gassing we associate with sewage smells.  When working properly, your toilet will have a slight earthy smell.

                                                                                                    How do I know when it is time to empty the solids bin?

  Generally, when the handle gets hard to turn, you have more solid waste than compost material in the solids bin and it is time to empty.

                                                                                              How long should I wait to empty after the last usage?

  The longer you wait before emptying your toilet, the nicer the job will be.  Many boaters will leave the solid waste 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 waste has begun to decompose and just the paper products are visible.  For full-time users, it is recommended to wait 6 to 8 hours after the last use, as the harmful bacteria found in fecal matter dies after exposure to air.  It is best if you do not leave the liquid waste in the tank for extended periods.  Unlike solid waste, urine will smell worse over time and can stain the bottle.

                                                                                                                                Where do I empty it?

  Urine is great fertilizer for mature trees because of its nitrogen content and can be diluted for plants. While there are many books written on this subject, it is best to dilute the urine with at least 50% water, so it doesn't harm the vegetation.  Ideally, the compost section would be emptied in a compost pile or bin.  If traveling, it can be disposed of in a bag or buried.

                                                                                                     How does is separate the urine from the solid waste?

  If only urinating, it is recommended to leave the trap door shut in the closed position.  When the trap door is closed, the urine from anywhere in the bowl will flow to the bottle.  There is a small gap or opening in front of the trap door that allows any urine deposited here to flow into the liquids bottle.  Generally, while seated on the toilet (male or female) urine will flow into the urine drain holes located in the front of the bowl.  Some women may find it better to lean forward or rearward to help direct the urine into this area, especially if the trap door is open for making a solids deposit.   HINT: If you tend to do BOTH (solids and urine) deposits at the same time and are having trouble keeping the urine out of the solids bin, you might try placing a coffee filter on the closed trap door before going. The solid waste will land on the coffee filter (keeping the trap door clean) and the urine can still flow around it to the urine tank.  When you are finished going, open the trap door and the filter and solids will drop into the solids compartment. Spritz the bowl as usual to remove anything leftover.  The extra paper will not hurt your compost but may reduce the number of uses before the need to empty. 

                                                                                                               What kind of toilet paper do I use?

  Any kind of toilet paper will work; however, single ply paper breaks down quicker.  Any kind of toilet paper can be deposited into the compost material. However, the more toilet paper that is added, the quicker the material will need to be changed.  Some users put all toilet paper into the base, while other users put the toilet paper from urination only into a trash receptacle, and others put all toilet paper into a trash receptacle.  There is not a wrong disposal method, rather a personal choice of each user.

                                                                                                         Will my toilet still work in cold conditions?

  Your Toilet will still function fine in cold temperatures as what we are doing in the short term is drying out the solid waste.  This is accomplished with the substrate (coco or peat) and the small fan, so the drying process is not affected by temperature.  The Composting (turning it into fertilizer) of the solids is both time and temperature dependent. Generally, nothing will compost below 55 Degrees Fahrenheit.  Conversely, the warmer temperature, the faster things will compost. When the temperature drops to freezing, the compost will be dormant until heat is reintroduced into the area.  If the temperature reaches below freezing, it may freeze the compost material, (depending on the moisture or solid waste content) making the handle unable to turn.  Do not force the agitator through frozen or solid compost.  If you plan to leave the toilet unattended in subzero temperatures, it may be desirable to empty the solids and the urine tank and just start fresh when you return.

                                                                                                             How much power does the fan use?

  The fan draws less than 1.8-amp hours in a 24-hour period and is designed to run continuously.  

                                                                                                                Can I use it standing up?

  You can stand to urinate but it is recommended to sit.  There is not a lift-up toilet seat, so males should be conscious about not leaving liquid on the seat. The trap door MUST remain closed to be used while standing.  With the Trap Door closed, all liquids will flow to the liquids bottle

                                                                                                                How do I clean the toilet?

  After each use, spray a 1:1 vinegar and water solution in the bowl and down the holes in the front of the bowl to clean the urine trap to prevent build up.  If build up occurs it can cause a partial or full blockage causing urine to drain into the compost material.   You can also use this solution to spray around the bowl, wipe with toilet paper and throw the toilet paper into compost bin or in the trash. Do not allow toilet paper to get into the urine drain holes as this can also cause a blockage in the urine trap.

                                                                                 What products can and cannot be used on the Nature's Head?

  Products that should not be used are: bleach, any product containing bleach, anything abrasive (comet, scratch pads, toilet brushes), magic erasers, toilet bowl cleaner or any other harsh chemicals.  Bleach and other chemicals are harmful to the compost process.  Abrasive items and products can remove the protective coating and cause staining.

  Products that should be used are: 1:1 vinegar and water solution, simple green, Dawn dish soap, and Lemishine.

                                                                                                               When does the fan get used?

The fan should be used 24 hours a day.  If the toilet will not be used for extended periods, you may want to unplug it as it may dry out the compost material and potentially make the handle hard to turn.  Conversely, in humid environments where the compost tends to remain moist or even wet, we recommend that the fan run continuously. Dry or slightly moist compost is always preferable. Compost that is too wet can lead to odor issues. 

                                                                                Does Nature’s Head toilets require any sort of substrate to process the waste?

  Yes.  Either organic sphagnum peat moss or organic coco coir will work well.  The substrates leach the moisture content out of the solid wastes which is essential to the drying process and prevents smells in the short term.  Composting requires aerobic bacteria to work.  An aerobic organism survives and grows in an oxygenated environment.  Oxygen is the key ingredient that allows aerobic bacteria to break down waste quickly and without odor.  Mixing in either the sphagnum peat or coco coir breaks apart the feces to allow the aerobic bacteria to get its oxygen. Without oxygen, (wet systems or wet environments) anaerobic bacteria will thrive, slowing the composting process and will produce a smell.

                                                                                                Will freezing temperatures damage the toilet?

  Empty the urine bottle because the urine can expand and potentially crack the bottle. The compost and toilet will be unharmed in freezing weather, although the compost may freeze preventing proper operation. 

                                                                                                    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 is the difference between the SPIDER HANDLE and the FOOT SPIDER HANDLE?

  The SPIDER HANDLE has three straight arms with black knobs and is designed to be used with your hand.  The FOOT SPIDER HANDLE has three curved arms providing a larger surface area, and is designed to be used with your foot, but can also be turned using your hand.  The spider handle and the foot spider handle work equally well and the choice between the two are strictly a personal preference. The FOOT spider handle is wider and will add 1 inch to the width of the toilet.

                                                                                                          Does the toilet need to be vented?

  While we have numerous customers who do not vent their toilets, we recommend that the toilet be vented to the outside whenever possible.  There is a 4-foot ventilation hose that comes with the toilet and a flange to help with single walled installations (boats, outhouses, etc.).  For double walled construction (typical house or cabin construction), we recommend the use of 1 1/4 PVC to go through the wall.  The hose cuff or end on the hose will attach directly to the PVC pipe aiding in the installation process.  We do not include the outside portion of the vent system with the toilet as it will be different for each type of application.  We offer a Shell Vent for the cabin type installations which will attach directly to the 1 1/4 PVC pipe.  We offer the Mushroom vent which may be helpful in marine type or Mobile installations where it might be desirable to close the venting for a period of time.