Which dry closet to choose for your dacha: tips for choosing and review of the best models

The lack of a traditional bathroom in a summer cottage is a serious inconvenience that can significantly overshadow the beauty of country life.But this problem can now be solved quite simply.

Even if there is neither space nor desire to build a house with a cesspool, it is enough to purchase a dry toilet. But how do you decide on the most suitable model? Agree, it’s worth finding out the details before purchasing.

The article we presented explains in detail which dry closet to choose for your dacha, introduces existing varieties, and highlights the features of operation. Focusing on reliable information, you will not make a mistake in your purchase, but will purchase the ideal option for you.

We describe in detail the design features of the models, the specifics of their placement and the principle of content processing. A brief overview of dry closets in demand on the market from leading domestic and foreign manufacturers is provided. The information is supported by a useful selection of photos and videos.

Types of dry closets for summer cottages

A dry toilet is an effective alternative to stationary plumbing. It does not need a connection to sewerage or water supply. The disposal of human waste products in it occurs due to natural or chemical substances.

The compactness of this device allows you to transport it in a car, using it not only at your summer cottage, but also simply in nature when holding a picnic or other events outside the city, away from city amenities.

The dry closet is completely autonomous, since it does not need to be connected to the sewer network.It will take just a few minutes to install such a toilet in the country and create a latrine.

All models of dry toilets according to the method of waste purification and the type of active substance are divided into:

• peat – the main components of peat recycling and bacteria in it;
• liquid – use household chemicals;
• electric – recycling of excrement is carried out thanks to electricity.

Structurally similar plumbing is a classic “chamber pot”. Only it does not have to be taken out after each use, and wastewater is processed using special bacteria, chemicals or electricity. In detail about the device, specifics of operation and rules for using a dry toilet, we talked here.

The presence of check valves in the design prevents the spread of toilet amber from inside.

Type #1 - peat (compost)

From the point of view of correct terminology, a toilet with the prefix “BIO” can be called specifically and exclusively peat models.Everything happens in them on the basis of natural processes.

The peat inside them serves as a kind of sponge, and special biobacteria process waste, turning it into compost for garden beds.

Often such a toilet is called a “powder closet”. This term means sprinkling (“powdering”) fecal waste with powdered compounds (ash, peat, sawdust, etc.).

A peat dry closet is also called a “compost” toilet. The principle of its operation is based on the natural biological decomposition of organic matter - composting of organic waste

Among the advantages of a peat dry closet are:

• relative cheapness of plumbing fixtures;
• low cost of consumable components based on peat;
• absolute environmental friendliness due to the absence of the need to add any chemicals;
• the possibility of using the processing result as fertilizers;
• no need for water supply on the site.

But before you choose a peat dry closet for your dacha, you should know that it will not be able to completely get rid of toilet odors. He is simply structurally incapable of doing this.

There is only one container in which the ripening compost is processed and stored. And no water pumps or check valves. The kit includes an exhaust pipe that removes odors, but nothing more.

After a person visits the latrine, waste, thanks to gravity, falls into the lower container and is sprinkled with peat on top. The filtered and purified liquid is subsequently partially evaporated through the hood. And the solid residues remain in place and rot, turning into fertilizer for garden plants.

But here lies the main problem of such a toilet.If ten people come to the dacha at the same time to relax, then the compact portable option will not cope with their waste.

It is necessary to either look for a more capacious stationary model, or organize partial drainage of liquid waste into the ground.

The active substance should only be used as recommended by the manufacturer of a particular dry closet. “Toilet” peat is produced in the form of granules, powders and compositions with additives (lime, sawdust, pine bark, etc.).

And each mixture has its own effectiveness. We advise you to look at a comparative review of popular fillers for peat toilets.

On average, 1 kg of clean peat allows you to process about 10 kg of excrement.

The compost fertilizer formed in the lower tank of the peat dry closet is too active to be used immediately after filling the tank; it is best to unload it into a compost pit so that it can completely rot there within a few months

Type #2 - liquid (chemical)

The liquid dry closet is designed according to a scheme similar to its peat counterpart. There is an upper tank and a lower one, each of which uses its own liquid. In the upper module it is deodorizing, washing - to reduce odors and wash away excrement, and in the lower module it is processing (dissolving).

This version of the biotoilet involves chemical dissolution of waste followed by disposal of the resulting liquid.

The main advantage of chemical toilets is their compactness and efficiency; their main disadvantage is the need to empty the storage tank into the sewer system, since it is not recommended to pour the collected contents into the ground

Liquids for this type of dry closets are divided into three groups according to their composition:

1. Formaldehyde – red, toxic.
2. Ammonium – blue, low toxicity.
3. Biological (with bioactive bacteria) – green, relatively safe.

Formulations based on formaldehyde can only be discharged into a centralized sewer system. Their components are too toxic to be allowed to enter the soil of a summer cottage.

Ammonium-based liquids are less harmful; they can already be used as fertilizer for lawn grass or shrubs in hedges. They are not intended for feeding vegetable and fruit crops.

Waste processed with bioactive compounds is quite suitable for fertilizing a country garden. But it is better to leave them for two to three years beforehand for more thorough fermentation in a compost pit. You cannot immediately pour these liquids onto the beds or under the apple trees.

With a volume of the upper dry toilet container of 22–24 liters, one liter of formaldehyde composition is enough for 1.5–2 months of use. A liter bottle with ammonium-based concentrate will last for 2–2.5 months, and an analogue with bacteria will last for 3 months.

But formaldehyde and ammonium compounds are approximately equal in cost, and biological ones cost 5–6 times more than them.

To transfer wastewater from the upper reservoir to the lower one, liquid models are equipped with a bellows, piston or electric pump (the latter requires an electrical connection or charged batteries)

A liquid dry toilet for a summer residence is chosen, as a rule, when a compact device for a child is needed. Such a toilet can be easily transported in a passenger car and can quickly be put into operation.

It is not worth installing a stationary liquid model with a large lower tank on a personal plot.With comparable volumes of waste processing, it will have to be emptied more often than a peat toilet. Plus, drainage requires a sewer system.

Liquids sold for this toilet must be diluted in water in accordance with the instructions. They are in a concentrated state in the bottle; they cannot be used undiluted.

Flushing in a liquid toilet is done using a built-in bellows pump. The use of deodorizing and disinfecting compounds eliminates the formation of standard unpleasant odors

Type #3 - electric (volatile)

Visually, a dry toilet with electric excrement disposal is similar to a liquid toilet. However, their processing processes are fundamentally different.

In electric models, liquid must be removed from the incoming masses instead of diluting, as in chemical ones. First, the excrement is separated into liquid and solid fractions. Liquids are discharged into a cesspool or into the sewer system.

Solid and wet residues are subjected to:

• combustion in a sealed chamber;
• or drying with disinfectant powder.

In both cases, the resulting mass takes up space and weighs very little. Subsequently, it can be used to fertilize green spaces in the country.

An electric dry closet is the most expensive of these autonomous toilets (costs about 45,000–60,000 rubles). It is aesthetically pleasing and compact, but requires uninterrupted power supply

In addition to the high cost and need for electricity, such models of dry closets have another drawback - they require forced ventilation.

It is impossible to avoid odors when burning or drying excrement.Only the presence of a good ventilation system will allow you to get rid of the accumulation of these ambers in the bathroom.

Basic parameters for choosing a dry toilet

The operating principles of the three types of devices listed above differ, but when choosing a dry closet for your dacha, there are a number of general parameters that should be taken into account. For starters, you can compare types of dry toilets among themselves on key parameters that are important to you.

But the most important thing is to look at its dimensions and capacity, the body material and the active substance used. The presence of additional functions and devices is more related to the issue of ease of use of this type of plumbing fixture.

When using a bio-toilet at the dacha in winter, it is necessary to change the filler more often, and it would not hurt to add non-toxic antifreeze or propylene glycol to the dissolving liquid

The eight most important parameters for choosing a dry closet model:

1. Presence or absence of a built-in drive full indicator – not important, but a convenient detail.
2. Seat height – for a child, 32–34 cm will be most convenient, and for adults it is better to choose options with a standard height of 42–46 cm.
3. Waste tank volume – a large one takes longer to fill, but it is also heavier to carry and more difficult to empty.
4. Matching the storage capacity to the number of users – liquids and peat have a limited period of use, after which they need to be changed (a container that is too large will not have time to fill completely, and the filler in it will still have to be changed).
5. Pressure valve on the lower tank of the fluid device, which closes the ventilation hole so that when moving the tank, the contents do not splash out in different directions.
6. Housing material – polypropylene, polypropylene with fiberglass, polyethylene (it is better to exclude the latter if the dry closet is chosen for use at the dacha in winter).
7. Installation principle – portable or stationary device.
8. Permissible load – from 120 to 400 kg.

To make it easy to carry and unload the storage tank, it should have wheels and a reliable handle. Also, before purchasing, you should pay attention to the specifics dry toilet maintenance and cleaning - It’s not very pleasant to have to clean the drive after each use.

And when choosing a specific model, you should focus on the weight of the largest family member. The plastic toilet seat and toilet body must be able to support an overweight person, if he is among relatives or guests of the dacha.

Another important point is the complexity of installing and connecting a specific model to communications (if this is assumed when using your dry closet). We discussed the installation features of various toilets in our other article.

Brief overview of manufacturers and models

Before going to the store, you need to correctly assess the required capacity and dimensions of the plumbing fixtures in question. If a compact design is required, then it is better to opt for a liquid model with a lower capacity of up to 21 liters.

And if you need a more convenient option with longer reboots, then you should take a closer look at the peat analogue with a storage capacity of 100 liters or more.

But which dry toilet for a summer residence is better from the point of view of the country of manufacture and manufacturer? The choice here is frankly small.

The country of production is not particularly important. Both in Russia and in Europe, this plumbing fixture is produced using common technologies and standards. You should not buy only frankly cheap products of unknown origin.

Russian liquid and peat dry closets are in no way inferior to imported analogues, but are slightly cheaper due to the proximity of production to the buyer

Among the main manufacturers:

• according to liquid models – “Thetford” (Netherlands), “BIOFORCE” (China) and “Enviro” (Canada-USA);
• for peat devices – “Kekkila” (Finland), “Piteco” (Russia), “Compact-Eco” (Russia) and “Biolan” (Russia).
• on electrical appliances – “Cinderella” (Norway) and “Separett” (Sweden).

Choosing the right model in a plumbing store largely depends on the needs of the buyer. The product range of each presented manufacturer is quite extensive; there are options both portable for transportation by road and stationary for installation in the country on a permanent basis.

When purchasing, it is advisable to focus on rating of the best dry closets for a summer residence and a private home and reviews from the owners of your favorite model.

The price range of dry toilets is wide - from 3000–3500 for a peat model to 80000–90000 for an electric unit with a heated toilet seat. The service life of these devices is the same for almost all manufacturers - up to 10 years.

By definition, they are resistant to filler chemistry; they are more likely to simply break due to old age or mechanical stress.

Don’t want to buy a cheap model, but the option you like is quite expensive? In such a situation, you can make a dry closet yourself. We described in detail what materials are needed and how to assemble them correctly in next article.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Interesting and useful videos will help you in choosing a comfortable dry closet for your dacha or country house.

Video review of different types of dry closets:

How to make a homemade toilet without unnecessary odors:

How to choose a convenient portable toilet for your garden:

For a summer residence, it is best to choose a model of a peat dry closet. It is cheap, compact, extremely easy to use and produces natural fertilizers for plants in the garden.

Liquid and electric options are more intended for country houses with permanent residence. But compact chemical toilets can also be used as a portable closet.

Don’t know which model of dry closet to buy for your dacha? Maybe you still have questions that we did not cover in this article? Ask them in the comments block below - our expert will try to clarify any unclear points.

Or are you already using a dry toilet and want to share your impressions of the chosen option with other users? Leave comments, add a photo of your model, point out significant shortcomings that you have already encountered during operation.