Varieties of dry closets for summer cottages and their choice

A dry closet for a summer residence is an optimal solution that allows you to provide a fairly high level of sanitation in a country holiday. The advantages of such systems significantly outweigh the disadvantages, installation and maintenance take a minimum of time, and the rating of ready-to-use models easily solves the problems of choosing when buying. An overview of the available systems for creating a latrine on the site will help to understand which country dry closet is better to choose, how its different options work.

Choosing a dry closet for a summer residence, you can solve most of the issues related to maintaining a high level of hygiene in the bathroom. Regardless of whether it is a peat model or a liquid type version, they always have a certain set of advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantages include the following.

1. The convenience of use. The comfort of using the restroom is significantly increased, especially for the elderly and children.
2. Sanitation level. Dry closets are easy to maintain. They have washable construction elements.
3. The possibility of seasonal use. This point is especially relevant for peat options, since at low temperatures their biological advantages are reduced to zero: beneficial bacteria do not multiply.
4. No restrictions on location. You can make a restroom inside a country house or in a detached building.
5. Possibility of subsequent use of waste in the production of compost.
6. Rare emptying. In case of irregular use, the tank should be cleaned 2-3 times a month.
7. Choice of stationary and mobile options.

Certain types of dry closets have disadvantages. These include the need to purchase consumables, electricity costs in some models. In addition, disposal of waste may require some physical effort. Peat models do not completely remove the smell.

The principle of operation of each type of toilets for a summer residence has its own characteristics.... Some people prefer stationary options with pumping, odorless, flushing, more similar to those used in city apartments. Others are more convenient portable portable models, put away for storage in winter, or plastic models for children.

This category includes portable dry closets that do not need constant communications. They have a simple structure with five main parts.

1. Feces container. This tank can hold 12-24 liters of waste.
2. Clean water tank... It is designed for 15 liters of liquid and is equipped with a flush device with a dosing system. Special sanitary liquids are poured into this tank.
3. Full indicator. It is necessary in order to clean the lower tank in time.
4. Seat and cover. They are similar to common plumbing accessories.
5. Control valve to separate different fractions.

Such dry closets do not require ventilation or other communications. The water tank is filled manually. Liquid dry closets are suitable for indoor installation, do not leave an odor.A special solution that recycles waste is also poured into the lower part of the container. They are environmentally friendly - with the possibility of disposal in a compost heap, in green and blue packaging, and also on the basis of formaldehyde. The second option requires connecting the dry closet to the central sewerage system, since such solutions are toxic to the environment.

Outwardly, this type of dry closet may look like an ordinary country toilet with a waste container inside and a storage tank. But instead of a flush system, there is a reservoir with a dry backfill - finely ground peat. Historically, such restrooms were called powder closets; they were invented in European countries several centuries ago. Their design includes a ventilation pipe to avoid stagnation of evaporated gases inside the room. It should be straight, at least 2 m high if only natural draft is used.

Peat toilets usually have a special device with which you can pour the powdery substance in metered doses after using the bathroom for its intended purpose. Such structures have a great advantage - environmental safety. Peat successfully copes with deodorization of the country toilet, and also absorbs moisture, reducing the volume of the contents of the tank, and dries out feces. In such models, waste separation is provided from each other, while the liquid is drained into the sump through a hose. Disposed peat residues are kept in the compost heap for at least 2 years.

The most expensive model available on the market. They are rarely installed in country houses, they require connection to communications. In such designs, the bottom tank has a separation that allows you to immediately sort different fractions without mixing them. Feces enter a special chamber, where they are dried and destroyed at a high temperature. Liquid waste is discharged into the pipeline system and then into the sewage sump.

Some dry closets work on a different principle. They completely evaporate moisture from the waste that enters the waste tank. The remaining masses are filled with a special composition from the dispenser. Excrement takes up a minimum of space and does not require frequent disposal.

Electric dry closets are cleaned only a few times a year. They are environmentally friendly and do not require the purchase of expensive consumables. Electric dry closets are cheap to maintain, but at the initial stage they need to be connected to the power system, ventilation, and sewer.

Ratings of country dry closets are traditionally compiled on the basis of customer reviews, as well as by comparing the characteristics of specific models... The cheap option is not always worse than the expensive one. To understand which modern models deserve to be in the top, a review of the dry closet market will help.

Eco-friendly, affordable, but not too spectacular in appearance - this is how peat models of country toilets can be characterized. Their cost directly depends on the size of the storage tank and its design. That is why the costs of purchasing everything you need at first can be impressive. Noteworthy proposals in this category include the following.

• Piteco 905. The clear leader in the rating in terms of design and workmanship. A 120-liter storage tank on casters is enough for a family of 2-3 people for the whole summer. The model is very easy to use, the peat is fed by pressing the lever. This model costs about 11,000 rubles.

• Biolan Biolan Eco... Large-format dry closet with peat backfill, one-piece body, with a seat and a lid on top. A drainage hose is connected to the tank to drain water. The rest of the waste can accumulate up to 200 liters. Emptying the container can be difficult.

• "Tandem Compact-Eco"... A dry closet of Russian production with a pleasant design and compact dimensions, made of hygienic polystyrene. Inside there is a separator with a liquid drainage tube and a faeces compartment. The ventilation system has a large diameter, which ensures the convenience of removing excess odors. The 60 l storage tank requires a hand carry, it is not equipped with casters.

In this category, the market leaders are European brands from Italy, Germany and other countries. The main emphasis is placed on compactness, mobility, ease of maintenance. The following options are among the best models in its class.

• Thetford Porta Potti 565E. Ultra-compact portable toilet with stylish design, the package weighs only 5.5 kg. The model is equipped with an electric pump powered by a battery power source, a container filling indicator, and is easy to use. The bottom tank has a capacity of 21 liters. Such a construction costs about 15,000 rubles.

• Sanitation Equipment Limited Mr. Little Ideal 24. This model is noticeably inferior to the leader in design, but it is able to withstand more user weight. The lower tank of 24 liters does not need to be emptied more often than once a week, it is designed for a family of up to 4 people. The design uses a piston hand pump, which complicates the independent use of this model by children and the elderly. The cost of the kit is about 8,000 rubles.

• Bioforce Compact WC 12-20VD. A universal country toilet made of durable beige plastic, has a pleasant design and an affordable price - just over 5500 rubles. The whole set weighs about 6 kg, the small volumes of the tanks make it easier to service. This is a good choice for most summer cottages, where the number of regular users of the bathroom does not exceed 1-2 people.

Dry closets of this type are expensive, the average cost of a set starts from 55,000 rubles and can reach 200,000 and more. Most of the manufacturers are based in Italy and other EU countries. In such models, the appearance differs little from the classic plumbing equipment, they fit well into the interior of a country house with seasonal or permanent residence. Dry closets allow you to quickly and easily solve the problem of waste disposal.

Among the noteworthy models in this category are two.

• BioLet 65... Functional model with centralized urine discharge. The dry closet weighs only 35 kg, the bowl has a height of 50 cm, which is comfortable for planting. Fecal masses are drained by a compressor, then they are ground into compost, liquid waste is discharged into the drainage system. The model has low power consumption.

• Separett Villa 9020. A mid-range model weighing only 13 kg. Waste in the process of entering is separated, the liquid is discharged to the drain, the solid fractions are dried. The model has excellent equipment, there is even a child seat. Emptying the container is required no more than 6 times a year.

Choosing a suitable dry closet for a summer residence is not so difficult. In most cases, it is quite easy to correctly evaluate a particular model according to the main criteria.

• Mobility... The installation method - stationary or mobile - is determined by the availability of communications and other factors. For example, in an unheated house with seasonal living, it is better to purchase a compact liquid-type dry closet. It is more mobile, after emptying it can be stored until spring. It is better to immediately install a stationary model at a dacha with a year-round visit.

• Budget... The most expensive dry closets are electric. Peat and liquid models at the initial stage are quite comparable in price.But in service, the second option is clearly more expensive due to the purchase of consumables for filling in containers.

• Construction type. Peat dry closets are the simplest ones, but they require an outlet for ventilation, natural or forced. Electric models are also quite difficult to connect. There is not always a full-fledged sewage system and energy supply in the country, organized without interruption.

• Cleaning frequency. A large tank of a peat toilet will hold a lot of waste, but then it will have to be emptied - it is better to take a model on wheels, and place the bathroom itself near the cesspool. With active use, liquid options are cleaned up to 2-3 times a week. The most rarely emptied dry closets are electric. They are suitable even for elderly people who cannot lift heavy tanks.

• Eco safety... Here, peat-based dry closets are clearly preferable, since they do not harm the environment. This is the best option for summer residents who are used to fertilizing the garden with organic matter. In liquid versions, only certain types of waste can be discharged into the compost. In electric, depending on the method of disposal of feces, fertilizers are obtained in the form of ash or a powdery mixture, there are not so many of them, but the energy consumption of such models can hardly be called economical.

• Dimensions (edit)... The size of the dry closet is important if there are problems with the free space inside the country house. You can choose the most convenient option if you decide in advance on the place for installation.

• Possibility of transportation and storage... If you plan to take the toilet away from the dacha for the winter, mobile liquid models that can easily fit into the trunk of a car are suitable. Large-sized peat options will have to be transported on special vehicles. They will need conservation for the winter. If you leave such a toilet in the cold, it can crack and break.

• Equipment... Liquid toilets are often complemented by cubicles that can even be installed “in a clean field”. It is a good choice for construction sites. The rest of the models require the construction of a separate site for their installation, with a supply of communications and supports for a storage tank (in peat).

Given these recommendations, you can easily select and buy dry closets for a summer residence, taking into account the needs of a particular family, the wishes of the owners.

Installation of a peat dry closet usually does not cause difficulties, but with the most popular liquid models among summer residents, difficulties can arise. You can install and assemble such a structure even in a residential building. It does not require a connection to the ventilation system.

The procedure for preparing such a dry closet for operation will consist of 4 steps.

1. Assembly of the structure taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations... The order may vary depending on the model.
2. Detaching the top... It is usually fixed with a button. One click is enough to disconnect the elements.
3. Filling the reservoir with a special liquid together with water... Similar actions are performed with the lower part of the container. Each tank uses a different type of fluid.
4. Assembling the structure.

After that, the dry closet is completely ready for use. By pressing a special lever or button, you can flush. When the valve is opened, the waste is sent to a container with a processing solution. The liquid is dosed in portions. After that, the valve is closed.

Subsequent care for a liquid-type dry closet is also not difficult. It is enough just to monitor the water level in the valve - it should be at least 1 cm.