Lifestyle issues

• Are you willing to maintain the system yourself? How often?

• Or do you prefer to pay for routine service?

• Do you mind seeing the composter contents? If not, get a trap of some kind or at least a view barrier.

• Do you need a large system for year-round use? A small system for a vacation home?

Installation Space Requirements

• Does the system require space underneath toilet in a basement or appropriate crawl space? Consider a vacuum toilet or a separate room (laundry or utility room), or separate building

• How much floor space (footprint) is required?

• How much headroom is required for making connections

• Is there adequate space for connections, exhaust pipes, leachate or graywater drains, and routine service?

• Can you provide an easy-to-clean area with easy access to outdoors for removing compost?

• If the system will be maintained by a sewage-hauling company, can its equipment access the composter? Consult with the company.

Plumbing and Venting Issues

• U.S. or metric pipes

• Exhaust pipe diameter

• Exhaust pipe insulation diameter

• Standard plumbing fitting/pipe

• Location of vent pipe termination

• Fan-forced exhaust required

• Supply air (is there  and required temperature

• Exhaust system

• Leachate drain

Power Requirements for Heating or Fans

• Voltage: 110 to 220 VAC (12 to 25 VDC)
  Amperage

• Nonelectric option. See exhaust pipes 4 in. or more diameters with no bends or obstructions.

Heating Issues: Composter must be kept at 65°F (18.33°C).

• Specified temperature for rated performance?

• Accommodates supplementary heat?

• Air intake for connection to warm air source?

• Location? (South-facing window; next to boiler, furnace, washer, dryer, or water heater; interior heated room; for example, under second floor bathroom)

• Heater options (if needed)

• Self-regulating heating cables

• Heat exchanger

• Conventional heating system: Electrical, forced hot water, forced hot air

• Compatible heating devices: Aquarium heater

• Radiant floor heater (electric or hydronic)

• Heated room

• Dryer duct and lint filter

• Hot air discharged from your air conditioner or dehumidifier

• In the summer, hot air pumped from your attic via ducts

• Bread box heater

• Solar heat

Service Issues

• Leachate drains provision?

• Frequency of service at rated capacity?

• Parts available for old models?

• Support for old models?

• Can it be upgraded?

• Maintenance contract availability?

• Access space required for service?

• Are such components available from local sources?