EcoTech Products

EcoTech Products

eco-toilets & tools for clean water

A List of Items to Consider

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?