Seasonal Use and Spring time Start Up
Empty Compost from Last Season
Before your first use of the unit, extract compost from the drum by releasing the drum locker (located on the handle side of the
unit), then rotate the handle counter-clockwise giving the drum one complete revolution only. Compost from the drum will drop into
the finishing drawer. Empty the drawer and repeat this procedure until most of the compost is removed, leave 4-6 inches of com-
post. This will be your “starter base” for the coming season.
Rake
Remove the finishing drawer completely and use the rake tool to rake any loose material from the floor of the unit. Pay careful atten-
tion to the left two corners of the unit (near the safety drain) to ensure that your drains do not get clogged.
Add Water & Microbe Mix
Add some warm water to the remaining compost, enough to ensure that it is quite moist. Also, add some Sun-Mar Microbe Mix (two
of scoops) to give the compost pile a “kick-start” and rotate the drum several times to mix.
If your composting toilet is electric, plug it in and use for another season.
Winter Use
No Winter Use
Just add water. Lots of water. Soak the compost in the drum to prevent it from drying out before Spring. Make sure to unplug the
unit if electric. If you have a non-electric unit, it may be a good idea to place something over the diffusor to prevent
animals (who are looking for a home at this time of year) from getting in.
Occasional Winter Use
If the unit will be used for 3-4 weekends throughout the winter season then it is considered occasional use. All of the same consid-
erations should be taken with these units to winterize them. When the temperature dips below 55 ° F (13 ° C), composting activity
will decrease dramatically. These units do not need to be kept warm and will act only as a holding tank during the winter months until
they warm up enough in the spring to begin composting again. During the winter, the compost will freeze into a solid mass so the
drum should not be turned as it may damage the composting toilet. With this in mind, it is a good idea to remove enough compost
before it gets too cold to make room in the drum for winter use.
Heavy or Residential Winter Use
These units should be kept in a heated area and all winterization tips should be followed, including the following:
1. Vent Pipe - electric models; All 2" vent pipe should be insulated if they are exposed to the outside or in an unheated area.
If you are in an area that experiences extreme winter conditions, we recommend that heat tape should be applied to the
exposed vent pipe to prevent ice blockages.
2. Safety Drain - all models; We recommend that the safety drain should be installed and insulated above the frost line. There
will be less evaporation in the winter so this will help with any excess liquid. If possible, heat tape can be applied to the
safety drain to prevent ice blockage.
3. Keep it warm; If the composting toilet is used frequently in the winter then the composting part of the unit should be kept in
a warm place. Below 55 ° F (13 ° C), composting actions slows dramatically so if it is in a place that falls below this
temperature, a source of heat should be provided for the unit so that it can keep up with constant use.
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