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Frequently Asked Questions from Residential Users: How Many People Actually have these Installed in their House? They’re all for cottages from what I’ve read. Actually about 20% of our user base. We advertise them as cottage toilets – to cottage users. This has unfortunately led to the misconception that they are for seasonal use only, which is simply not the case. Are they Happy with them? In a word, yes. However, there are a few things that you have to keep in mind before purchasing a composting toilet for residential use. 1. It is not “flush and forget” technology. A composting toilet is not a replacement for a “regular” flush toilet. You MUST rotate the drum three times a week, 4-6 revolutions each time. While this just involves turning a handle, it is still more work than a typical flush system. You must also take care to add the correct bulking material (Sun-Mar Compost Sure or 60% wood shavings and 40% peat moss) and make sure that you purchase one that will meet your capacity needs. Taking responsibility for your environment means a bit more work, but work that will benefit both you and our environment in the long run. There are no magic beans – but there is magic compost when you are through! Does a flush toilet feed your ornamental garden? 2. Installation. Installation. Installation. We’ve seen some strange things being done with Sun-Mar installations. Sometimes, deviations from our installation instructions work out. Most of the time, they don’t. It is really, really important to install the venting the way that we recommend. The way the toilet is designed is only half the equation to having an odor-free unit – the way that the venting is installed is the other half. No horizontal runs, no more than 3 90 degree elbows, and 2-3 feet above the peak of the roof. Three golden rules, if you break them, it will probably smell. If you hire someone to do the installation for you, make sure that they have read the manual thoroughly prior to the installation, and if something is not clear encourage them to contact us. This is a Really Big Step For Me. What Kind of Support do you offer if I have questions? We have a customer service department solely committed to after sale questions. We have heard all the questions on this product and will probably know the answer to your question before you finish asking it. You are also dealing with people in this department who have worked with Sun-Mar for years, not months. What Benefits Do I Get From using a Sun-Mar over another Technology? Chances are good that you are installing a Sun-Mar to complement an alternative greywater system and eliminate septic use. Why are septics bad? When they fail (as a drainfield will once every 9 years – and who replaces their drainfield every 9 years?) you are essentially leaching raw sewage into the environment. By not installing a septic tank to begin with, you are doing the environment a favour, particularly if you live in an environmentally sensitive area. The benefits over an outhouse are obvious – especially to our Alaskan customers! Ask them how wonderful it is to not trundle outside anymore. And of course the number one reason to install a Sun-Mar is… cost. In some cases, tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than installing a septic or other waste management system. Save money and help the environment – does anything make more sense? What am I doing for the Environment If I Install One? - By eliminating septic
use, you will not be leaching nutrients and minerals into the environment
that can upset an ecosystem. Most of our
residential users install a Sun-Mar for other reasons, but find that the
greatest benefit is knowing daily that they are helping to save water
and keep harmful nutrients out of ecosystems that are damaged by them,
and placing them instead in their gardens – which if you have a
look at our testimonial section, are quite flourishing in most cases!!! How Do I Dispose of my Kitchen and Bathwater Waste (Greywater)? National Small Flows Clearinghouse (US) Centre for Sustainable Watersheds (Canada)
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