Updated December 12, 2022
It’s never enjoyable to clean an RV black tank because many of them have manual procedures that involve hoses and trays. You may easily set those contents on fire using an incinerator toilet. One of the key components to comfortable full-time RVing is having the appropriate type of toilet in your vehicle. There are many options available on the market, such as cassette and composting toilets, but incinerator toilets are still another fantastic choice!
Compared to many other RV options, incinerator toilets make cleanup exceptionally simple and clean by burning your waste to ash. You don’t need access to water to install these toilets in RVs, but you do require a power supply. For anyone looking for a toilet that emits little scent and requires little upkeep, incinerator toilets are the best option.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Want an Incinerator Toilet in an RV?
RV toilets come in a variety of popular configurations. These include composting toilets, gravity flush toilets, and an emerging choice called incinerator toilets. But why would someone want to install an RV with an incinerator toilet? Waste disposal in your RV may be done effectively, hygienically, and without the use of water with incinerator toilets. Compared to a composting toilet, they require less maintenance, emit fewer odors, and are less reliant on environmental conditions.
You should only use electricity to incinerate trash while using an incinerator toilet in an RV, another crucial point to remember. As they have an associated exhaust system, RVs are not affected by smoke. Additionally, plumbing doesn’t need to be connected the way it would be with other solutions.
Less Cleanup
Toilets with incinerators are a great choice if you don’t want to deal with the waste. Additionally, when the garbage is burned, only ash is left behind instead of solid waste. If you don’t want to physically remove the solid or liquid garbage, having an incinerator toilet in your RV is a smart solution.
The use of a liner prevents the waste from coming into contact with the toilet itself, unlike some of the other common options for RV toilets. The liner makes cleaning and maintaining the bowl more simpler and stops undesirable things from remaining on the bowl.
The only waste that is left after incinerating is typically approximately a tablespoon’s worth (14.3 grams) of ash, which has been burned off and is therefore free of microorganisms. Ash is light and doesn’t take up much space in your RV, which is another benefit of using this technique of trash management.
Odor
When using an incinerator toilet, very little smell is produced. You won’t smell anything unappealing when using an incineration toilet because it is in a regulated and restricted environment, and any smoke is expelled via an exhaust system. Depending on the flushing technique employed and how long the waste is being held, toilets can frequently emit unpleasant odors within your RV. Fortunately, if you are sensitive to strong scents, an incinerator toilet is one of your better options. However, since the gases will leave your RV through an exhaust system that will travel outside, you should think about your neighbors.
What is an Incinerator Toilet?
While traveling in an RV, you can use an incinerator toilet, which is a waterless toilet alternative. Because there is no black tank that needs to be frequently emptied, they are low maintenance, hygienic, and excellent for those of you who want to live off the grid longer.
The incinerator toilet burns your waste, as opposed to flushing it like you would with a standard RV toilet. You simply press a button to begin the incineration cycle after about 4 usage. The incineration chamber of the toilet warms up to 1400°F during this cycle in order to burn any waste associated with the toilet.
The smoke and fumes are simultaneously sent through an exhaust vent that has an odor control unit using a series of blowers, and they are subsequently expelled from your RV. With this vent system, there are no unpleasant odors to contend with within your mobile home. A dark tank pipe is considerably more difficult to handle than a tablespoon of sterile ash that is all that is left after a cycle! Ash is also lightweight, so it doesn’t take up much room in the RV.
The brand, model, number of usage in between incineration cycles, and power source you utilize all affect how long the cycles last. For electric toilets, you should typically allow 45 minutes to 2 hours, and for propane-powered toilets, up to 4 hours. Incinerating toilets are a relatively new invention that were intended to replace regular toilets in homes. For a variety of reasons, they are a more and more popular option for usage in RVs.
How Do Incinerator Toilets Work in an RV?
Depending on the model, these toilets can be powered by electricity, propane, or both. Toilets operated by electricity often require more frequent emptying than those powered by gas. They both conserve energy since they only use it when they are actively burning. Remember that larger toilets tend to use more energy, so generally you want to choose the least usable size for your situation.
Electricity
For the smallest models of these toilets, the incineration cycle’s electricity consumption can be as low as 20 W at 12 VDC. For boondocking and those who want to be as independent as possible, a toilet at this level may be connected to a solar power system. Solar-powered systems are not suitable for models requiring more energy, so if that is your plan, be sure you have the energy for it!
Some more power-hungry models have a maximum power consumption of 1800 W at 120 volts or higher. For you to be plugged into power, these types of toilets frequently require a power grid. If you don’t have the energy needed for an electric toilet, gas toilets are another popular choice. However, this is not the greatest option for folks who don’t want to be confined to one location.
Propane
Incinerator toilets that can operate on propane are not as widespread. These toilets are still being converted to a more RV-friendly design because they were originally designed for homes.
The maximum BTU usage for models that support propane is 6,700 BTUs per hour, or 0.15 pounds of propane per flush. It’s an excellent method to conserve gas to wait a few flushes before burning. If you don’t have a lot of electricity available, a gas toilet can be a better option depending on your layout.
Are Incinerator Toilets Safe to Use in an RV?
These toilets have a number of safety precautions, so you won’t suffer any nasty burns! When the lid is opened, the incineration immediately stops, making it safe to use at any stage of the burning cycle. As a result, you won’t need to be concerned about your toilet being offline for a long time.
If the toilet is not in maintenance mode, the burning is done in a separate, lower bowl that is always closed. Another barrier separating you from the burn chamber is the fact that the toilet won’t flush if any part of it is open. Additionally, incinerator restrooms are quite hygienic. Once all of the waste has been burned, all that is left for you to handle is a small amount of ash that is devoid of germs.