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Propane Incinerator Toilet – The Must Know Guide 2024

If you live in a tiny home, you’ll agree that handling your toilet and bathroom business is one of the biggest challenges of living in a small space.

Unlike regular toilet flushing in traditional homes, you’ll have to dump solid or liquid waste every now and then when you live in a tiny space.

And to be honest, dealing with the content of the black tank isn’t fun.

If you’re worried that you’d have to deal with this dreaded task forever, we are happy to inform you that we have found an excellent alternative you should explore.

Besides your typical chemical toilets, which are great for tiny homes, incinerator toilets are now appealing to tiny house enthusiasts.

Today’s guide will bring you up to speed on everything you need to know about incinerator toilets and provide you with a list of the best options on the market.

Let’s jump right in, shall we?

What is an incinerator toilet

Incinerating toilets are the rave of the moment.

They are becoming the go-to toilets for people who live in tiny homes and RVs.

These toilets are self-contained, waterless units powered by a unique technology that helps dispose of human waste.

Unlike regular toilets that use water to get rid of waste, incinerating toilets burn solid waste and turn it into ash.

Though this may sound weird, you’ll agree it is a brilliant solution to handling solid waste.

How does the Incinerator toilet work?

Incinerator toilets use propane or electricity to burn waste and turn it into ashes.

The only difference between the two options is that, with electric incinerator toilets, you’d have to empty the toilets often.

Once the toilet has maxed out, you only have to turn the incinerator on.

Depending on the type of incinerator toilets you’re using, the cycle time differs quite a bit.

For instance, if you’re using an electric incinerator toilet, the cycle time should be between 30 to 40 minutes.

With a propane incinerator toilet, cycle time can last for up to 4 hours or more.

When using an incinerating toilet, the interior chamber heats to a whopping 1400 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, the answer is a resounding yes for those asking if it’s possible to vaporize poo.

If you have an incinerator toilet in your RV, you’ll most likely have an exhaust vent connected to the toilet’s vent.

This allows the smoke and fumes to escape during cycle time.

The cool part about this setup is that you won’t have to deal with an unpleasant odor.

Once the entire process is complete, you’re left with a pile of ash you can easily dispose of.

Incinerating toilets Pros and Cons

What are the advantages of using an incinerator toilet?

If you’re still wondering whether having an incinerator toilet is great for your tiny home or RV, you’re welcome to read further as we will be highlighting some perks of having an incinerator toilet in your tiny home or RV.

Here are some pros you should know.

  • Ease of use: Most people who have used incinerator toilets agree that it is pretty easy to use and maintain. While the initial setup can be challenging, there isn’t much work involved once you have everything in place. All you’ll need to do is press the button, and your solid waste will be reduced to ash in a couple of hours. And compared to alternatives like composting toilets, there is less ickiness to worry about when using an incinerator toilet.
  • Easy to clean: Cleaning out solid and liquid waste when you live in a tiny home can be nasty. But with an incinerator toilet in your home, you have less cleaning to do. And this is because incinerator toilets use special liners. So when using the toilet, for instance, you’ll have to put the liner. The job of the liner is to keep the bowl clean.
  • Does not require water: Another remarkable thing about the incinerator toilet is that it is waterless. This makes it a brilliant option for boondocking. With this toilet installed in your tiny home or RV, you won’t worry about installing a freshwater or black water tank. And because it is odor-free, you won’t have to worry about keeping your home smelling fresh.
  • Saves energy: Since incinerator toilets only use power during cycle times, they are able to conserve energy pretty well when boondocking. Another cool thing is that you can use this type of toilet even during freezing temperatures. So whether it gets chilly or not, you’re sure that your toilet will handle solid waste appropriately. What makes this toilet better than composting toilets is that composting toilets need warmth for microbes to do their work. So in below-freezing temperatures, they don’t work optimally.
  • Compact design: Incinerator toilets are great for tiny homes and RVs because of their compact design. Thanks to their practical and compact design, most incinerating toilets will fit your small space perfectly.

Disadvantages of incinerator toilet

While there are many reasons why you should have an incinerating toilet in your home, it’s important we mention that these toilets aren’t the holy grail and have their own shortcomings.

Here are some drawbacks of incinerating toilets you should know.

  • Expensive: The incinerator toilet prices are expensive, despite their practical design and unique technology powering them, incinerating toilets are a tad expensive. Some units costs between $2,000 to $3,500. So if you’re on a budget, an incinerating toilet will most likely be out of your reach.
  • Slight smell: Even though one of the selling points of incinerating toilets is that it doesn’t leave you with an unpleasant odor to deal with, the truth is that you’re still going to deal with some slight smell. But we doubt if this is going to be a deal-breaker, especially for someone who has had a black tank before.
  • Long cycle times: Although an incinerating toilet is practical, what we are not particularly thrilled about is the long cycle time. Requiring 3 to 4 hours to complete cycle times, you’ll agree that it can be pretty challenging if you need to use the toilet during this period. On a good note, there are some models with lower cycle times. So if you’re worried about the long cycle times, we encourage you to opt for more sophisticated models that handle incineration quicker.

Can you pee in an incinerating toilet?

One of the questions a lot of people ask about incinerating toilets is whether you can pee in them.

Well, let’s settle all the confusion, shall we?

Just like other alternative toilet options for tiny homes, you can do all your toilet business in an incinerating toilet, and that includes peeing.

Thanks to its unique design, an incinerating toilet can reduce both solid and liquid waste to ash, so you don’t have to worry about your waste not being managed properly.

Incineration vs other bio-toilets: What are the differences?

Incinerating toilets and other bio-toilets are pretty similar.

For instance, both toilet option try to replicate traditional flushing toilets.

What this simply means is that both toilet options look pretty similar aesthetically.

And when using both options, the results are pretty similar.

For those who are new to all these, keep in mind that both incinerating toilets and bio-toilets turn your solid waste into something useful.

And the best part is that they don’t harm the environment.

On the flip side, these toilet options work pretty differently and you’ll see why soon.

To start with, incineration is pretty clean and fast.

And the best part is that the entire process happens automatically.

All you need to do is hit the button and watch the toilet do its magic, without any input from you.

What’s more, incinerating toilets use a technology that accelerates the process and ensures that solid waste is reduced to ash within a couple of hours.

At the end of the entire process, you are left with a small amount of ash you’ll need to remove regularly.

With bio-toilets, waste is converted into organic fertilizer.

While the result may sound brilliant, the process takes quite some time.

And if you live in a tiny house or RV, you may not have the space to store the waste.

Also, disposing of organic fertilizer can be challenging.

And depending on the type of bio-toilet you opt for, you may have to deal with waste every day, which can be quite a chore.

Another area of concern with incinerating and bio-toilets is the amount of power needed to incinerate and compost waste.

Thankfully, the overall impact of the entire process on the environment isn’t all that bad.

For context, you’ll need more electricity to clean and recycle wastewater than you’ll need to incinerate waste.

Where is the perfect place to install an incinerating toilet?

Incinerating toilets are perfectly suited for off-grid living, especially in areas where there is little to no access to water services.

That said, keep in mind that you’ll need to have a solar system or electricity to power the system.

For instance, an electric incinerating toilet uses between 1.5 to 2 kilowatts of electricity for every cycle.

On the other hand, even propane-powered incinerator toilets require electricity to power the fan along with the gas source.

What’s so special about this toilet option is that they can be deployed to tiny homes, RVs, camps, fishing shacks, construction sites, cabins, and more.

When setting up an incinerating toilet, we always encourage users to follow manufacturers’ guidelines.

In case of any confusion along the way, we strongly recommend getting professional help.

Also, keep in mind that some states in the US require an inspection of the venting system, as this is super important to the normal operation of the toilet.

Also remember that if you intend to connect the toilet to a permanent gas source, you’ll need to apply for a special permit.

And the process varies from state to state.

Do you need to regularly maintain an incineration toilet?

Nobody likes a messy toilet and if you’re a sucker for clean space, you’ll agree that regularly maintaining your incinerating toilet isn’t too much of a chore.

Plus, the process is easy and won’t take up to much time, since the entire process is handled automatically.

Just like any other type of toilet, incineration toilets require that users regularly clean the bowl.

Also, you’ll need to empty and dispose of ash residues.

As per the exhaust pipe and venting system, you’ll need to clean those out annually.

This will help remove dust and ash particles that may prevent the system from working optimally.

What to consider when shopping for a decent incinerating toilet?

Sure, there tons of incinerating toilets on the market, but do you which is perfect for you?

Well, here are a few things you should look out for when shopping for an incinerating toilet for you home.

  • Price: To start with, price is pretty important when shopping for an incinerating toilet. And just as we mentioned earlier, incinerating toilets is super expensive. In terms of pricing, incinerating toilets cost between $2,000 to $3,000. So when shopping for one, make sure you factor in your budget and go for the one you can afford.
  • Size: If you plan to use an incinerating toilet in a tiny home or RV, then it’s important to go for one that doesn’t take up too much space as you already have limited space to play with in your tiny home. Besides its aesthetics, make sure you opt for a toilet that fits your space perfectly.
  • Type of incinerating toilets: There are different types of incinerating toilets on the market, so make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for before you buy one. To start with, there are electric-powered incinerating toilets. On the flip side, there are gas-powered incinerating toilets. So make sure you consider the advantage of each option before deciding which one works for your tiny space.
  • Incinerating cycle time: Different types of incinerating toilets have their cycle times. For instance, an electric-powered incinerating toilet have a cycle time of 30 to 40 minutes. On the flip side, the cycle times for gas-powered incinerating toilets last between 3 to 4 hours.

In Conclusion

Assuming you are satisfied with the content above, we can conclude that an incinerating toilet is a great solution for those who want to avoid a septic tank or simply do not have the space for one.

Not only does it incinerate waste, but it also eliminates any odor. This type of toilet is perfect for those who are looking for

FAQ

Can you pee in an incinerating toilet?

Incinerating toilets are a type of toilet that incinerates human waste. This process turns the waste into ash and smoke, which is then expelled through a chimney.

So, can you pee in an incinerating toilet? The answer is technically yes, but it is not recommended. Peeing in an incinerating

Do incinerating toilets smell?

The incinerating process completely eliminates any odor from the waste, so you will not smell anything coming from an incinerator toilet.

What is the cost of an incinerating toilet?

Incinerating toilets can range in price from around $1,000 to $3,000.

How often do you have to empty an incinerator toilet?

Incinerating toilets typically need to be emptied every two to three days.