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Add to favoritesNatures Head Composting Toilet
We swapped our caravan Thetford cassette toilet to a Natures Head Toilet. After eight years of living full time in our Jayco Starcraft 21.66-3 we decided it was time to make the change. It’s now been installed for over 12 weeks.
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Most composting toilets have the same things in common. They separate solids from urine, no chemicals needed, no water needed, no smell, no dump point needed. The Natures Head Toilet Seemed to have the largest capacity of 80 uses in the solid compartment. Now that’s a solid effort 😉 A little about a couple of other choices. The OGO & CUDDY….
OGO composting toilet has a couple of versions – both have a nice clean profile. The OGO Origin is a 12V system with an automatic agitator for the solids. You can use it around 35 times before it needs emptying. It also has a fan for moisture control, removable solids bin and a liquid level urine sensor. This is for those wanting a long term everyday toilet. Alternatively, the OGO Nomad is a smaller unit, no electric needed and is a layered system. Sawdust or Coir, then poo, then throw on some more sawdust etc. This apparently can only be used for about 5-8 times before it needs emptying. Enviropro seem to be the distributor of both the Natures Head Toilet and the OGO. More on Enviropro website
CUDDY is a lovely looking toilets, even their website says it super cute. It also has a removable solids bin, has a 12V fan but can be hard wired, pee full indicator, and a front crank handle. This can last around 2-3 weeks before needing to be emptied. See full information on CUDDY website
We prepared in advance, for the taking out the old and bringing in the new. As well as ordering the Natures Head Toilet and larger door to replace the small cassette door, Larry looked at what vent cover we wanted. He decided to make our own, with his 3D printer. Yes you read that right. When ever we stop for a length of time, for work etc. Larry gets something (usually techy) this time it’s a 3D printer. More on that later.
Removing the old toilet looked easy enough but it was a bit of a pain in the arse. Firstly, we took out and emptied the old cassette (bye bye cassette toilet we wont miss you!) Larry then started to remove countless screws in places we couldn’t see. He then went inside and started to unscrewing the cassette toilet from the inside of the caravan wall. The small wooden panel at the back of the toilet was also screwed to the side wall/hole shelf area next to the toilet. He then headed back out to remove more hidden screws.
After the many screws were removed and Larry had prised the toilet from the small amount of glue on the floor Larry took it outside where I could compare it’s size next to the new Natures Head Toilet.
Taking the old toilet hatch door off wasn’t as easy as we thought either. It took a some prising off with a screw driver and a pry bar as it was glued down firmly. As we were replacing the door for a bigger one it didn’t mater if it broke.
While removing the cassette toilet, Larry cut the wires we didn’t need anymore and closed off the water pipe. Not needing water for our new Natures Head Toilet, the water pipe was cut under the van and closed of with a plug and hose clip. The 12v wires that were used to operate the Thetford flush button and solenoid were re purposed to become the power supply for the Natures head fan on the side of the toilet. Larry shortened the wires and placed a 5 amp fuse in the circuit, then joined those wires to the male plug required for the power to the fan using some electrical connectors to join them both. He then placed the wires in some split electrical tubing to keep things tidy.
Surprisingly, to me, the new toilet looked bigger and chunkier, it is in fact shorter. I guess I hadn’t thought about the back of the toilet, just the part you sit on. Also, not that you can probably see but the new toilet seems to be a little wider and a little higher. As I’m short, I might need a stool to have a stool, if you know what I mean 😀
Why did we choose to cut a hole in our van and put in a large hatch/door for our toilet ? With the Natures Head Toilet you have to take out the toilet. You do remove the urine tank first (I’ll talk about that later) and you can take off the top seat part of the toilet. Just leaving the bottom poo part to take out, but I didn’t want that. Personally, I’d rather not have anything slightly crappy to clean up on my flood. Again my personal choice!
Our friends, Frannie and Crispy over at Not Grey Nomads had one installed in there new caravan build, the builder had also installed a large door/hatch to take the Natures Head Toilet out easily. We loved the idea! Our en-suite is at the back of our van, meaning, we would have to carry the whole toilet out past the bed, kitchen and lounge, not something I would want to do or have the strength personally to do.
Larry emailed the Jayco dealership we bought our van from, asking if there were any wires etc. in the wall we were cutting out. They replied saying there was nothing to be concerned about. With that, Larry drew around the new hatch door, measuring it up to cut the large hole.
First, Larry drilled round holes with a hole saw in each corner. This showed us exactly what the wall consisted of. Next, with a jigsaw, he slowly cut down the lines he had drawn for the new hatch. Lastly the door was put in place to see if it was the right fit. Apart from sanding a little bit, it was a perfect fit.
Before we put the hatch door permanently in place, silicone was added to the hatch door surround to make sure it was a water tight and a moisture free door. We had previously pre-bought some countersunk screws as the new hatch doesn’t come with screws, Larry then drilled all the holes and fitted the screws to secure the hatch in place.
Once the new door was in place, Larry cut a hole in it for the new vent he had 3D printed. Also for the outlet, included for the exhaust pipe. We chose to put the exhaust pipe on the left hand side of the toilet (looking at the toilet front on) and have the door opening out to the left. This is because we have a slide out next to the door and we didn’t want it to be opening out towards the slide out, just in case.
I was initially worried about cutting a hole in the van, again. Similarly, we had cut a hole in the van, all be it a lot smaller, when we installed our starlink router connection permanently. Much like the starlink hole, there was nothing to worry about. The door looks great!
Now that the new hatch was fitted, the exhaust pipe was cut to size. Larry changed the exhaust fan from the left of the toilet to the right side, that way, the pipe wouldn’t be so jammed in. The 12V fan was wired, Larry just had to screw the brackets that would keep the toilet in place to the floor. Once we added the Coir – peat brick, we put the new toilet in place. Attaching the brackets, exhaust pipe and fan.
The Coir-peat brick that came with the Natures Head Toilet needed soaking in 2.5lts of water and then you break it up in to the large poo part of the toilet. We don’t have much in the way of containers in our van so we used our bin. It did the job and in around 20 minutes we transferred the Coir-peat to the toilet. The new toilet was ready to go.
As you may have read the Natures Head has a flap that you open when having a poo and the front has a section that your pee goes in to. Men also sit down to pee so it goes in the right hole and doesn’t mix with the composting part. Larry was not to keen at first, it’s taking him a while to get used to.
It took us 8 weeks before we needed to empty the poo/composting part for the first time. This was with the two of us still living in the van full time but using other bathrooms now and again. I’d like to add here that just because it can last 8 weeks doesn’t mean you should leave it that long (why? Keep reading)
During that 8 weeks we emptied the urine section anywhere between 3 to 9 days. The difference in times is due to us being out and about more, being at home more and filling it up quicker after a few drinks. I read that if you put some vinegar in the urine container it helps stop the urine smell. I add vinegar each time I empty and wash it out and have had no smell.
Urine overflow – in the 8 weeks we both have had the unfortunate problem of thinking there was room for one more pee and realising afterwards, nope, Houston we have a problem. It’s not a major problem as the urine tank sits inside a container connected to the toilet. Some urine goes into that. However, I put down a couple of rags just in case and I’m glad I did. I mentioned to Larry about making another water level sensor for it, to warn us, in case we do it again.
The spray that comes with the Natures Head Toilet gets used before and after using the toilet. It’s meant to help things slide off and down and not stick. This is mostly correct, mostly! The spray says it can also be used for breaking down of the poo/compost so I do spray it inside now and again. We have now bought a 5 litre container of the spray as it is used multiple times daily. We have already gone through the first bottle.
Firstly we took out the urine part of the toilet and unscrewed the toilet from the floor (this can be done outside if you have a hatch). Larry was outside and disconnected the fan and the exhaust pipe, before sliding the new toilet out. If you don’t have a door to slide the whole toilet out (as most people don’t) you can slide the top part of the Natures Head Toilet off and leave it in your bathroom. Personally I would rather not have it on my floor or shower as some people do, but that’s just me.
Larry had already emptied the compost in to a bag before I got outside to have a look. That might sound gross to some but I was curious.
I’m going to be real here and if you’ve read this far I’m sure you can handle it. The inside of the toilet came away pretty clean actually. There was however some toilet paper stuck to the metal agitator but nothing a gloved hand an paper towel couldn’t fix. Now the bit I wasn’t expecting… Fly eggs! We had lots of those tiny annoying fruit/drain flies so we assume they came from them.
Our old cassette toilet also had them at times but were obviously washed out when we emptied it. As these eggs were stuck in the cracks it took a while to wash them and brush them out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a lord of the flies situation going on, but it’s not great. After we were happy that we had got rid of them we put the Natures Head Toilet back together and popped it back in through the new hatch door. So simple and we love it!
To help stop flies this time I have been spraying the toilet when ever I see those pesky things. I’m not sure if the spray will kill the good bacteria in the compost but we just want to get ride of the fly problem and start off fresh. To help stop the problem, Larry has added a fine mesh to the exhaust outlet.
1. Is it worth the money? 100% yes. For us and our lifestyle it is. The Natures Head Toilet cost $1,715
2. Is the constant fan sound noisy? No, not at all, even when in the bathroom you barely hear it.
3. What toilet paper do we use & do we put it in the toilet? We use normal toilet paper. Natures Head says you can use any however single sheet paper is obviously better for breaking down. Also, toilet paper with just urine can be put in a bag/bin etc and disposed of rather than filling up the toilet to much.
4. How much power dose the fan use? 1.7 amps in 24hrs
5. Dose it smell? No, we haven’t smelt any aroma. Unlike the cassette toilet, urine and poo are separated which helps with the odour control.
6. Where do you buy the Coir-peat brick from? Bunnings sell it but we got ours from Big W. You can also buy it of Natures Head website.
7. What bags are used for disposing of solids? You can buy compostable bags from many places including their website.
8. I’ve not got a 3D printer, where do I buy a vent cover? Again, their website sells them.
You can see more on the Natures Head Toilet website here at https://www.natureshead.com.au
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Aussie House Sitters are our choice of house sitting sites. Use our Coupon Code “AHS15%off” for 15% off your joining fee
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