Nature's Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design

this toilet works great, we have a semi off grid cabin, using this till our house is complete, works great, we use it a lil different, we put a trash bag inside so its easier to clean, just lift out the bag and toss it in the trash, very sturdy and comfy,very well made, it should be for a thousand dollars

Had mine for three years now and we love it. Best money I’ve ever spent. No smell dump it every two months.

I purchased this in 2021 and have traveled ~6 months every year using it daily.We use coco fiber core. It lasts about 2 weeks. What’s amazing is there is no foul odor while changing. Each change we thoroughly wash and disinfect all.Every day we empty the liquid side, shake dish soapy water, and rinse. We use disinfectant wipes around the connection between the toilet and liquid tank.After each use we spray the liquid side of the toilet with a vinegar - water solution to “flush”.The fan is kept running all the time.The installation was extremely easy. I couldn’t recommend this product enough.

We bought our Natures Head on May 29, 2014 and it has been in nearly continuous use by two people since that time. In the last four years we have damaged the original spider handle, required a replacement set of anchor knobs and a new fan. Each time that I contacted Larry at Natures Head and asked to pay for replacements he insisted on sending them out to me free of charge... YIKES... When does a company do this? This puts them at the top of my list of companies devoted to consumer satisfaction.BUILT LIKE A TANK:I like to use a bamboo toilet paper that composts quickly. My wife uses Charmin. The Charmin (depending on the quantity used per session) can really bind the turning process. As a result I may really crank down on the handles just to get it to start turning. THE GOOD NEWS here is that once it's started and made a quarter turn or so you just need to wait a few hours and it composts and turns quite freely. WHAT AMAZES ME is that I really crank hard and this toilet takes the abuse.1/2 STAR OFF FOR THE FAN:I try to completely clean the toilet at least every 9 to 12 months. This requires taking it outside and pressure washing it. In order to do this you need to take the fan off. This requires a bit of time and a screw driver. I would prefer the fan unit be incorporated in the vent tube or at least have a quick release that does not require the use of tools. Also the fan screen can become clogged with compost which requires a complete disassembly to properly clean it. As I said, this is nit picking and is a nuisance but not a show stopper.THE NITTY GRITTY PESTS:The only issue we have found is using compost starters (Coconut Coir) that have been infected with either red spider mites or fruit flys. ARGH! When you wake up to tiny creepy crawlies on the toilet it can be disturbing to say the least. These little buggers can bite so solving this was a priority. 1. Clean the toilet thoroughly (pressure wash). 3. Get rid of the offending bag of compost. 3. Add a cup of diatomaceous earth (Home Depot or Lowes) to every new load of starter compost for at least a month after.FINAL THOUGHTS:If you don't mind the occasional incursion by pests (No fault of Natures Head) and don't mind an occasional upper body workout encouraged by a session where a large load of standard toilet paper was required then get Natures Head. We love it and don't regret replacing the original water toilet.

It's been about 3 months since we received this unit. So here's how it goes.We're two people, utilizing the toilet everyday. Our 'priming' soil is peat. We used mushroom soil the first week, but it was too moist for a starter. Urine container is emptied once a week, with primary use by female. Male goes outside with the exception of late night use. Solid compostable waste is emptied right around 5 weeks. Although, this is rarely at capacity; truly could be stretched to 7 weeks if monitored closely.Things to remember: do not let urine amount exceed top contour of container or else it will 'slosh' out. Ensure use of urine container lid upon disposal is properly fastened. When emptying solid bin, be sure to clear gasket of debris before reassembly. Do not put baby wipes, paper towels, or anything not toilet paper into solid bin. Churn solid waste both to and fro after use (2 rotations either way is sufficient). Ensure seal on PVC outlet hose is secure; utilize sealant if necessary. Ensure exterior capping/ventilation system has some screen to deter insects.Notes about quality: the system is very rudimentary but effective. We believe this to be the most advantageous in the compact off-grid living situation, hands down. We have only solar power which is plenty to power the small CPU fan. Speaking of the fan, it was necessary to switch the intake/exhaust sides for installation; and upon doing so it was noted the fan should not be overly tightened as this caused the fan to stop/malfunction. And the wiring to the input jack had become faulty and required some re-soldering to ensure a better connection; this is very minor work that didn't require much skill, but merely was a nuisance at the time. If the fan isn't working, odors will linger.Overall, the size is perfect. And we don't know how to put this other than it is truly a "one size fits all" model. It will work for short and tall alike.Usage notes: we use simple 2 ply paper, and that is just fine. Keeping a bottle of vinegar/essential oil to scent/water mix is nice to dissipate any residuals. You can go 1 & 2 at the same time; very possible. Men, in general, should always sit with this model; no getting around this. Just sit, stay awhile, read a magazine. Your masculinity is secure within your tiny home; nothing to prove.Why 4 stars? The reasoning is that there's always room for improvement. The fan issue remains to be seen as a permanent fix and may need replacing altogether in the future. Seat design could use a little work; only in the sense that there could be a slight recessed feature not unlike a conventional bowl design. But overall, since figuring out the few nuances, the system works as it's designed to and we anticipate it lasting quite a long while. Our guess would be at least 10 years, if not 20 with regular gasket maintenance and inspection of parts.Troubleshooting tips: if you have trouble with sand mites (very tiny red/brown clustering bugs) in your peat, simply get a bit of diatomaceous earth and mix into the solid bin. About 3 to 6 days they'll be all gone. They tend to cluster on the seat or lid area. Plumbers silicone can help in sealing areas that might not seat well; for instance when re-positioning the fan, a bead around the gasket helped. And also with the sealing of the PVC exhaust. If you have a problem with common house flies, a little denatured alcohol in the 'slouch' of the PVC can help clear them out. Otherwise, ensure you have a fine mesh screen and good sealing properties all around. In general, keep things clean and the operation should be just fine.We hope this helps to clarify some 'mysteries' of composting. Disposal is what you make of it; we will not disclose due to county regulations varying from each. If you follow the directions, Google what you must, and go by the tips presented, it's not that bizarre and you find yourself quite comfortable with the situation quickly. It becomes a back thought of "why haven't we done this all along?" Maybe that's for those who find their zen moment.**********1/20/2019 UPDATE************First, thank you to all of you who found this review most helpful. Truly appreciate the honesty.Second, we are still using the toilet! The fan issue has not resurfaced. And we stand by our troubleshooting tips, as most issues can be resolved. One item to add is some people might experience 'scaling' in the urine vessel. Simply, we have found really hot water and dish detergent busts this up and cleans it thoroughly. Our main seal gasket for the compartment is due for replacement, and we may try making our own for it.Nonetheless, continues to be a operational wonder. Overall, good investment for the intended purpose.