outhouse maintenance tips

I will soon have an outhouse and an wondering what you are supposed to do to maintain them. This one has a buried tank with a vent pipe and vents on the side of the seat box. They’re pretty simple but I’m wondering if there is anything I should know to keep it as nice to use as possible.

I know you shouldn’t put anything in it besides toilet paper and I assume light septic tank safe toilet paper is best. I’ve read about lime, ash, and wood shavings bring options if it starts to smell. Is any of that a good idea or not?

It currently doesn’t have a seat, just a hole in the deck with removable cover. I read that a regular seat with standoffs will leave an air gap that you don’t want. Any particular seats that work well?

If you have power, piping in a suction fan with PVC below the seat or in the tank/hole makes a tremendous difference. Run it the entire time you’re up, shut it off when you leave

Poop stinks no matter how you treat it, the fan moves the stink and keeps it from concentrating

No power there but I’ll keep that in mind if it comes, thanks. This whole post is probably a stupid question but I didn’t want to come post later with a problem and have everyone tell me that of course I was supposed to do… something

How about a 12v fan off a battery on a maintainer off an extensuon cord?
How about RV black water tank chemical?

What a crappy thread.

The_Bladepuller wrote:

How about a 12v fan off a battery on a maintainer off an extensuon cord?

No power at all on the property. Maybe solar though? I’ll have to see how it is after awhile. It didn’t smell the one time I was in it but I didn’t inspect how recently it was used

Not sure on the size of the vent stack but maybe you could use one of those roof attic ventilators that just uses a breeze to turn it.

So… We have an outhouse at the cabin. Strictly when it’s full you dig a new hole. We put a cheap stool seat on it. Yes, nothing goes in it but your duty.

My question is will it be pumped out from time to time?? I have a friend that is a plumber and owns a campground. He says this camper toilet paper is bs. Use what you use at home. AlthoughI found Charmin isn’t your friend.

Lime works good but if it’s a tank I would get and use a camper type toilet chemical. It helps breaks it down. Until it freezes

If it’s a two holer don’t stick a leg in each hole and poop your pants.
Sorry, couldn’t help it.

Carpet on the toilet seat is a nice amenity for those sub zero days.

Iowaboy1 wrote:

If it’s a two holer don’t stick a leg in each hole and poop your pants.
Sorry, couldn’t help it.

Dang it Sheldon. You should have told me that before I did that

Put the butt wipe in a container… mice like butt wipe!

catmando wrote:

Put the butt wipe in a container… mice like butt wipe!

yeppers.

I spent enough years on job sites so my body was conditioned to dump 1st thing in the morning. Those below zero days could be tough on the azz cheeks if something changed.

We ran gutter and a downspout into the hole it helped keep things broken down. Also we cut foam insulation to put on the seat during the cold months it made a big difference. Also the buddy heaters work in there too.

Almost forgot, when it’s full enough your feet no longer touch the floor it’s time to clean it out or dig a new hole.

Michael Saal wrote:

We ran gutter and a downspout into the hole it helped keep things broken down. Also we cut foam insulation to put on the seat during the cold months it made a big difference. Also the buddy heaters work in there too.

Agree with the foam insulation, much better than a conventional toilet seat. Especially true during deer season when the wind blows. Empty 2 pound coffee can or gallon paint can with screw lid works well for storing TP.

Best post yet.

Brad Dimond wrote:

Agree with the foam insulation, much better than a conventional toilet seat. Especially true during deer season when the wind blows. Empty 2 pound coffee can or gallon paint can with screw lid works well for storing TP.

Iowaboy1 wrote:

If it’s a two holer don’t stick a leg in each hole and poop your pants.
Sorry, couldn’t help it.

No joke, hanging drywall on an Amish farm once. Went to use the outhouse, and it was the first time I’d seen a 2 seater. I had just begun the process when an Amish dude came in and did his thing next me…. He tried to make small talk. I had nothing to say. Still a fun work story that comes up now and then.

Pailofperch wrote:

No joke, hanging drywall on an Amish farm once. Went to use the outhouse, and it was the first time I’d seen a 2 seater. I had just begun the process when an Amish dude came in and did his thing next me…. He tried to make small talk. I had nothing to say. Still a fun work story that comes up now and then.

Lol

I don’t think this is the help you are looking for but I’ll throw it out here anyway.

As we get closer to November follow the political threads closely. There are a few guys here who don’t think their poop stinks. Those are the guys you want on your guest list.

Brad Dimond wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Michael Saal wrote:</div>
We ran gutter and a downspout into the hole it helped keep things broken down. Also we cut foam insulation to put on the seat during the cold months it made a big difference. Also the buddy heaters work in there too.

Agree with the foam insulation, much better than a conventional toilet seat. Especially true during deer season when the wind blows. Empty 2 pound coffee can or gallon paint can with screw lid works well for storing TP.

X4. This is how we have the outhouses at our cabin and deer shack set up. We also keep a bucket of lye in them. Just toss a bit in from time to time. Once a year one lucky contestant gets the honor of knocking the poop piles over, mix up some Rid-X and dump that in. Our chitters have been in the same place for 20 plus years. Oh and have a piece of plywood to cover the hole. That will force the gasses up the vent.

All of the outhouses on Billy’s family lands have a regular toilet seat on a wooden box over a hole in the ground. I didn’t ever hear him or his dad worry about the air flowing beneath the seat that I recall. The hole probably has some kind of structure in it to avoid cave-in but I have no idea what. Just a few years back Billy and I upgraded the deer shack outhouse from the wooden box to one of those plastic CXT toilets. That was a great improvement! Plastic is much easier to clean than wood.

The old cabin had a two-seater outhouse. When Billy and I first started dating he brought me up there and proudly showed off the cute cabin and unique two-seater outhouse. I had to laugh as I’d never seen one before! We knew we were meant to be when we both had to do some business at the same time and couldn’t wait. I’ll never forget that day.

My tip would be to add a candle. It really helps! We usually picked an apple ot pine scent.

Attachments:

1. 

   Outhouse-Candle.jpg
   

Sharon wrote:

All of the outhouses on Billy’s family lands have a regular toilet seat on a wooden box over a hole in the ground. I didn’t ever hear him or his dad worry about the air flowing beneath the seat that I recall.

Now I’ve read that if your vent pipe works right it will draw cabin air through the seat gap and out the vent. I suppose a fan would ensure that. I’ll have to check it out.

Sharon wrote:

The old cabin had a two-seater outhouse. When Billy and I first started dating he brought me up there and proudly showed off the cute cabin and unique two-seater outhouse. I had to laugh as I’d never seen one before! We knew we were meant to be when we both had to do some business at the same time and couldn’t wait. I’ll never forget that day.

My tip would be to add a candle. It really helps! We usually picked an apple ot pine scent.

It’s only a one seater. Sounds like we’ll really be missing out there I’m sure candles are on the list already without me worrying about it!

Nothing but shitty advice so far…

Get a cow bell, a pulley and a rope.
Inside tie a knot on the end of the rope hanging it within reach of seat. Run the rope through the pulley and out the back wall of the biffy.
Tie the other rope end to the cowbell hanging outside.
Place a sign inside on wall.
Pull Rope when done to release lime.

The newbies will come out overjoyed
When that bell rings for all to hear.

Don’t wait to long to change the magazines inside. It makes it look like you don’t care…..