Incinerating toilets are a type of toilet that burns waste instead of using water for flushing. They are designed for use in areas without access to public sewer systems or where water conservation is a priority. Incinerating toilets provide an alternative to traditional flush toilets and composting toilets. One of the common questions about incinerating toilets is how much electricity they use compared to other toilet types. In this article, we will examine the electricity usage of incinerating toilets and factors that impact their energy consumption.
Page Contents
How Incinerating Toilets Work
Incinerating toilets eliminate human waste through the process of burning instead of flushing with water. Here is a quick overview of how they work:
– The toilet bowl deposits waste into a holding chamber below.
– An electric heating element ignites the waste at high temperatures, reducing it to sterile ash.
– A fan provides oxygen to facilitate efficient burning and ventilates odors and moisture.
– The ash accumulates in a collection container that requires periodic emptying.
– Some models use liquefied petroleum gas for burning instead of electricity.
The key electrical component is the heating element which maintains the high temperatures necessary for incineration. The fan also runs on electricity to support the incineration process.
Electricity Usage Compared to Traditional Toilets
Traditional Flush Toilets
Standard flush toilets rely on water and gravity to dispose of waste. The only electrical usage is if the toilet has an electric pump to aid flushing. Overall, electricity usage is very minimal:
– Gravity flush toilets use no electricity at all.
– Low-flow toilets with electric flush pumps use around 1.5 kWh per month.
– Standard flow toilets with electric flush pumps use around 3.5 kWh per month.
Incinerating Toilets
Incinerating toilets require significantly more electricity than standard flush toilets:
– Basic models use around 30 kWh per month.
– High-capacity models use 60-80 kWh per month.
This major difference in electricity usage is due to the power required to run the heating element and ventilation fan. An incinerating toilet uses electricity to burn waste rather than water to flush it away.
Composting Toilets
For comparison, composting toilets provide a waterless waste disposal option that requires very little electricity:
– Passive composting toilets use no energy at all.
– Models with electric ventilation fans use less than 2 kWh per month.
So composting toilets can also significantly reduce toilet electricity usage in areas off the sewer grid. However, incinerating toilets are a more sophisticated electric option.
Factors That Impact Incinerating Toilet Electricity Usage
Several factors influence how much electricity an incinerating toilet will use in a given home or application.
Frequency of Use
Homes with higher toilet usage will require more energy for incineration. For example, an frequently used toilet in a family home will use more electricity than a rarely used toilet in a vacation property. More waste burns means longer run times for the heating element and fan.
Incinerator Capacity
Larger capacity incinerating toilets with bigger waste chambers require more electricity to sustain high temperatures and airflow. Smaller toilets with scaled down incinerators use less energy.
Model Efficiency
More advanced incinerating toilet models optimize electricity usage through features like insulation, sensors and automatic controls. Basic models without these enhancements tend to be less energy efficient.
Climate Conditions
Colder climates demand more energy usage for heating elements to stay at optimum incineration temperature. Cooler ambient air temperatures make it harder to sustain hot combustion temperatures.
Supplemental Heating Source
Some incinerating toilet models can run on an alternate energy source, such as propane or natural gas, instead of electricity. Using liquefied gas for heating cuts down on electrical power usage.
Fan Settings
Higher fan speeds move more air through the incinerator but also use more electricity. Lower fan settings use less energy at the expense of airflow. Optimal fan operation reduces electricity usage.
Maintenance and Age
A well-maintained incinerating toilet with clean components runs more efficiently. Older units tend to use more electricity as components degrade over time. Proper maintenance improves energy usage.
Average Electricity Costs of Incinerating Toilets
With average electricity prices around $0.14 per kWh in the United States, we can estimate typical energy costs for an incinerating toilet:
– Basic model at 30 kWh/month: $4.20 per month
– High-capacity model at 70 kWh/month: $9.80 per month
So electricity costs for an incinerating toilet range from about $50 to $120 per year.
Actual costs vary significantly based on location, utility rates, model, usage patterns and maintenance. But incinerating toilets do incur markedly higher electrical costs than other toilet types on an ongoing basis.
Comparisons of Total Cost of Ownership
While incinerating toilets demand more electricity, they can still be an affordable option over the long run in some cases compared to installing a traditional flush toilet.
Here is a look at 20-year lifetime costs for different toilet types according to estimates from industry sources:
| Toilet Type | Hardware Cost | Installation Cost | 20-Year Energy Cost | 20-Year Maintenance Cost | Total 20-Year Cost |
| Gravity Flush Toilet | $100 | $500 | $0 | $930 | $1530 |
| Low-Flow Flush Toilet | $250 | $500 | $360 | $930 | $2040 |
| Composting Toilet | $1500 | $1000 | $48 | $730 | $3280 |
| Electric Incinerating Toilet | $2000 | $1000 | $1200 | $920 | $5120 |
| LP Gas Incinerating Toilet | $2000 | $1000 | $0 | $920 | $3920 |
Key takeaways:
– Gravity flush toilets have lowest overall costs, but require water and sewer access.
– Incinerating toilet hardware and installation is more expensive.
– Electric models have high ongoing energy costs.
– LP gas models avoid electricity costs but need fuel source.
– Composting toilets offer a low-energy alternative at moderate overall cost.
So incinerating toilets can make sense from a cost perspective where installing a traditional toilet is impossible or very expensive. Energy usage is just one aspect of long-term costs and benefits.
Conclusions
In summary, key points on incinerating toilet electricity usage include:
– Incinerating toilets use significantly more electricity than traditional flush toilets – often 30+ kWh per month depending on frequency of use and capacity.
– Electricity is needed to power the waste burning heating element and ventilation fan.
– Usage frequency, model size, model efficiency and climate impact energy consumption.
– Lifetime costs of incinerating toilets are higher than gravity flush toilets but can compare favorably to installing a flush toilet in remote locations.
– Composting toilets offer a water-free waste disposal option with very low electricity requirements.
– Propane or natural gas models reduce energy costs but require access to fuel.
So while incinerating toilets do come with a real cost in terms of electrical power needs, they can still be a practical choice for homes and properties not served by plumbing and sewage systems where water conservation is a priority. Considering all factors for a given situation is important when choosing between incinerating toilet models and alternatives like composting toilets or traditional septic systems.