In the past, the outhouse was built away from the house. It was usually a small wooden structure—a pit and a simple shed with a hole in the floor above. When it filled with waste, a new pit was dug and the toilet moved to it.
In our village, this type of latrine still exists. These rickety wooden "houses" are used by the particularly poor and lazy, or by elderly people who have no one to help them.
Just 10 years ago, they were painted inside and out, making the toilets look neat and clean. This was done more to ensure the longevity of the wood by the owners. But today, only memories remain of the renovation.
Another option for finishing rural outhouses to improve insulation is to cover them with oilcloth, old linoleum, or plywood. The main thing is to ensure there are as few gaps as possible in the structure.
But such small outhouses are no longer built. Solid brick or block toilets have become fashionable, as have beautiful, ornate wooden structures—perfect for taking on tours and impressing guests!
When we built the bathhouse, we immediately added a 1m x 1m toilet made of half-block wood, the pit of which was reinforced with a layer of concrete. We installed a metal-plastic window and an iron door, insulated and lined with plastic on the inside. The interior was plastered and painted with emulsion paint, and electrical wiring was installed. For comfort, we installed a seat upholstered with wood panels.
But something went wrong and problems arose during operation:
- a sharp unpleasant odor;
- evaporation in frosty weather;
- a huge number of flies flying out of the hole.
I tried various chemicals to control the insects, left the window open, and covered the pit with a lid. But nothing worked. We started wondering why wooden toilets didn't have these problems, while here, in this type of construction, they all appeared at once.
Everything turned out to be simple - air access, ventilation and gas removal are requiredIn simple latrines, oxygen easily penetrates the pit through cracks, and liquid is absorbed into the soil. These same pathways prevent gases from accumulating.
We installed a hood made from a plastic sewer pipe. Instead of drilling a hole in the pit, we decided to cut one in the wooden seat—there was enough space.
Outside, the pipe was extended a meter above the roof. To prevent precipitation from seeping in, a cap was placed over the hood.
All the unpleasant odors and fly infestations are gone. Why didn't we think of an exhaust system sooner?
In addition to periodic cosmetic repairs and cleaning of the toilet, I add special bacteria and enzymes to the pit every 2-3 weeks. They are sold in both powder and liquid form. For example, I bought and used this product today.
I poured the contents of two bags into 3-4 liters of water, mixed thoroughly, and then let it sit in the sun for 30-40 minutes. Then I poured the liquid into the hole.
Thanks to this care, the toilet will fill up more slowly, and sewage disposal services will not be required for a long time.
Build wisely, think through every step, so you don't have to correct mistakes later!